Mosque and more mosques ...

Just kidding, I only went to two of the most famous mosques in Istanbul: Blue mosque and Suleiman mosque. Just remember that both mosques are active and still use for 5 daily prayer so proper clothing must be worn when you want to visit both places.

Proper clothing means that no tank top! Yes, I know it’s hot in Turkey but you need to be considerate with others, right? Men must cover their knee, so no short allowed. Women need to cover their whole body excluding their face; no worries since usually the mosque will provide you with proper clothing on the entrance to wear when you look around. Don’t shout and no flash photography is allowed inside the mosque and last thing you need to take your shoes off. You can find plastic bag before entering the mosque where you can put your shoes and bring with you. Before entering the mosque, I find a place to do wudhu, it’s quite unique since it’s located outside and can be seen by all visitors. Next I found the mosque courtyard, it’s a big square behind the mosque used during big festival like Eid and Eid ul-Adha when more people come to the mosque and needed more space for people to pray.

I am lucky enough to coincide my time travelling to Turkey during Eid ul-Adha, so I be able to pray in the Sultanahmet mosque. It indeed live with it name with beautiful blue interior. The women praying area is on the second floor and the stair made of rock and reminds me of castle in the UK instead of a mosque. Maybe at first the mosque was build as fortress, who knows?

Blue mosque is beautiful with it’s own way but personally I like Suleiman mosque better! Blue mosque is definitely bigger and more grand but there this feels about Suleiman mosque that make me fell in love. Contrast with blue mosque, Suleiman mosque has beige interior and more modern feel. It has the same low lighting which is fascinating and weird at the same time (it’s beautiful to look at from ground floor, but from women praying area it looks like a bunch of string with no purpose).

Other thing that makes me like Suleiman mosque more was this view! Since Suleiman mosque located on a higher ground overlooking Bosporus river and Galata bridge, the view from this mosque is simply stunning. Come to Suleiman mosque near sunset and enjoy the view from the courtyard or many rooftop café nearby. Sit back and enjoy the view Istanbul has to offer! And if you stay long enough, you’ll find the mosque just become more gorgeous when the night comes. 

See you in my next blogspot :)