Great mosques

From the outside this huge concrete mosque doesn't like much, but the inside is kept in a 70s Sci-Fi style, all shinny and metallic. It was built in 1978 and can hold up to 200,000 worshippers, making it the largest mosque in Southeast Asia. You are welcome, also as a none-Muslim, to go inside and have a look at the courtyard and the praying hall from the upper deck. The praying hall is for Muslim only. They visitor center will provide a cloak if you're not dressed properly free of charge, but a donation is strongly encouraged.

Kuwait's Grand Mosque is really grand and marvelous. It opened in 1986 and can hold about 10.000 men and women in the main prayer hall. From the outside, the mosque looks very modest and modern, but the inside is - contrary to many other mosques - an extravaganza of Islamic design in dark blue and gold. It possible for none-muslime to visit the mosque, but you need to book a tour (free of charge). The guide will show you around, even into the Emir's private room, which is particularly finely ornamented with both Andalusian (west) and Persian (east) mosaics. Apparently the Emir didn't like the original version, so they had to redo the whole room.

Renowned for its Great Mosque, the largest earth-built structure in the world, Djenné offers far more. Build on a small island in the Niger Inland Delta the area has been cultivated since at least 200 BC. While the current town "only" dates back to the 14th century, it's one of the most memorable destinations in Mali. The entire town is built by mud and traditional banco mud houses, two stories high, line the narrow streets. International efforts to stop inhabitants from switching to concrete and other modern building materials have saved the town. A museum, an artisans' house and a library of ancient manuscripts are the most interesting sights beside the mosque. The mosque itself is breathtaking. Rising 18,5 metres above the plateau it's built on, everything is made of mud. Even the roof and the pillars holding it. Non-Muslims are formally forbidden to enter, but the caretaker will openly offer to ignore this rule, should a visitor make the right donation. As the ban is due to historical, rather than religious reasons, we won't judge anyone who accepts the offer.

Throughout Mali's history, an endless array of small kingdoms have risen and fallen. The Bamana Kingdom of Ségou rose in the 18th century a little down the road from the modern town. Ségoukoro – Old Ségou – was the original seat of power and is one of the best places in Mali to see the remnants of these kingdoms. The old castle has been restored; so has the tomb of the kingdom's founder, Kaladjan Coulibaly. His descendants still rule as the village's chiefs and live in a likewise renovated house nearby the castle. As an additional bonus to its history is Ségoukoro also a study in Saharan mosque designs. The town has four mosques: One predates Islam's arrival in the region and was probably build by a wealthy Moroccan merchant passing through. The second is a dome mosque build in mud, like the ones in Timbuktu and Gao. Finally, the last two are of Sudanese design, found all over the Sahel.

Morocco's largest mosque was commemorated for former King Hassan's 60th birthday, but delays meant that the construction first finished in 1993 – four years too late. Holding 105,000 worshipers within its grounds, Hassan II Mosque is the thirteenth largest mosque in the world, though the minaret, which rises 210 metres into the air, is the world's tallest. The architecture mixes traditional Islamic features with Moroccan designs inspired by Moorish influence. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the mosque marks the beginning of Casablanca's Corniche, which might well be the most exciting part of a city that too often is compared to the movie of the same name. Any expectations of the film's romantic wipe being present in the city will lead to a disappointing visit.

The old Grande Mosquee in Agadez dates back to 1515, but was totally rebuilt in 1844. In the early morning light, the minaret of clay and wood shines with warm colors, while people dressed in colorful clothes, moves around. It's a magical place, with all the sounds and sights, and the smell of the desert.
Agadez lies in the Sahara Desert, and the sandy streets, the mud brick buildings and dry heat of the desert, creates a wonderful atmosphere. For a small fee you can climb the minaret, which will give you good views of the city.
Agadez is a about 13 hours by bus from the capital Niamey, but you can also fly here - even from France.

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, or in Persian Qabus Azam Mosque, is a new mosque built by, well, Sultan Qaboos (the sultan of Oman) in 1995. It is an impressive piece of modern Arabic architecture with many fine details. Take for example the Persian rug inside. It measures 60 x 70 metres, making it the world's second largest carpet (it was the largest when it was made). Non-Muslims are welcome (at certain hours), but can only walk on the blue "non-Muslim" carpet.

Islamabad is one of those planned capitals, which was designed from scratch. Up until 1967 Karachi in the far south was the capital, but for various reasons they picked a new location. Islamabad is beautifully nested at the foot of Margala Hills and is known for its wide boulevards and green parks. Islamabad seems like a very livable and easy-going city, particularly for a capital. However, for the traveller it lacks the edge and charm of cities with a long history, like Lahore. The list of sights in Islamabad is fairly shot and contains; Pakistan Monument, Lok Virsa Heritage Museum, restored village of Saidpur, and Faisal Mosque (pictured).

Kampong Glam is Singapore's Little Arabia. The street names are Arabian inspired and there are carpet shops, Middle Eastern cuisine, and mosques. The grand Sultan Mosque with its golden domes is the pivotal of the neighbourhood. Bussorah Street is particularly picturesque with old tradehouses and palm trees, but also very touristic. There are many other fine Islamic buildings in Kampong Glam, which are all included in the 2 km long Kampong Glam Heritage Trail.