Melaka Straits Mosque is an innovatively designed building in a picturesque coastal location in the popular Malaysian city of Malacca, known locally as Melaka.
- Opening hours: 09:00 to 12:00
- Entrance fee: Free
About Melaka Straits Mosque
The Melaka Straits Mosque is built over the sea on concrete posts off the coast of Palau Melaka, also known as Malacca Island. Malacca Island is land reclamation project to the south of the city. The project involves enlarging two small islands, one 400,00 sqm and the other 500,00 sqm into a single land mass connected to the mainland by a bridge. The project, which started in 1996, has been hit numerous delays stemming first from funding issues and then more latterly from the pandemic. Only part of the residential development have been completed and the planned commercial developments, including a large Ferris wheel similar to the London Eye, have not been constructed as planned. The one aspect of the development which has gone according to plan is the Melaka Straits Mosque which was completed in 2006 and opened in a ceremony attended by the King of Malaysia. The one problem that this magnificent mosque faces is that there is no public transport to bring visitors, and indeed worshippers, there. By road its nearly 4 km from the historic centre of Malacca, so if you don’t have your own vehicle its going to cost around 15 MYR each way in a taxi.
Melaka Straits Mosque is also called Malacca Floating MosqueFor those visitors who do make the journey the Melaka Straits Mosque is an impressive sight, particularly early in the morning or at dusk when the illuminations are at their most effective. The concrete posts upon which the mosque rests raise the level of the supporting podium a short distance above sea level and in high tide or misty weather the building appears to be floating. The architecture of the mosque is also interesting. A Middle Eastern style central golden dome is flanked at each of the four corners by turrets which are distinctly Malay in design and reminiscent of the Sultan’s Palace in the centre of Malacca. On the four faces of the building are arches with stained glass windows. The stained glass is an interesting addition which forms a connection between this modern Islamic building and the older Christian churches located within the city centre. One final feature that is also notable is the minaret, which resembles a lighthouse. This is a playful architectural reminder that the mosque is located on one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.
Location of Melaka Straits Mosque
- Melaka Straits Mosque is located 9.4 km by road from Melaka Sentral Bus Station.
