MESJID RAYA GANTIANG (Padang)

Gantiang Raya Mosque is the oldest mosque in the city of Padang. Originally the mosque was built in 1700 AD in the form of semi-permanent on the Batang Arau. Mosque is then dismantled by the Dutch colonial government, because the place will be built the road to Emma Haven Harbor in the Gulf Bayur. Mosque and then moved to the area Gantiang. Land where the mosque is the establishment of community land Gantiang endowments.
Construction of the mosque was designed by several local community leaders, such as; Angku Gapuak, a merchant from Pasa Gadang; Angku Uma Haji Sheikh, head of the village in Pasa Gadang; Angku Sheikh Kapalo Koto, scholars and religious leaders. Funding was obtained from donors from several areas, such as Aceh, Medan, Sibolga, and the Minangkabau themselves. Development carried out by people with a work together under the leadership of a Dutch military, as one form of the moral responsibility of the Dutch colonial government for dismantling the first mosque in Batang Arau. In 1819, the construction of the mosque was completed early stages of a permanent mosque with a size of 30 x 30 m is equipped with a veranda (terrace) width of 4 m. Furthermore, the construction was done in stages to complete a rudimentary parts.
This mosque architecture is a combination of various shades of architecture, such as: Dutch, Persian, Middle East, China and the Minangkabau. Construction of the mosque are made of high quality materials. Materials from wood, such as: Ulin wood imported from Bangkinang, Riau; wood imported from Indrapura Rasak; and Lime Wood from Pasaman. While other compositions, such as zinc, tiles and cement imported from Europe. For the interior, like the pulpit, made and engraved with carvings of China which is a contribution from a merchant Muslim China. While the floor is installed special tiles imported from Germany that brought the Dutch company in 1910. In addition, there are 25 significant poles as symbols of the 25 prophets and messengers, and there are some beautiful carvings in the form of calligraphy that decorate the mosque.