Perak Mosque Trail (Jejak Masjid Perak)

I was ecstatic when I received the invitation, glancing thru the culture and heritage places that we will be covering, plus food (oh this time around the food is simply amazing!), not forgetting the educational and fun part (this is rather mind blowing if I may say so myself). You guys better stick to my blog like a Scrat to an acorn (Ice Age reference) cos everything, and I mean E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G that I covered will simply impress and surprise you. Basically you will be ‘im-prise’. Ahaks.

I have covered Ipoh Heritage Trail some time ago (click HERE) and I was glad that this time around we will be covering… jeng jeng jeng…. The Ipoh Mosque Trail! I bet many of you are not aware the existence of this trail huh. Neither do I, but I am so glad that we did cos the mosques that we manage to cover were rather unique.

Perak Mosque Trail Map. (Credit to DKosognLapan)

Back in 2014, Tourism Malaysia Perak has compiled a mosque trail covering Masjid Dato’ Panglima Kinta (built in 1898), Masjid India Muslim (1908), Masjid Kampong Paloh (1912), Masjid Pakistani (1930), Masjid Sultan Idris Shah II (1968), Masjid Baru Cina Muhammadiah (2013) and Masjid Ubudiah in Kuala Kangsar (1917). Travelers will get to see the architecture dated way back in 19^th century being preserved. Interestingly, all the architectures have the elements of Chinese, Hindu and British.

I was told that this trail has attracted travelers from all over the world. Unfortunately for us, we only managed to cover 3 mosques during this trip; Masjid Dato’ Panglima Kinta, Masjid India Muslim and Ipoh State Mosque. I would like to also share 2 mosques that I wrote in my previous blog entry, namely Masjid Ubudiah in Kuala Kangsar and Masjid Ihsaniah Iskandariah in Padang Rengas.

Indian Muslim Mosque

Mogul style architecture, lacey scallop design and green in colour is the famous Indian Muslim Mosque. Constructed in 1908, the mosque was funded Shaik Adam, a wealthy Tamil Muslim. The main purpose was to gather the Indian Muslim community within the area. I was told that the khutbah is done in Indian language.

Indian Muslim Mosque

Jalan Seenivasagam

Ipoh, Perak

Masjid Sultan Idris Shah II / Ipoh State Mosque

Despite that the Sultan Idris Shah II Mosque or the Ipoh State Mosque looks very simple and not as grand as the Ubudiah #Mosque in Kuala Kangsar but the info about it is rather interesting. This mosque was officially opened in September 1978 and it is unique as it jas 44 orange domes. There are 30 dome ventilation airways (not sure what I should name it), and 14 round-flat ventilation airways. The 44 ventilation roof airways was sealed when they fully air-conditioned the whole place in 1995.

Masjid Sultan Idris Shah II

Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab

Ipoh, Perak

Masjid Dato’ Panglima Kinta

Also known as ‘Central Mosque’, this blue Moghul-designed mosque was built in 1898 by Dato' Panglima Kinta Muhammad Yusuff to commemorate his wife who passed away. This was once the largest mosques in Ipoh back then. There is a family mausoleum located behind the mosque, a renowned Egyptian Quran teacher Shaik Tholji who popularizing Quran recitals in Perak is also buried in Panglima Kinta's family mausoleum. Somehow this reminded me oh Shah Jehan and Muntaz Mahal love story.

Masjid Dato’ Panglima Kinta

31, Jalan Masjid, Kampung Kuchai

Ipoh, Perak

Ubudiah Mosque

Known as the most photographed mosque in Malaysia, this beautiful gold dome mosque is located next to the mausoleums of the Royal Bukit Chandan, Kuala Kangsar. Built in 1887 by Sultan Idris Murshidul Adzam Shah, Ubudiah Mosque is also known as the Royal Mosque. It is said that the architecture influenced by `Saracenic' (Islamic-Indian) and the domes were taken from the Indian Moghul architecture.

Ubudiah Mosque

Jalan Istana

Kuala Kangsar

Perak

Ihsaniah Iskandariah Mosque

The intricacy of kelarai (woven bamboo strips) - a cultural and artistic heritage from the mosque's walls - have made Masjid Ihsaniah Iskandariah's famous nationwide. Also known as Masjid Kampung Kuala Dal, this unique 1936 mosque with Arabesque influences was financed by Al-Marhum Paduka Seri Sultan Iskandar Shah, the Sultan of Perak. It is aslo said to resemble a bird cage. The mosque was built by Chinese artisans and assisted by local residents. The ornamentations and wall of the mosque were carved and woven by locals, making it even more special. The mosque had a relatively short life - it stopped being used in 1976 after the Al-Wahidiah Mosque was built next to it. Read HERE.

Ihsaniah Iskandariah Mosque

Kampung Kuala Dal

Padang Rengas

Perak

(To cover in the near future : Masjid Kampong Paloh (1912), Masjid Pakistani (1930) and Masjid Cina Muhammadiah (2013))

As you can see, the mosques(trail) in Perak comes in different architectures, colours and audiences. No one mosque is the same hence none should be missed.

The VM2020 Heritage and Family Fun 2019 Media Fam Trip is organized by Tourism Malaysia in partnership with all its sponsors.