Visiting the Aga Khan Museum During the Annual Doors Open Toronto

Aga Khan Museum, Toronto, Canada

There has been a building boom in Toronto for the past decade or more.

Entertainment was provided at Doors Open at the Aga Khan Museum, Toronto

We have driven past a magnificent building many times on the Don Valley Parkway wondering what the building was all about.

Islamic designs were used throughout the Aka Khan Museum including its walls.

During the recent 2018 Doors Open Toronto weekend, many famous and beautiful buildings in Toronto were open to the public.

The  floors in the courtyard also reflect the Islamic architectural designs.

We took my mom to visit the Aka Khan Museum and had a guided tour of the place.

It was all for free during the Doors Open weekend.








The Aka Khan Museum is a relatively new building where Torontonians can learn about the Muslim culture, religion and architecture.











It is the first museum in North American that is dedicated to Islam art and Muslim culture.

We saw this beautiful mural on the left in the museum's gift shop. We proceeded to the exhibition area and saw various arts including pottery, clothing, jewellry, wall cravings  etc.







After visiting the museum, we explored the grounds of the museum. We found ourselves standing amid a beautiful generous size urban park with gentle quieting running water fountains shimmering in the afternoon sun.

We explored the well kept grounds of the Aga Khan Museum, Toronto, Canada

The water was running so quietly and gently that we had to touch it to make sure it was real running water in this uniquely designed fountain.


On the opposite side of the Museum is another building in the shape of a pyramid which is the Ismaili Centre. This is where the Ismaili  congregation gathers and worships.

The Ismaili Centre at the  Aga Museum, Toronto

We needed to line up in order to get inside the Ismaili Centre.


Constructed with Islamic architectural designs and details, the Ismaili Centre is made up of a number of different rooms where people gather to learn, socialize and worship.

An open space at the Ismaili Centre, Toronto

I was surprised to see many Muslim women volunteers at the centre who wore their hair just like ordinary people!

I learned that the women from the Ismaili sect of the Muslim religion do not cover their hair.

The restaurant at the Aga Khan Museum
 

During the guided tour, we were directed to certain parts of the Ismaili Centre and we also needed to adhere to some strict rules prior to our entry to the worship area such as removing our shoes and no photography allowed.

As a result, I didn't have too many pictures of the Centre.






After our visit to both the museum and the Ismaili Centre, we went for a break and something to eat at the museum.

There were two choices for us: a cafe serving sandwiches, pastries and desserts or a proper dining room serving some genuine dishes from the Islamic cultures.

We enjoyed the food at the Museum;s restaurant

We always like to try dishes from other cultures and decided dining in the restaurant.

It was a nicely decorated place and the food was good! My Mom liked it!

I was happy that my Mom enjoyed the outing to the Aka Khan Museum. It was a new experience for her learning about a different culture, religion and tasting food very different from her own. She was very happy and this made me happy too!

The Aka Khan Museum is located in the Don Mills area, easily accessible by  TTC -Toronto's public transit system.

Anyone can visit the museum for free on Wednesday evenings from 4pm- 8p.m.!

R.T.
Aga Khan Museum
Don Mills, Toronto