FILE Nº 0430 · Travel · DECLASSIFIED
The New White Mosque, the Largest in Central Asia, in Kyrgyzstan
TL;DR — Kyrgyzstan has more than 3,000 mosques, as over half of its people are Muslim. The most striking is the Central Mosque in Bishkek.
Kyrgyzstan is a country with more than 3,000 mosques, since over half of its population is Muslim. One of the most striking mosques in Kyrgyzstan is the Central Mosque in Bishkek, which can hold up to 30,000 people, which is why it is known as the largest mosque in Central Asia and in Kyrgyzstan.
Although it is called the largest in Central Asia, did you know that this mosque was only built in 2012? It was funded by the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), a Turkish government agency responsible for managing Islamic religious activities, including running religious classes and publishing religious materials such as Quran curriculum books. So the construction was a kind of friendship between Kyrgyzstan and Turkey.
With funding and a construction budget of as much as 25 million dollars, the mosque covers a large area of 4,000 square meters and stands 38 meters high. It stands out for its Ottoman-style architectural decoration, with 4 minarets, each towering 70 meters, and a roof topped with a distinctive blue dome. The whole exterior is clad in marble, while the interior is decorated with geometric patterns and Arabic calligraphy.
Today the mosque is open to tourists, both inside and out. It is a good chance to see how a newly built mosque differs from older ones. If you don't want to miss the chance to visit, remember to put Kyrgyzstan and the Central Mosque on your travel list!
