Bandung Grand Mosque Becomes Popular Tourist Destination Ahead of Eid al-Fitr
BANDUNG – As Eid al-Fitr approaches, the Grand Mosque of Bandung (Masjid Raya Bandung) and its surroundings have become crowded with visitors who are taking advantage of the holiday break to spend time with family, shop for Eid necessities, and enjoy the atmosphere of the city centre.
From morning until late afternoon, the area around the mosque is busy with activity. Some visitors sit leisurely on the mosque’s colonnade, while others walk towards shopping centres near Bandung’s main square (Alun-alun).
Several families are seen taking their children to play in the area. The atmosphere typically becomes increasingly lively as the time for breaking the fast approaches.
One such visitor is Asep Tisna, a resident of Dayeuhkolot district in Bandung Regency, who came with his family to spend the holiday break before Eid. “I’m taking the children and my wife for a walk. It’s busy here and there are many places for the children to play,” Asep told ANTARA on Sunday (15 March).
He noted that the journey from his home to Bandung city centre does not take long. By motorcycle, it takes approximately half an hour to reach the area under normal traffic conditions.
Beyond sightseeing, many visitors are also using the opportunity to shop for Eid necessities. Reni Putri, a student from Kiaracondong, came with friends to shop for Eid clothes at one of the shopping centres near the mosque. “I’m shopping for Eid clothes at King’s. I usually buy online, but I decided to come directly to the store because time is running short,” she said.
She obtained some Eid necessities, noting the wide selection of clothing available at the shopping centre. “I just bought a dress and a headscarf. There are so many choices that it was a bit difficult deciding,” she remarked.
According to her, the area has become a popular shopping destination for residents due to the good variety of products at relatively affordable prices. Besides King’s, the area is surrounded by other shopping centres such as Plaza Parahyangan on Jalan Dalem Kaum, which is also crowded with visitors before Eid.
The presence of these shopping centres has made the Grand Mosque area not only a place of worship but also a vibrant public space where residents gather, shop, and spend time with family.
Traders Reaping Benefits
The influx of visitors ahead of Eid has also brought benefits to traders operating in the mosque area. Sartia Dewi, a trader who has been selling in the Grand Mosque area for about 10 years, told ANTARA that the number of visitors typically increases significantly as Eid al-Fitr approaches. “When Eid approaches like this, visitors definitely increase, sometimes up to twice the number compared to normal days,” Sartia said.
She noted that visitors come not only from Bandung but also from other areas such as Jakarta, Karawang, and Cikarang.
However, in recent days, the grass area of Bandung’s main square has been closed to the public, so more visitors are gathering around the mosque’s colonnade. “Now that the park is closed, more visitors are gathering around here,” she said.
Despite this, the area around the mosque remains busy with community activity.
Beyond sightseeing and shopping, some visitors also take the opportunity to worship at the Grand Mosque. Many sit on the mosque’s colonnade.
During Ramadhan, the area often becomes a place for distribution of free iftar (breaking fast) food from donors to the community as the time for breaking the fast approaches.
As the breaking of the fast time draws near, the atmosphere around the mosque typically becomes increasingly lively. Residents sit on the mosque’s colonnade, whilst others queue to receive free iftar packages being distributed.
An Icon Since 1812
The Grand Mosque of Bandung is known as one of the iconic landmarks of Bandung city centre. According to information from Bandung City’s public relations office via its official social media, the mosque was built in 1812 coinciding with the relocation of Bandung Regency’s capital from Karapyak to what is now the city centre.
From the beginning, the mosque and main square area were designed as a unified space serving as the centre of religious, governmental, and community social activities.
The current mosque structure is distinctive for its twin towers that soar high and a large dome that marks the city centre area. Outside the mosque is the Bandung Main Square (Alun-Alun Bandung), an open space for the community, often used by residents for various activities ranging from leisurely walks to family gatherings.
Standing for over two centuries, the Grand Mosque of Bandung functions not only as a place of worship but also as one of the busiest public spaces visited by residents, particularly during Ramadhan and the period leading up to Eid al-Fitr.
Amid the busy preparations before Eid, the Grand Mosque area continues to serve as a meeting space for various community activities, from families taking leisurely walks to young people shopping to traders seeking livelihood from the throng of visitors.