The Masjid Jamik Bengkulu, also widely known as "Bung Karno's Mosque," is an iconic historical and cultural heritage site in Bengkulu, primarily famous because its distinctive architecture was redesigned and perfected by Ir. Soekarno (Indonesia's first president) during his exile period in the city between 1938 and 1942. Soekarno's redesign features an anticolonial style that blends Javanese (Nusantara) and Sumatran (Malay) motifs, most notably expressed through its striking three-tiered, stacked roof, which philosophically represents the three pillars of Islam: Iman (Faith), Islam (Submission), and Ihsan (Goodness). Today, the mosque serves not only as a place of worship but also as a popular religious and historical tourist destination.
