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The legend of the Hunto Mosque, built as a dowry for the Empress

Welcome travelers. you are confused about interesting tour on Sulawesi Island, Indonesia? this time, explorecelebes.ga will inform you about the historical tourist destination in Sulawesi, Indonesia, precisely in Biawu, Gorontalo City, that is the oldest mosque in Gorontalo province, Hunto Mosque.

Have you heard of this place? For those of you who have never heard of or visited the cultural heritage of the Hunto Mosque and will plan a holiday to enjoy the history tourism at province of Gorontalo, this article can you make as your guide to this cultural heritage location.


History of Hunto Mosque

Mosque of the Hunto Sultan Amay is one of the oldest mosques in the province of Gorontalo. As the name implies, this mosque is a mosque of the heritage of Sultan Amay. When tourists will enter the mosque, will be seen in the gate written the year of the Hunto Mosque built, which is in 899 Hijri or 1495 AD. Seeing the year of 1495 AD that means its more than 5 century this mosque remain standing guarding the development of the religion of Islam, as well as signify that the Islamic religion has grown in Gorontalo 5 centuries ago.

Legend in Gorontalo residents mention that this mosque is a dowry from marriage of Sultan Amay to his wife. Who exactly is Sultan Amay? Perhaps you also wonder with the word "Hunto" in the name of this mosque.

In history, Amay was the king who reigned in the kingdom of Gorontalo in 1472-1550 AD, he was the figure of a young leader, valiant and single. The king and his followers at that time, embraced animist beliefs. Statues, trees, and things considered mystical were the offerings of society at the time.

It is said that one day, this courageous Amay king came to an area called Parigi (now a region of the province of Central Sulawesi) to see its colonies. Because King Amay of Gorontalo was a king who had many colonies at that time.

While visiting Parigi, King Amay saw a beautiful princess from the Tomini-Palasa Kingdom, the daughter of King Gumojala and Empress Sajagutono, named Princess Owutango. King Amay fell in love, and ask help someone of the Royal officers to wage his wish to marry Princess Owutango of the Tomini-Palasa kingdom.

King Amay's intention was granted, he went directly to King Gumojala of Tomini-Palasa to woo Princess Owutango. In the meeting two of this kingdom, King Amay immediately expressed his desire to marry Princess Owutango. King Tomini-Palasa accepts of King Amay's desire, but his daughter, Princess Owutango rejected it by reason of King Amay not a Muslim.

King Gumojala and the Tomini-Palasa kingdom at that time was is a kingdom that embraces Islam. King Gumojala and Princess Owutango was made a requirement to King Amay. Princess Owutango is willing to be the wife of King Amay if he is willing to embrace Islam and build a mosque.

The request of King Palasa and Princess Owutango was approved by King Amay. Finally, the kingdom held a wedding ceremony. After marriage King Amay and Empress Owutango go back home to Gorontalo. They were escorted by 8 Royal guards.

After arriving in Gorontalo, the construction of the mosque was done in 899 Hijri or 1495 AD. The mosque was later named Hunto Sultan Amay. Hunto stands for "Ilohuntungo" taken from the local Language of Gorontalo which means the base or center of the association of Islam at that time. 8 royal guards who escort them, each given a territory around the kingdom of Gorontalo.

King Amay gathered all his people. He openly declared himself has embraced Islam. The king asked all his people to hold a lively party. At the party King Amay asked his followers to slaughter of pig accompanied by the exercise of the custom oath.

Right in the courtyard of the Hunto mosque is held the party and a customary oath with a pork dish. Pig's blood is then used as a symbol of the customary oath which is dropped on the forehead with the oath of the day is the last day all people eating pigs. The contents of the oath reads 'bolo yingo yingondiyolo monga boyi' is meaning 'today is the last day of eating pig'. After the customary oath, King Amay then asked his followers to convert to Islam by reading the two sentences of shahadah.

That's a bit of history about the Hunto Mosque. Not only invites people to embrace the religion of Islam, Sultan Amay also bring scholars from the Arab land, namely Sheikh Sharif Abdul Aziz to strengthen the teachings of Islam. Sultan Amay Mosque became the center of the spread of Islam in Gorontalo. Great scholars of the archipelago are also brought to preach. Currently, behind the mosque there are some tombs of scholars who used to spread Islam in Gorontalo.

Nowadays, by the government and traditional leaders Gorontalo bestows custom degree for King Amai with the degree "Ta Olongia Lopo Isilamu" which means the King who Islamize his people.

