Wentu | Old-fashioned
When traveling in Middle Eastern countries, the more famous mosques are a must-see, which is a "prescribed action", just like going to European countries, you must go to some churches with some characteristics and fame.
Jeddah serves as a transit point for Muslims on their way to Mecca, and millions of Muslims make a short stop here every year, so a considerable number of large and small mosques have been built in the city, but the most attractive for pilgrims and tourists is the water mosque.
This is the first mosque in the world to be built in the water, and although it is not large, it has a unique style, unique shape, and is beautiful. Because it is located on the shore of the Red Sea, it is also known as the Floating Mosque when the sea hits at high tide, and the whole building seems to float on the waves.
The time we went to this mosque was in the evening, which is said to be the best time to see the mosque on the water.
When you come to the Jeddah Corniche, you can see in the distance that the sea under the moonlight stands a beautiful building that exudes royal blue and white light, and with the continuous change of light color, it looks very dazzling and charming on the coast at night.
We walked along a trail that connects to the coast into the open-air courtyard of the mosque, where the gentle sea breeze was gentle and refreshing, and we walked here to admire the elegant marble building, and for a moment there was a sense of humiliation and humiliation.
It is a mosque with a perfect blend of ancient traditions and modern Islamic architectural styles. The entire building is decorated in white tones, interspersed with sea-blue domes. The central dome is supported by eight columns, and the roof is inlaid with stained glass. The pattern of the floor tiles is also very exquisite. In addition to the main dome, there are 52 outer domes and 23 outer umbrellas with the Quran inscribed on them. Both the exterior structure and the interior decoration of the water mosque are examples of similar architecture.
The most rare thing about the water mosque is its openness. Residents of Jeddah can often come here to sit on the ground, enjoy the sea breeze and listen to the rhythmic sound of the waves crashing on the embankment, so as to relax and have a good time. In particular, visitors are allowed to enter the temple and witness the Hajj pilgrimage for Muslims.
The tour guide said that if you come to the water mosque at sunset, you will see a different view. Standing on the observation deck, you can not only watch the beautiful sunset over the sea, but also enjoy the magnificent view of the sea and sky at a glance, which is refreshing.
I noticed that around the mosque, there are fitness trails, restaurants, cafes, yacht clubs and marinas, which can provide a variety of services for citizens and tourists. In my opinion, the tourist function of the floating mosque is much more than its religious function, it is more like a tourist attraction deliberately created by the Jeddah government, with the aim of making this ingenious water structure promote the development of local tourism.
Now it seems that this goal has been achieved, and it is working out well.
【Tour to be continued in November 2023】