Baiturrahman Grand Mosque of Indonesia

Indonesia has a wonderful Islamic structure which is popular for its magnificent white walls and superb black dome. This is recognized as Baiturrahman Grand Mosque of Indonesia positioned in the center of the city of Banda Aceh, Aceh province.

An image by Adhi Rachdian – Masjid Raya Baiturrahman – Banda Aceh – Indonesia

Baiturrahman Grand Mosque is a 130-years old mosque which truly represents the culture of the Acehnese men and women of Indonesia. Baiturrahman Grand Mosque was created by an Italian architect and built by the Dutch colonial administration as a token of reconciliation following their destruction of an older mosque throughout the Aceh wars. Baiturrahman Grand Mosque was survived from the devastating tsunami in 2004 when hundreds of people sought refuge and the whole city was destroyed.

Baiturrahman Grand Mosque of Indonesia – Image: moritzh

The historic information recommend that Baiturrahman Grand Mosque of Indonesia was firstly constructed from wood in 1612 under the reign of Sultan Iskandar Muda. Though according to some historians Baiturrahman Grand Mosque was firstly constructed even earlier in 1292 by Sultan Alaidin Mahmudsyah. In the course of the Aceh war in 1873, Baiturrahman Grand Mosque got fire and it was burnt to the ground. In 1879, Major Common Vander who was acting as the Military General reconstructed Baiturrahman Grand Mosque as the symbolic emblem of the Acehnese culture. Baiturrahman Grand Mosque of Indonesia has a 35-meter tower, 7 grand domes and 7 minarets in total.

Read More

Kelimutu: The fantastic volcano of Indonesia

Indonesia is a huge archipelago of around 17,508 islands with a land location of 1,919,440 square kilometers. Apart from its different all-natural wonders, exotic areas and massive rain forests, Kelimutu is specifically famous for its tremendous uniqueness due to its three multi-colored crater lakes. Probably, Kelimutu is the only fantastic volcano of Indonesia on the lovely planet exactly where this excellent color variation exists. Kelimutu, along with its all three crater lakes have the religious sacredness close to the local Indonesians, as they think about Kelimutu, the spiritual resting spot of their ancestors.

Kelimutu: The remarkable natural wonder of Indonesia – Image: 1ieve ( flickr )

Tiwu Ata Mbupu (Lake of Old Folks) is generally blue and is the westernmost of the three lakes. The other two lakes, Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai (Lake of Young Guys and Maidens) and Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched or Enchanted Lake) are separated by a shared crater wall and are normally green or red respectively. The lake colors vary on a periodic basis. Kelimutu is also of interest to geologists since the three lakes are different colors yet are at the crest of the very same volcano.

Kelimutu: Blue colour water crater lake – Image: mammita ( flickr )

Kelimutu, the great volcano of Indonesia itself signifies “the boiling lake” and typically visitors can see wreathes of steam rise from the surface of the lakes. According to the geologists, the color variation takes place due to underwater fumaroles. The whole location exactly where the Kelimutu volcano is positioned, is comprised of a national park on the island of Flores and this great location attracts a lot of guests.

Read More

The Knobbed Hornbill of Indonesia

Hornbill birds are endemic to the South East Asia and they are characterized by their exclusive down-curved bill.  There are much more than 50 living species of the Hornbill family and this household is omnivorous, feeding on fruit and little animals. Some of their species also live in the Saharan Africa and Solomon islands.

The Male Knobbed Hornbill. ( Image by Martien Uiterweerd )

The Knobbed Hornbill of Indonesia is an incredible bird for its strange look. Knobbed Hornbill is scientifically known as Aceros cassidix and it is also referred to as as Sulawesi Wrinkled Hornbill. Their motherlands are the Indonesian islands of Sulawesi, Togian, Muna and Buton.  The Knobbed Hornbill is a huge bird with a large yellow bill. The tail feathers are white, pale blue skin about eye, blackish feet and bare dark blue throat. The rest of the body is black.

Female Knobbed Hornbill

The male has rufous buff face and neck, orange-red eyes and a high reddish casque on leading of bill. The female has black face and neck, yellow casque and brownish eyes. The Knobbed Hornbill constructs their nests in the tree holes and they adore to eat fruits and figs.

The Knobbed Hornbill of Indonesia is widespread and common throughout its native variety, the Knobbed Hornbill is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Read More