Mosques, Kuching

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The Old State Mosque of Kuching stands on the site of the first mosque that was built in 1847 by the family of a famous Malay leader, Datuk Patinggi Ali. That first mosque was a simple wooden building with a pitch roof. In 1880, the mosque underwent renovations with the introduction of concrete columns and cement floors.

In 1929, a dome was added and it was at that time the largest mosque in Sarawak. By 1965, the mosque had to be rebuilt. The old structure was demolished and a new state mosque was built on its site. It was declared open by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on 20 October 1968.

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Mid-way down Jln India (if you can find it!) there is a narrow passageway that leads to Jln Gambier, where the fruit, vegetable and fish markets and the spice merchants are located. If you follow this passageway you'll pass a small Mosque hidden away in the middle of the city. The Mosque's structure has undergone many changes since it was originally built by Kuching's Indian Muslim community in 1834. The original walls and roof were made of nipah palms. In 1876, belian wood planks replaced the nipah palms walls. The name was changed to Masjid Bandar Kuching in the 1960’s from its original name Masjid India.

This Mosque is not old by any means, having only been built in 1968, on the site of an old Mosque that was there in 1852.
They say it is one of Kuching's most striking landmarks, but when we were there, it really needed a good coat of paint. It does has nice gilded cupolas and can be seen for miles around.

Entrance is not allowed during Prayer times, but other times you are welcome to go inside as long a you are repectfully dressed, and remember to remove your shoes.

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Kuching City Mosque, located near the open air market. It was used to be the main mosque for Kuchingites and known as the Sarawak State Mosque (then it was re-labeled as Kuching Divisional Mosque). It was built back in 1968 (originally a site of a wooden mosque way back in 1852) with striking design, featuring a combination of Mid-western and Italian architecture. It is still now a perfect place for the Muslims visiting Kuching to stop by for prayers.

The mosque has a golden dome which is so attractive. Be sure you visit inside the mosque. See more pic, it is beautiful.

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Between the shophouses in India Street, you will find a small lane that connects you to Gambier Road. This is a popular shortcut, also known as Lorong Sempit (small lane) or Lorong Masjid India, is used by locals as a shortcut between these two areas.

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An impressive, colorful structure to the north of town, the Kuching Mosque also features an interesting display of wooden and stone sculptures on the surrounding lawn. Not quite sure what they represent, but it made for a nice picture.... (edit: mansionion was kind enough to inform me that these are actually gravestones....)

On Fridays the congregation swells to about 1,500. On other days, some 400 gather for prayers. I didn't enter the mosque, so I'm not sure if tourists are allowed inside or not.

Completed in 1968, this is one of Kuching's most striking landmarks. It was built on the site of an old mosque that was built in 1852. The mosque's magnificent gilded cupolas rise high above the city's skyline. Its majestic silhouette catches the eye and can be seen for miles around.

The old and the new sit side by side in Kuching. One centrepiece of Kuching is the Main Mosque which is featured at the background of this picture. The foreground shows part of the Old Shopping area of India Town that features shops that sell Indian spice, Chinese herbs, general merchandise, clothing and groceries.

Located in the old quarter of town, along Jalan Masjid, it sits on the site of an even older mosque that had been there since the late 1800's. When a bigger mosque was needed to fill the needs of a growing population, the previous mosque was replaced by this one. The current mosque was completed in 1968.

It is a striking landmark, with moorish style bright minarets that can be seen from all parts of the city.

Although there is now a bigger and newer mosque at the town of Petra Jaya, outside of Kuching city, this mosque continues to be a favourite.

The Kuching mosque was built at the same site of the first mosque built in Kuching in 1852. The first mosque build there wa just a simple wooden mosque which was later replaced twice with bigger mosque.

The present Kucing Mosque was completed in 1968 and is one of the city's most striking landmarks. The mosque's magnificent gilded cupolas rise high above the city's skyline. Its majestic silhouette catches the eye and can be seen for miles around.

The mosque is located in one of the older part of the city at the riverside. It is close to the Jalan Gambier, which is noted for its Indian spice shops, herbal medicine stores and Chinese groceries.

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This was formerly the Sarawak state Mosque until it was replaced by a larger modern structure on the outskirts of Kuching in the last few years.