Wanderlust: (Report #10): Islamic Center of Samarinda, East Kalimantan

Islamic Center of Samarinda is the second grandest mosque in Southeast Asia after Istiqlal mosque on Jakarta.
The mosque was built on July 5th 2001, marked by the first pillar of the construction, where the Fifth President of Republic Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri, became the witness. For the long 7 years is the time to built this building complex, and the Sixth President of Republic Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, was the one that inaugurate the complex.

Personal photos

Islamic Center was spent billions of rupiah that's solely from East Kalimantan Province's budget. It's no wonder, because of region's autonomy that already applied at that moment.

The land that the complex has is a grant from PT. Inhutani 1 for East Kalimantan Province. The complex is so spacious; 43,500 m2, and the buildings are 7,115 m2. Main building consist of some parts that is basement (10,235 m2), ground floor (10,270 m2), main floor (8,185 m2) and mezzanine floor/balcony (5,290 m2).

Islamic Center has 7 towers with one main tower that about 99 meters tall. Which is unique because it has the same number of Allah's name (Asmaul Husna), which become the name of the tower.
The tower has 15 floors and every floor's about six meters tall.

This is Asmaul Husna's tower. This is my own shoot.

And 4 other pillars are located on every corner of Islamic Center mosque.

One of 4 pillars on the mosque.
From personal photos, too.

And another two that located on both side of the gate of Islamic Center. These two are about 57 meters tall.

(Source)

The mimbar.

What Islamic Center try to do is to mimic the type of mosque from Middle East, especially from Mecca and Medina. With all the ornaments and mosaic and the hollow wall. But then that idea is kind of backfired to them, because Middle East and Indonesia doesn't has the same climate (while we have rainy season and Middle East is just dry season). It's always difficult when rainy season came because water droplets from outside of buildings are dirtying the floor where the hollow wall is located.

There's something unique here. As you can see these photo above where the octagonal shapes present and the big dome inside the mosque, is where sparrows and any other birds are nesting. There's some space there where these birds could make a nest and live, and when the condition is silent enough, you could hear them chirping above you, or even flying with their tiny wings.
About hygiene? Of course there's always people that would swept over dirt so don't worry about it.

One of three venues in Islamic Center. It's used for wedding cermonies and any other occasions.

Want to know how much you must spend to rent one of the venue? It's about Rp 10 million for one small venue. And the big one is Rp 20 million.
Too much, I know. But the lightning and room is so beautiful it's just worth it. 8')))