Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque

The Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, rising serenely at the heart of Brunei's capital Bandar Seri Begawan, is the nation's most iconic landmark and one of the most beautiful mosques in Southeast Asia. Completed in 1958 and named after the twenty-eighth sultan, its gleaming golden dome, white marble minaret and elegant arches are reflected in a tranquil surrounding lagoon, where a replica sixteenth-century royal barge appears to float. A blend of Mughal and Italian influence set amid manicured gardens, it embodies the quiet wealth and deep Islamic faith of the tiny, oil-rich sultanate.

History

By tradition the Italian artist and architect Rudolfo Nolli worked the mosque up from a first drawing by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, who chose the site by the Brunei River for the sake of the people of Kampong Ayer; a committee to find a site was formed in 1952, and building began on 4 February 1954, using 1,400 tonnes of concrete and 640 tonnes of steel on piles 24 to 37 metres deep. The Sultan opened it on 26 September 1958, his 42nd birthday, and the ceremonial stone barge in its lagoon was inaugurated on 18 December 1967 (Wikipedia, Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque).

What to look for

• The golden dome - the mosque's gleaming gold-covered dome.
• The lagoon and barge - the reflection and the replica royal barge.
• The marble interior - the serene prayer hall, when open to visitors.
• The gardens - the manicured grounds around the mosque.

When to go

Year-round; the mosque is beautifully lit and reflected in the lagoon at dusk, a lovely time to visit. Non-Muslim visitors may enter at designated times outside the five daily prayers, so check the hours; the surrounding grounds and views are accessible more broadly.

Practical notes

As an active place of worship in a devout, conservative Muslim country, the mosque requires strict modest dress, robes are provided, and access to the interior is limited to certain hours for non-Muslims, with prayer times off-limits, so a little planning is needed. Brunei is quiet and alcohol-free, with a gentle, low-key pace. As a serene, gleaming icon of the sultanate's faith and wealth, though, the mosque is genuinely beautiful and unmissable.

Nearby

The Kampong Ayer water village and the capital's markets are close by.

Key facts