The Al-Azhom Grand Mosque sits in the civic centre of Tangerang and is impossible to miss — its domed silhouette and crenellated walls dominate the surrounding area. Built between 1997 and 2003, it was conceived as a landmark building for a city that was growing rapidly and wanted a religious centrepiece to match its ambitions.
The exterior mixes Islamic, Byzantine, and local Indonesian design in a way that divides opinions but is undeniably striking. Inside, the main prayer hall is vast and cool, with good natural light filtering through the upper windows. Non-Muslim visitors can enter outside prayer times with appropriate clothing. The surrounding alun-alun (town square) is a popular gathering place, especially in the evenings, and gives a useful sense of how modern Tangerang presents itself as a city in its own right rather than just a suburb of Jakarta.