"Located on Jalan Kapitan Keling (Pitt Street) in Georgetown, this is the first mosque ever to be built in Penang."
Introduction Located on Pitt Street, the Kapitan Keling Mosque was the first mosque ever built in Penang. Surrounded by a low wall, this white-washed mosque is adorned with yellow Moghul-style domes and turrets. A madrassah (a place where religious classes are held) can also be found within the mosque's compounds. The tall minaret, once used by the muezzin to deliver his call for prayers, is located on the corner of Buckingham and Pitt Street.
The mosque was named after the head of the Indian Muslim community in the late 1700's and early 1800's, a prominent trader by the name of Cauder Mydin Merican, who was referred to by the British as 'Kapitan Keling'. The word Kapitan, which was probably derived from the word 'Captain', was a term that the British gave to Cauder Mydin Merican to refer to his role as the head of the Indian Muslim community back then. And contrary to popular belief, the term Keling is not a derogatory word. Keling referred to immigrants who came from South India, just as the word Benggali referred to the immigrants who came from North India.
History The Kapitan Keling Mosque was first erected by the troops of the British East India Company who were of Muslim religion, back in the late 1700's. Several years later, the growing Indian Muslim community required a more permanent mosque to be built. In 1801, the community, led by their leader, Cauder Mydin Merican or also referred to as 'Kapitan Keling', was granted with an 18-acre lot. Made of brick, the original mosque was a single-storey structure, but over the years, the mosque has seen plenty of rennovation works.
Travel Advice It is possible ot enter the Kapitan Keling Mosque grounds, however, do remember to remove your footwear before you enter the mosque building itself.
For more information, please contact: Penang Tourism Action Council 56th Floor, KOMTAR 10000 Penang Tel : +604-262 0202 Fax : +604-263 1020 Email : enquiry@tourismpenang.gov.my
Last viewed - May 17, 2008
Getting there
By Bus
Express buses ply the route from Penang to / from Kuala Lumpur and major cities in the country. Please visit (http://www.plusliner.com/) for more info. The main bus terminal in Penang is located next to the Ferry Terminal.
By Taxi
To get to Penang Island, long distance taxi service can be hired at Weld Quay, Penang. Tel: +604-2625721.
By Plane
Daily flights via Malaysia Airlines (www.malaysiaairlines.com, tel:1 300 88 3000 ) and AirAsia (www.airasia.com, tel: 1-300-88 9933) to / from Penang to major cities in Malaysia. Penang's Bayan lepas International Airport is roughly 20km (45-minnute drive) from the Georgetown city centre.
By Rail
You can take the train from Kuala Lumpur to Penang, where it stops at the Penang Railway Station, close to the ferry terminal. For more information, visit www.ktmb.com.my or call their call centre at +603-22671200.
By Boat
Ferries can be boarded at Butterworth, in the mainland portion of Penang. Among Ferry Services available are:
Langkawi Ferry Services (Tel: +604-2643088
Ekspress Bahagia (Tel: +604-2636255)
From the Ferry Terminal you can easily get a taxi ride into Georgetown city centre.
Located at Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling (formerly known as Pitt Street), at the heart of Georgetown City, the mosque is easily accessible from any major roads in the city. A trishaw ride is also an ideal way to negotiate Georgetown's streets, and it costs around RM1.50 per kilometre.
To drive to Penang, from Kuala Lumpur, get onto the North-South Expressway heading north. Get onto the Penang Bridge (Tol is RM7 for cars), then head for Georgetown.
User recommendation
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"Been there, marvellous architecture. hidden exquisitness. " by ayeesa
"Nothing special about this place except typical muslim mosque architecture. Usually visited by local indian-muslims known as "mamaks"." by Frank Martin
