During one of my days in Kuala Lumpur, I went to see the oldest mosque in the city. I had already passed it earlier when I was heading to the Bird Park. A bit later, I decided to return and try to look inside. It turned out that visitors can freely walk around the complex. Sharing with you some photos from this stroll.
History of the Mosque
The name of the building in Malay is Masjid Jamek. The word masjid means “mosque.” In 2017, the complex was given the name of Sultan Abdul Samad — the nearby administrative building also carries his name.
The foundation of the mosque was laid in 1908, and the complex opened the following year. The building stands on the site of a former Muslim cemetery. Funding came both from the government and from the local Muslim community. The original mosque building is located in the central part of the complex. Over time, the complex was rebuilt several times. Today, the initial structure can be distinguished from the newer parts by its lighter-colored walls.
For several decades, Masjid Jamek was the main mosque of Kuala Lumpur; in 1965, it was replaced by Masjid Negara.
The territory of the mosque seemed quite small — I walked around it in just a few minutes. You can enter through a covered gallery: in the past, this area used to be an open courtyard. The main hall of the mosque looks modest. A caretaker was present inside and shared a few facts about the building with me. The mosque has two minarets, and the height of its largest dome is 21.3 meters.
In the southern part of the territory, at the confluence of the Gombak and Klang rivers, there is a platform with a fountain. I caught only a few seconds of it working — the moment I reached this spot, the fountain turned off.
How to Get There
The mosque is located right by Masjid Jamek station. According to online maps, one of the exits is directly next to the entrance — it’s hard to get lost here. To plan public transport routes, I used the Moovit app.
Masjid Jamek is an active mosque. To enter, you must remove your shoes. Entry to the territory is free, but visitors are required to complete a quick online registration.
Masjid Jamek is closed to visitors on Fridays. On other days, it is open from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 14:30 to 16:00.
In the next article about Kuala Lumpur, I’ll tell you about the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, which I mentioned above.
Have a nice trip!
