Astana Grand Mosque
The Astana Grand Mosque is a magnificent attraction in the capital of Kazakhstan that is definitely worth a visit. As the largest mosque in the country and in all of Central Asia, it ranks among the top ten largest mosques in the world.
The idea for the mosque's construction came from Nursultan Nazarbayev, the former president of Kazakhstan, who laid the first stone at the construction site in 2019. Private investors financed the project, and the majestic mosque was completed in 2022, with Nazarbayev in attendance at the opening.
Facts and figures
The mosque has a capacity for 30,000 men and 5,000 women to pray inside the temple at the same time, while another 200,000 believers can be accommodated in the courtyard of the mosque.
The main dome rises to a height of 83 meters (272 ft), with a diameter of 62 meters (203 ft). The mosque also has four minarets that are 130 meters (427 ft) tall, with each comprising five parts representing the five pillars of Islam. One of the towers is open to visitors, who can take the elevator to enjoy a bird's eye view of the city.
The mosque's front door is made of iroko wood, which is indigenous to Africa, and is considered one of the highest in the world, with a height of over 12 meters (39 ft) and a weight of 1.5 tons (2200 lbs). The door is adorned with Kazakh ornaments, and the walls outside are painted with white Arabic script on a blue background.
On the wall of the mosque facing the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, there are 99 illuminated carvings of the names of Allah. The carvings are made of 25 million colored glasses. The walls and dome of the mosque are also adorned with colorful carvings, verses from the Quran, prayers, and Kazakh ornaments.
On a grand scale
The grand prayer hall and adjacent women's prayer area are adorned with exquisite handmade carpets, embellished with traditional Kazakh patterns. The vast carpet covers over 15,000 square meters (~161000 sq ft), making it the largest in the world. Its woolen composition is 100% pure, crafted in New Zealand.
The main prayer hall is embellished with a massive chandelier, spanning a staggering diameter of 27 meters (89 ft) and weighing 20 tons (44000 lbs). Comprised of over 1.3 million crystal fragments, it illuminates the grand space, with four additional chandeliers hanging in the corners.
The mosque's first and second floors feature a myriad of spaces, including prayer and study rooms, a conference hall, a museum, offices, service rooms, a Quran reading room, technical rooms, and shops.
Descending into the basement reveals a banquet hall, parking area, latrines, a space for technical and ritual services, and an area for sacrifice. The mosque's unique feature is the tunnel that runs under the building, allowing city buses to transport passengers inside during inclement weather. The area surrounding the mosque boasts a magnificent park adorned with fountains.
How to get there?
Address: Astana, 65 Mangilik Yel Ave.
The Grand Mosque can be reached by buses # 12, 43, 47, 51. Bus #43 stops right at the mosque.
Other tourist attractions near the Grand Mosque:
- Kazanat Racecourse
- EXPO 2017 pavilions
- Mega Silk Way Shopping Mall
- Nur Alem Museum of Future Energy
- Nazarbayev University
- Nazarbayev Intellectual School
- Congress Center
- State Drama and Comedy Theatre named after Azerbaijan Mambetov
- Open-Air Space Museum
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