Thursday, January 22, 2015

Masjid Melange

As I've already mentioned, Malaysia is a mixture of cultures. The Masjid Kampung Kling in Melaka is a great example of this. A neighbor of the Cheng Hoon Teng Chinese temple, this mosque dates back to 1748, with the current brick structure erected in 1872. According to the sign on front, "the architecture of this mosque is Sumatran, with strong Hindu influences. This is particularly evident in the minaret, which resembles a pagoda. On closer inspection, you will find an unusual blend of English and Portuguese glazed tiles, Corinthian columns with symmetrical arches in the main prayer hall, a Victorian chandelier, a wooden pulpit with Hindu and Chinese-style carvings, and Moorish cast iron lamp posts in the place of ablution for pre-prayer cleansing."


No comments: