09 MAY 2017.DAY 3. PART TWO - CASABLANCA , MOROCCO.
Screenshot map, above, gives limited information. "Interactive Map" gives much more information. For interactive map go here. OR go to this link https://goo.gl/yMjhfB.
This is screenshot of Casablanca Map.
It shows places of interest we saw In Casablanca.
How to navigate through interactive map has been explained earlier.
HASSAN II MOSQUE.
Hassan II Mosque.
sorry for bad pdoto,exremeties cut,luckly not by much.
On one of his birthday celeberations King Hassan of Morocco had stated his ambition in these words:
"I wish Casablanca to be endowed with a large, fine building of which it can be proud until the end of time ... I want to build this mosque on the water, because God's throne is on the water. Therefore, the faithful who go there to pray, to praise the creator on firm soil, can contemplate God's sky and ocean".
Today vesitors to Hassan II mosque witneess the fulfillment of his wish. The work was commenced in 1980 and completed in 1993.However rather that standing "till end of time", in 2005 it was noticed that the foundations had eroded due to saltwater of the ocean. After three years of research a stronger cement and able to resist chlorine erosion was evolved.Restoration waork was carried out with molly grade stainless steel combined with this newly evolved high strength cement.Restoration work cost more than 50 million Euros. It is said the restoration work would extend life by more than 100 years.We can take it as "end of our time"
Hassan II Mosque is located on a platform half, the portion projecting in sea and the other half on land, covering an area of 22 acres.This location was selected due to one verse in Quran which says "God's thrown was builr on the water.
Central main prayer Hall is huge with a Length of 1000 meters (3300 ft) and width of 200 meters (660 ft). Prayer hall is enormous and can accommodate 25000 people. Outer court can accomodate additional 80000 people, thus, with a capacity of 1,05000 people Hassan II Mosque is the worlds 2nd largest Mosque, next only to that of Mosque of Medina.The main Prayer Hall is centrally heated.
Mosque structure, inside and out side,including the Prayer hall, is cement concrete covered beautifully and extensively with marble, decorated with cedar wood carvings, stucco art and zellij or Mosaic (Zellij is tilework made from individually chiseled geometric tiles set into a plaster base) to form intricate , colourful and fantistically beautiful geometric pattererns. In fact every inch of not only the prayer hall , Hammams complete but innner wall surfaces of the mosque as also the outer walls are fully covered ftom bottom to top in the above mentioned decorative materials.It looks magnificiently beautiful.The roof is supported by majistic and grand coloumns.Lighting and speakers of public address systems are cleverly hidden in the niches on top of the coloumnsat the base of the arches.The roof of the prayer hall measures 200 ft by 185 ft and weighs 1100 tons.The massive roof is retractable so in good weather star-lit sky is visibe while prayers are offerred.
The mosque has seperate hammams for men and women.Brass fittings in hammams are not tarnished despite the humid and saline atmosphere. The secret lies in the plastering material of these plliers which had eggyolk and black soap .This dehumidifies the air in hammams and thus saves the brass fittings from tarnishing by sea air.For keeping the hammams warm there are plenty of steam inlets.The hammams are also beautiful . It was therefore surprising to learn form our mosque guide that since its completion till date, the hammams have never been opened for pumblic use.
Minaret of Hassan II Mosque is the tallest minaret and religious structure in the world. It is 210 meters (690 feet tall).It is square in shape thrusting skyward. With base to the top width ratio of 1 to 8 (between basement and the summit) . Like rest of the mosque the concrete structure of the minaret is also covered with beautiful decorative cedar wood carvings, stucco art and zellij or Mosaic .
Laser lights are fitted on the top of Minaret pointing towards Mecca.The Laser beam has range of 30 KMs or so.
Hassan II Mosque in pictures:-
Hassan II Mosque in pictures:-
Hassan II Mosque.
Sorry for bad photo , extremeties missing,luckly not by much.
The walls have Horseshoe design arches , Coloureful , artistic and beautiful maosiacs. The colourful arches on walls have water cisterns, adding to the beauty and useful fixtures to the mosque.
One of the major entry gate .
Horeshoe design for arches has been used extensively throughout the Mosque . Even though basic design remains horseshoe , Further details and the design of mosiac on every door / gate are all different but equally beayuiful and grand.
Another major entry gate.
Majastic and grand looking Coloumns and arches of Hassan II Mosque.
Speakers of public address system are cleverly hidden in niches at the top of the coloumns at base of arches .
Central panels of the roof.They weigh 1100 tons and yet, are these two distinct panels are retractable and open outwards left & right .
Fountains and water source of Hammams.
Even though it was seen earlier in the day , I felt due to its importance it deserved a seperate blog b itself . Hence it was last,of all the attractions of Casablanca.
This ends the blog of Day 3 , 09th May 2017 .
Tomorrow is a long day as we travel from Casablanca to Tangier via Rabat . Do sight seeing of both the places before going to our hotei in Tangier.
(Photos .https://goo.gl/photos/rD4GDux
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