A Mosque Resembling the Kaaba Appears on the Hillsides of Gunungkidul

Pedukuhan Batur Turu, Mertelu, Gedangsari, Gunungkidul has a unique mosque, shaped like the Kaaba. Not only its shape, but this mosque, located on the hills, has no windows and has three pillars inside. What’s the story?

As observed by detikJogja, a large building resembling the Kaaba stands on the hills of Gedangsari. Upon closer inspection, it turns out that the building resembling the Kaaba is a mosque named Asy-Syuhada.

Looking closer, the mosque has a large size with walls made of black natural stone without a single window. In addition, the mosque has a golden-colored door with Arabic calligraphy.

As for the interior, the Kaaba mosque has three pillars in the middle. This is in line with the contents inside the Kaaba in the Masjidil Haram, Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

The caretaker of the Asy-Syuhada Kaaba Mosque, Ngatimin (54), said that initially, the Asy-Syuhada Mosque was small. The mosque could only accommodate a few worshippers.

“It has always been called the Asy-Syuhada Mosque, and it used to be only 7x7 meters in size,” he said to reporters in Mertelu, Gedangsari, Gunungkidul, Monday (23/2/2026).

Then, in 2022, a donor came and wanted to expand the mosque. Seeing this, the residents immediately welcomed it very well.

“The arrival of the donor was a breath of fresh air because the enthusiasm of the congregation to worship at the mosque was high. Finally, in 2022, the construction began,” he said.

Ngatimin revealed that the mosque stands on a waqf land. The size of the mosque is 12 meters long, 10 meters wide, and 14 meters high.

“Then the donor wanted the shape of the mosque to resemble the Kaaba. Finally, after seven months of construction, the mosque was completed in 2023,” he said.

Regarding the reason for choosing the mosque building to resemble the Kaaba, Ngatimin admitted that he did not know. Considering that all of this was the donor’s wish.

“I myself don’t understand the donor’s intention as to why the shape is like the Kaaba. But clearly, the people here just accept it and the people are happy,” he said.

In detail, Ngatimin explained that the outer walls of the mosque use black natural stone. In addition, the roof uses galvalum.

“This Kaaba mosque has no windows, because it was indeed made to resemble the Kaaba. Inside, there are also three pillars like in the Kaaba,” he said.

According to him, with the new shape of the mosque, the congregation is more diligent in worship. In fact, currently the capacity of the Kaaba Mosque reaches 100 people.

“This mosque in the afternoon has TPA activities for children. In addition, during Ramadan there is also a joint iftar,” he said.

In addition, Ngatimin revealed that many people visit the Kaaba Mosque. Although Ngatimin admitted that most of the people who come are not residents of Gunungkidul.

“Many people come here, just to look around, take pictures and join Friday prayers. Most of them are from Klaten,” he said.

Ngatimin added that the construction of the Kaaba Mosque is not yet 100% complete. Ngatimin hopes that the donor will complete the construction of the mosque.

“Currently, it lacks calligraphy in the imam’s room, then there are many natural stones on the outer walls that are chipped or detached, and the fence has not been installed. Because the hope is that this mosque can be a place of religious tourism,” he said.

Meanwhile, a religious figure in Batur Turu, Sukiran (63), said that in Batur Turu there is only one mosque and one mushola. According to him, the mosque in Batur Turu has only been around since the 1990s.

“Here there is only one mosque and one mushola. This mosque has been renovated three times. First, the mosque had bamboo woven walls, then it was repaired until it had brick walls and finally it was enlarged into the Kaaba Mosque,” he said.

Regarding the reason why the Asy-Syuhada Mosque is shaped like the Kaaba, Sukiran also does not know. However, Sukiran does not object to the shape of the mosque.

“Why is it shaped like the Kaaba? It’s from the donor, at that time the donor said that if possible, the shape should be like the Kaaba,” he said.

(afn/ahr) ”