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Lombok is not known just for its beautiful and enchanting beaches and nature, or for Mandalika, a circuit event that is considered successful in organizing the recent Word Superbike (WSBK). Talking about Lombok means also talking about religion and culture. That Lombok is also known as “Pulau Seribu Masjid” is because so many mosques are easily found in every corner of the city and village. In Lombok there are also pockets of cultural communities and indigenous villages.
A
mong many mosques, there are several ancient mosques that are still standing and used even in
limited circles. Some of them have been designated as cultural reserves, such as bayan baleq mosque in Bayan subdistrict, North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, which is known as the oldest mosque in Lombok. There is also an ancient Rambitan mosque in Pujut Subdistrict, Central Lombok, and Gumantar mosque in Kayangan Subdistrict, North Lombok which is no less charming and magical. To get to the location of Gumantar mosque, travel time from Zainudiin Abdul Majid international airport to the location of the mosque is about 2.5 hours by driving a four-wheeled vehicle. The Ancient Mosque of Bayan beleq is located not far from Gumantar. The location of the two mosques is not far from the main road of the village so it is not difficult to find it. When I visited North Lombok in 2018, it appeared that some people’s homes were being renovated because they were damaged by the earthquake that destroyed most of the concrete-brick-walled or brick-walled residents’ houses. The walls of Gumantar and Bayan Beleq mosques were made of bamboo webbing or bedek. The roof was also made of bamboo webbing and dry reeds. I saw at the top of the roof of Gumantar mosque there was an iron slab that resembled a chicken carving.
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18 INDONESIANA VOL. 12, 2021
Enjoying
the harmony in Bayan Beleq Village
