A Rescued Mosque In Kuala Kangsar, Perak

The Ihsaniah Iskandariah Mosque was first built in 1936, funded by the late Almarhum Paduka Seri Sultan Iskandar Shah, the 30th Sultan of Perak.

Its design and decoration were inspired by and based on the architecture of Istana Kenangan in Bukit Chandan. The mosque is broadly cube-shaped and has a flat roof. The walls, made of kelarai (woven bamboo) in a diamond motif, were produced by local villagers. It is the only mosque in Malaysia (and possibly in the world) to have woven bamboo walls.

This mosque had 20 windows resembling bird cages, with those on the ground floor built higher to provide privacy for the congregation. The many windows made for a comfortable atmosphere, with good lighting and air ventilation.

Every window is carved with these motifs: a shark’s gill, bean shoots, a crescent and five-pointed star. Every wood joint is decorated with a carved motif of the tikam seladang flower (Vallaris glabra).

The first floor of the mosque was used as a prayer hall, which could accommodate up to 200 people at any one time, while the ground floor was for meetings and community activities.

This mosque has not been in use since 1976 after being partly damaged by a fallen durian tree, but was recently rescued and conserved by the Perak Department of National Heritage in 2008.


Kuala Kangsar Travel Guide :

Route towards Ihsaniah Iskandariah Mosque

1) Heading out from Kuala Kangsar Highway Tol
2) Turn Left
3) You will see the Ihsaniah Iskandariah Mosque on your left within 100M

Also don't miss out one of the most beautiful Mosque around the world, Ubudiah Mosque that placed at Kuala Kangsar as well. Masjid Ubudiah - ranking high on the list of Malaysia's most beautiful mosques, the Masjid Ubudiah (or Ubudiah Mosque) stands proudly and majestically in Kuala Kangsar, with its golden dome and minarets creating a spellbinding sight, from near and afar.

Built in 1917 during the reign of the 28th Sultan of Perak, Sultan Idris Murshidul'adzam Shah, the Masjid Ubudiah is located beside the Royal Mausoleum on Bukit Chandan. It was commissioned on the orders of the Sultan, who vowed that he would build a mosque of great beauty as thanksgiving for recovery from an illness which plagued him in those early days.

The mosque was finally completed in late 1917 at a total cost of RM200,000- quite an astronomical figure for those days. It was officially declared open by Sultan Abdul Jalil Karamtullah Shah, successor to Sultan Idris. This imposing structure is now a symbol of great pride to all Muslims in the state of Perak Darul Ridzuan, the Land of Grace

Click on image for enlarge view

There are more interesting place to visit at Kuala Kangsar, what fascinated me a lot is historical mosques. They witness the grow of Muslim since early twentieth century.


Sources
1. Mohd Azli Adnan, ‘Kenangan Masjid Ihsaniah Iskandariah’, Kosmo! Online
2. Department of National Heritage, State of Perak, Malaysia.

3. http://openseam.net/2012/05/a-rescued-mosque-in-kuala-kangsar-perak/
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubudiah_Mosque