In the past, there were several kingdoms that reigned in this city and that makes this city full of memories that are worth remembering.
I visited a village that was once a glorious kingdom called the Mataram Kingdom, also known as the Islamic Mataram Kingdom. This village looks clean, cool and beautiful, compared to other areas that are not kept clean.
When it was time to pray and I was in the area of this village, I heard the call to prayer, the sound of a call to worship, from the nearest mosque. So, I arrived at the oldest mosque in Surakarta.
Laweyan Surakarta Mosque, located in Laweyan village. An old but gold. The fact is that the composition of the beauty of classical architecture is very striking here. Our eyes will be spoiled by soft, calm colors, as well as the composition of the arranged building fields.
Laweyan Surakarta Mosque was built around 1550, which is proof of the success of the entry of Islam into this city. Interestingly, this mosque building used to have a temple, because the local people used to be Hindu.
That's why even though it's an old mosque, it's a must-visit if you visit Surakarta City. And it can remind visitors how the Mataram Islamic Kingdom used to be glorious.
Behind the mosque there are also tombs of the royal family so that at certain moments there will be many pilgrimage visits to the tombs.
The old mosque can still look beautiful because it is routinely maintained. Here I can see the colors and arrangement of the sides of the building look attractive and even look relevant to be enjoyed by today's design lovers.
From the gate, you can see the typical green color of the kingdom in the past in this city. When the gate is opened, it will reveal the entrance area of the mosque which looks good in composition, especially for taking pictures like today's young people!
Before stepping foot into the gate, we have to climb some steps because this mosque was built higher than the road to avoid flooding.
For me, this mosque does not need many curves like other modern mosques to look dignified. With the history that exists, this mosque actually appears as it is.
Simple curves but feel meaningful with gold-colored lists.
Photographed from inside the mosque to the outside of the mosque will give the impression of a good architectural composition! Plus the gate in the area inside the mosque that seems to be a building accessory.
There are 3 entrances to the mosque but the one that is opened more often is one door. Maybe also because I came on a weekday so it looked quiet and only one door was opened.
With walls that blend with the air ventilation structure. It looks good and functions as it should and this mosque actually feels cool to me!
Before entering the main area of the prayer room, there is an area like a veranda where we can sit and relax for a moment. And it feels very cold here!
The thing I like when visiting a mosque is the structure of the pillars supporting the roof of the mosque. In this mosque, you can see wooden pillars that are covered again with green furniture and paint.
There is one pillar that looks a bit damaged and I hope the mosque can fix this before it gets worse and can damage other parts of the mosque.
Although the pillars are made of wood, they leave a unique and classic impression. So is the roof which has a distinctive pattern.
I continued to see the main area of the mosque. Of course it is different from the magnificent modern mosque.
The main area is very simple, with good ventilation and light. Still maintaining natural materials.
Overall, I am very grateful to be able to visit this oldest mosque. I admire the simplicity that captivates the heart.
Best Regards,
Anggrek Lestari
Anggrek Lestari is an Indonesian fiction writer who has published two major books. Now She is a full-time content creator. She has a goal to share life, poem, and food content that makes others happy and can get inspiration.
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