Traces of History

The mosque that become into this cultural heritage objects has undergone many changes and renovations. However, some form of authenticity still maintained, among them, the main building of the mosque measuring 12 x 12 meters or 144 square meters which is maintained its shape although in the front and side built additional rooms. In front of him now there is an additional room area of 60 square meters while in the north of the main room also built an additional room with a size of 8 x 12 meters.

In addition to buildings that have been hundreds of years old, in it many historical heritage objects that have been 500 years old. These objects, among others, the pulpit, the pillars of the mosque's main hall, Bedug (large drum suspended horizontally at mosque to summon a prayer) made of Randu wood, Al Qur'an with the handwritten, the handwritten Me'raji book with Gorontalo language and Malay Arabic, and various calligraphic ornaments Arabian.

Another original relic is an old well that is still used by local residents. His position is on the left side of the mosque, adjacent to the ablution place. The old well is made of lime and egg white Maleo with a diameter of more than one meter and a depth of up to seven meters.

In the mihrab adjacent to where the position of the imam there is the tomb of King Amay. There is a limit and is set between the grave of Sultan Amay and the position of the Imam, let we are not impressed worshiped King Amay. In the pulpit of the old mosque is often issued a natural fragrant aroma without artificial fragrance. While at the back of the mosque is an old grave including old Sheikh who participated in spreading Islam in Gorontalo.

Location and Accommodation

The Hunto Mosque in Gorontalo is now a sacred mosque by the surrounding people, so many people come to visit and make pilgrimages to get a blessing. Hunto Mosque is located in Biawu urban-village, South city sub-District, Gorontalo City, Gorontalo Province.

From the direction of the city of Gorontalo, simply use a private vehicle or motorcycle to get to the cultural heritage. Because there are no public vehicles passing through the road in the Hunto Mosque area it is advisable to use a typical public vehicle Gorontalo, namely Bentor. Bentor is easy to find along Gorontalo road. The rental fee from the downtown Gorontalo to the Hunto Mosque cultural heritage ranges from IDR 5,000 to IDR 10,000/route.

For tourists who want to stay around the cultural heritage, there are many lodging available in the city of Gorontalo, from jasmine class hotels with low prices to star hotels. The cheapest hotels closest to the Hunto mosque location among others, Karina Hotel with the address of Ahmad Yani street, Biawu urban-village, South City sub-district. The hotel rental rates are affordable, starting from IDR 200,000 to IDR 300.000/day, convenient and safe, close to shopping malls, restaurants, coffee shops, entertainment and ATMs.

Another cheap hotel choice adjacent to the cultural heritage location is Diponegoro Hotel which is located at Diponegoro street Number 86, Limba B urban-village, South City. Affordable hotel rental rates, starting from IDR 200,000 to IDR 300.000/day, close to shopping malls, and close to famous culinary places of Gorontalo, ilabulo.



Entrance Ticket to Cultural Heritage

To enter the cultural heritage area of Hunto Mosque, tourists are not charged entrance fee. You can enjoy this history tour as much as possible, whether on weekends and on holidays or on weekdays. Cultural heritage crowded by tourists during the big days of Islam, such as before the month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.

Travel Tips to Hunto Mosque

Trips to cultural heritage Hunto mosque is very interesting, but if you have never visited this place, you definitely do not know tips for your tour to this place and can be enjoying it well, following explorecelebes.ga will share travel tips to cultural heritage tourism Hunto mosque, Gorontalo province.
  1. Report the purpose of your visit or meet with the mosque guard. You can ask about rules, visitor boundaries, and behavior restrictions;
  2. Wear polite and closed attire. Although your visit in order to tours, avoid open clothes and shorts. In addition, bring a scarf and better prepare a scarf to cover your body parts like hair;
  3. When entering the mosque area, remove your footwear and honor the person who is praying if your visit coincides with the time of prayer;
  4. Remember, the place you visit is a place of Muslims prayer. In the religious rules of Islam forbid women who again menstruate into the mosque;
  5. For tourists who want to visit Gorontalo, you should make the cultural heritage Hunto mosque as one of the attractions that will open your horizons about the history of the development of Islamic religion in Gorontalo in the past. It is best to take our children to this place as an additional history lesson for them;
  6. Look the information from the local government in this case the Gorontalo Provincial Culture and Tourism Office about the calendar of cultural activities to be held at the Hunto Mosque;
  7. To save money while on a tour, enter your destination to the Hunto mosque with other tourism destinations in Gorontalo province.
Hopefully the information about cultural heritage tourism is useful for those of you who plan to visit cultural tourism in Gorontalo province. Happy holiday to Hunto mosque, Gorontalo province, Indonesia.

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