It's noon and we went to the nearest mosque for a prayer. While waiting my friends doing their rituals, I took the chance to admire this beautiful building.
Such a mutual respect has been enjoyed for hundreds of years, largely due to the great efforts of the former King of Buleleng, Anak Agung Ngurah Djelantik Polong, to unite his people.
Islam is believed to have come to the regency via international traders around the year 1600.
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| A mix of styles of many eras, this mosque remains beautiful |
Islam may not have prospered here without the support of the Buleleng royal family. This Grand Mosque Masjid Agung Jami was built during the reign of King Anak Agung Ngurah Ketut Djelantik Polong in l846. The king was the descendant of Anak Agung Panji Sakti.
The king of Buleleng had also granted the provision of the land, on Jalan Imam Bonjol where the mosque currently stands. The king asked his close aide and relative Gusti Ngurah Ketut Djelantik Celagi, who had already converted to Islam, to oversee its construction. Muslim leader Abdullah Mascetty assisted Celagi with the project. The mosque took around 24 years to complete. When Mascetty was arrested by Dutch troops, the development was delayed for some time.
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| It is believed that this door was taken from the palace as a gift from the King of Bulelelng |
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| The 'mimbar', still stands proudly after so many centuries. |
Also, housed at the mosque is a priceless, centuries old handwritten Koran, which was inscribed by I Gusti Ngurah Ketut Djelantik Celagi. He was a royal family member who converted to Islam in the l820s. The handwritten Koran, with a beautiful Balinese-style carved wooden cover, has been carefully maintained and is real proof of the close relations between local residents and Muslim immigrants.Unfortunately I got this story after I left the mosque, so I missed the chance of seeing it.
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