Al Wustho Mangkunegaran Mosque

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A. Overview

A palace building in Java is usually equipped with a place for worship. The same way as Surakarta Sultanate Palace has Surakarta Grand Mosque, Pura Mangkunegaran has a mosque near its palace, namely Al Wustho Mangkunegaran Mosque. The establishment of this mosque was pioneered by Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Adipati Aryo (KGPAA) Mangkunegara I. Previously, this mosque was named Mangkunegaran Mosque. In 1949, the Moslem leader of Mangkunegaran Mosque, namely Raden Tumenggung KH. Imam Rosidi gave additional name, so it became Al Wustho Mangkunegaran Mosque (http://id.wikipedia.org). However, there is no particular explanation about the additional name.

The establishment of Al Wustho Mangkunegaran Mosque was an effort to realize the function of Pura Mangkunegaran as panotogomo, that is a government which functions not only politically, but also religiously. Previously, Mangkunegaran Mosque was located in Kauman area, Legi Market. Because it was considered too far from the palace, the mosque was moved to a site near the palace of Pura Mangkunegaran by KGPAA Mangkunegara II. As the official mosque of Pura Mangkunegaran, the management of this mosque was performed by abdi dalem (royal servants) of the palace. While previously this mosque was the worship place of the royal families, nowadays common people were also admitted to worship or merely enjoy the beauty of its architecture (http://id.wikipedia.org).

During the reign of KGPAA Mangkunegara VII, the mosque was largely renovated. Mangkunegara VII asked a French architect to design the shape of the mosque. Mangkunegara VII was famous for his effort to build public facilities during his reign. Beside renovating Al Wustho Mosque, Mangkunegara VII also built Manahan Square, renovated Pon and Legi Markets, and built Balekambang swimming pool (Heri Priyatmoko at http://kabutinstitut.blogspot.com).

B. Features

Visiting the mosque area, which size is 4,200 meter square, visitors will be welcomed by a gate inscribed with Koranic verses in cone shape. There are two gates in this mosque which look like twins from the outside. The first gate is at the side of the street and has big size. This gate functions as the entrance gate into the mosque yard. The second gate is smaller and functions as the entrance into the mosque veranda.

According to Abdul Baqir Zein in his book, Masjid-masjid Bersejarah di Indonesia (1999:202), generally the architecture of Al Wustho Mosque is like the architecture of Demak Mosque. It can be seen from the layered roof with mustaka as the top of the roof. The mosque also has front veranda which is supported by 18 pillars. In this veranda, there is a bedug (a large drum suspended horizontally), namely Kyai Danaswara.

At one side of the mosque, there is a building called Maligin which was built by Mangkunegara V. This unique building is used for circumcision ceremony of the sons of Mangkunegaran families. Moreover, at the north side of the mosque, there is a tower built during the reign of KGPAA Mangkunegara VII. Previously, the tower functions as the place for summoning to prayer.

Other uniqueness of this mosque is the quotation of Koranic verses or Hadits (a collection of the traditions relating to the sayings and deeds of the Prophet Muhammad) which decorate the mosque. Besides on the first and the second gates, the Arabic calligraphy are also carved on the door, window, and saka guru (the main pillars) of the mosque. The main hall of the mosque is a room with 4 saka guru and 12 additional pillars. Every pillar is decorated by Arabic calligraphy. One of the Hadits quotation on the pillar says: “For the man who built this mosque for Allah, Allah will build a home in heaven” (Abdul Baqir Zein, 1999:203).

C. Location

Al Wustho Mangkunegaran mosque is located in the area of Pura Mangkunegaran, Banjarsari District, Surakarta Municipality, Central Java.

D. Access

Visiting Al Wustho Mosque is usually covered in a tourism package along with visiting Pura Mangkunegaran. From Pura Mangkunegaran, visitors only have to walk about 100 meter into the mosque location.

Pura Mangkunegaran is located in the center of Surakarta or Solo downtown, thus visitors can go to this palace by available transportations. From Slamet Riyadi Street, which is the main road in Surakarta downtown, visitors can go to Pura Mangkunegaran through Triwindu Market.

If visitors are from other cities, they can go by plane to Adi Sumarmo Solo Airport, or by train to Balapan train station, or take an intercity bus to Tirtonadi Bus Station. From the airport, bus station, or train station, visitors can take a city bus, mini-bus, taxi, or andong (four-wheeled, horse-drawn carriage used as a taxi) to reach Pura Mangkunegaran and Al Wustho Mosque.

E. Ticket

There is no particular charge to visit this mosque.

F. Accomodations and Other Facilities

Al Wustho Mangkunegaran Mosque provides some facilities for visitors or jemaah, such as locker to keep visitor’s stuff, place for ablution, mosque custodian office, as well as health policlinic managed by the administrator of the mosque. If you want to stay overnight, there is an inn managed by the royal family of Pura Mangkunegaran, namely Mangkunegaran Palace Hotel which is not far from the mosque and Pura Mangkunegaran.

Text: Lukman
Photo(s): Collections of Jogjatrip.com
Translation: Febrianti Ika Dewi
(Primary data and various sources)

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If you are from outside Yogyakarta and want to visit this place by travel agency services,
please contact:

Maharatu Tour and Travel

Jl. Sisingamangaraja No. 27 Yogyakarta.
Telp. +62 274 8373005. Fax. +62 274 379250
Email : maharatu@maharatu.com -maharatu257@yahoo.com
Website : www.maharatu.com

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