Kapitan Keling Mosque is a Penang landmark. Built in 1801 by Penang’s first Indian Muslim settlers (East India Company troops), the Indo-Moorish structure is set at the junction of Lebuh Buckingham and Lebuh Pitt. It is the largest mosque in Georgetown and looks sublime at sunset. It was named after the ‘kapitan’ of the Keling (a leader of the South Indian community similar to the leader of the Chinese community), Cauder Mydin Merican. The whitewashed mosque is topped with large golden-yellow Mughal-style domes, crescents and stars and features a single, typical Indian-Islamic minaret from which the sound of the azan (call to prayer) can be heard.
Design of Kapitan Keling Mosque: A long walkway leads up to the main prayer hall of Kapitan Keling Mosque, with graceful arches sweeping along its outer passageway. Inside the mosque there are lofty, celestial-white Gothic, Moorish and Roman arches creating an illusion of even more depth to the already-spacious prayer hall; check out the sparkling chandelier that hangs above. The walls are covered with calligraphy panels and stained glass windows featuring arabesques of geometrical designs and floral motifs. The floor is solid, polished white marble with long rows of prayer rugs strewn all over. Kapitan Keling Mosque used to sprawl across 18 acres but now encompasses only 8 acres as the land was claimed by government officials for the construction of roads. Visitors are welcome, but are only allowed entrance if they are properly attired: for women this means long pants or skirts and shirts with head covered and long skirts for men. Kapitan Keling Mosque Opening Hours: 09:30 – 17:30 (They will provide you proper gowns free of charge).
