Among its man-made attractions in the capital city of Male, is the Grand Friday Mosque also formally called the ‘Masjid-al-Sultan Muhammad Thakurufaanu Al Auzam’. It is the largest mosque in the Maldives and attracts pilgrims and architecture scholars from all around the world. It was built in the year 1984 by the order of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Its golden dome glistens in the sun and the slender minaret decorates the modern Maldivian skyline. It is a man-made architectural addition to this beautiful island-nation. The golden dome derives its golden colour from anodized aluminium and its white colour from the sheer white marble. The Grand Friday Mosque is within a convenient distance to many a Maldives resort such as the Maafushivaru Maldives which is easily reachable within a few minutes even from the Jetty.
It was built with the support of countries such as Pakistan, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates and Brunei but is an epitome of authentic Maldivian architecture. Furthermore, located within the immediate vicinity of the Mosque is the National Security Headquarters. The large splendid interior of the building is laid with beautiful wooden panels and doors. On one of its busiest days up to 5000 people can be accommodated at the grand prayer hall. This holy place is open for tourists from 9 am to 5 pm and closes 15 minutes prior to every prayer and entrance is free. Of course it is important to observe the modest dress code before entering the premises; men should be in long trousers and women in a long skirt or dress. It is also important to keep in mind that when entering this mosque shoes need to be removed.
Adjacent to the Mosque is a park named the Sultan’s Park where you can get a better view of the Mosque which is also located near the Islamic Centre of Maldives. The Islamic Centre also offers educational information about the mosque and Islam.
Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+
