Golden dome
Over the lagoon.
Tys — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand — CC0 · Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand — CC0 · Pangalau — CC BY-SA 4.0
The symbol of Brunei and, to many, the most beautiful mosque in Southeast Asia, completed in 1958 in the heart of the capital and named after Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, father of the present Sultan, with a large gold-clad dome and a tall minaret rising above the city skyline. The mosque stands on the edge of an artificial lagoon that mirrors its golden dome and white minarets, and in the lagoon is a stone replica of a sixteenth-century royal barge, the mahligai, once used for religious ceremonies. Bridges link the mosque to the barge and to the water village. The building has Italian marble, stained-glass windows, crystal chandeliers and fine carpets, with gardens and fountains around it. In the evening the dome and minarets are lit and their glow reflects in the water in an enchanting scene that draws photographers. The outer grounds are open daily outside prayer times; non-Muslims may enter the prayer hall from Saturday to Wednesday in set morning, midday and afternoon slots, on Friday in the late afternoon only, and not on Thursday, per visitor guides. Entry is free, and robes and headscarves are lent at the entrance.
Over the lagoon.
A stone replica.
Reflected in the water.
Central Bandar Seri Begawan, on an artificial lagoon near the Brunei River
Saturday to Wednesday in set slots and Friday late afternoon only; the hall is closed to them on Thursday.
