Dome of the Rock Mosque
The Dome of the Rock Mosque is called Kubbat as-Sakhra in another way. The religious shrine is located in Israel. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Recently, Muslims have allowed tourists to visit the temple, but in order to get there, it is necessary to respect the feelings of believers. The image of the temple is present on the seal of the Templar Order.
Basic information
Dome of the Rock Mosque ─ It is one of the oldest architectural monuments. Caliph Abdul-Malik ordered it to be built. He wanted to create a shelter for pilgrims and did not skimp on the construction. Next to the building, he installed a treasury filled with gold dinars so that the craftsmen could take the money for their expenses. A total of 100,000 dinars were spent. The builders refused the fee, explaining that it was an honor for them to build the shrine. Then the Caliph ordered the dinars to be crushed and turned into dust, which then covered the Dome of the Rock Mosque.
The building is an octahedron made of marble with 4 entrances located on the cardinal directions. The doors are decorated with bronze. There is no minaret here because it is in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is located 50 meters from the Dome of the Rock Mosque. It is not advisable to erect another minaret. The walls of the temple are half white, and above that they are lined with mosaics and patterns. Marble and mosaic were used in the cladding, inscriptions from the Koran are carved in gold.
Information for tourists
You need to dress modestly, otherwise you may not be allowed into the Dome of the Rock Mosque. Shorts or a short skirt are not allowed. You can sign up for an excursion, but it will be much cheaper to act independently. Tourists can buy a single ticket for 40 shekels to visit the Dome of the Rock Mosque and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which are located 50 meters from each other. It is necessary to take off your shoes before entering the temple. The mosque is not closed to non-Muslims on Fridays, Saturdays and religious holidays. Tourists can explore the Dome of the Rock from 7.30 to 10.30 and from 12.30 to 13.30 in summer. In winter, the shift ends at 10.00. The Temple Mount can be reached by bus No. 1,3,43. If tourists arrive at an untimely time, they walk around the colorful octagon, richly decorated with mosaics.
