SULTAN OMAR ALI SAIFUDDEIN MOSQUE
Dominating the city centre of Bandar Seri Begawan, this is one of the most magnificent mosques in Southeast Asia and a symbol of the strong Islamic faith of the people of Brunei Darussalam. Completed in 1958, it is named after the 28th Sultan, Omar Ali Saifuddien, who is still referred to as the architect of modern Brunei. The mosque’s design reflects the use of the world’s most elegant materials, including marble from Italy, granite from Shanghai, stained glass and chandeliers from England and carpets from Belgium and Saudi Arabia. The main building is a two-storey; 77 metres tall and 26 metres wide. Its most prominent feature is a golden mosaic dome, which has a surface area of 520 sq. metres covered with 3.3 million pieces of Venetian glass mosaic. Next to it, is and imposing 50-meter high golden minaret. A beautiful manmade lagoon completes the eye-catching spectacle. Located in a lagoon beside the mosque is a replica of a 16th century mahligai barge, which was used to stage colourful religious ceremonies such as Quran reading competitions during the 1960s and early 70s. Visitors to the mosque are advised to remove their shoes before entering and should be dressed conservatively.
FINAL YEAR PROJECT BRUNEI DARUSSALAM TRAVEL BOOK
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