Penang Floating Mosque

Penang Floating Mosque, Georgetown Penang Overview

Located at Tanjung Bungah Road, Masjid Terapung Pulau Penang, popularly known as the Floating Mosque, is a famous landmark and the first mosque in Malaysia built on the sea. During high tide, the mosque appears to be actually floating when someone gazes at the sea.

The Floating Mosque was built to replace an older mosque (Tanjung Bungah Mosque) which got destroyed in a tsunami disaster. The seven-storey building with its Moorish design combines Middle Eastern and local elements. There is also a towering minaret equivalent to the building from where the calls for prayers (azan) are announced during the day.

History and Architecture of Penang Floating Mosque

Originally, the Tanjung Bungah Mosque was a wooden mosque which was upgraded to a half-stone mosque in 1963. When the residents in Tanjung Bungah grew and the mosque could no longer accommodate all the people, the need for a bigger mosque arose. Masjid Terapung Pulau Penang was built in 2004 and was inaugurated by Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, former Prime Minister on 16 March 2007. It is about 300 metres above sea level.

The dome of the Floating Mosque is aerodynamic according to the ocean environment.
The seven-storey tower is decorated with calligraphy from Indonesia and teakwood carvings.
At the front door of the mosque is a sunflower fence wall which further beautifies the mosque.
There are also male and female solving places where marriages take place.

The seven-storey tower at Penang Floating Mosque — The grand edifice of Penang Floating Mosque (Source)

How to Reach

Penang Floating Mosque can be easily reached from the Tanjung Bungah main road. Rapid Penang Buses 101, 103 and 104 go to Tanjung Bungah. Rapid Penang Bus 104 requires some walking as it goes to the Tanjung Bungah Village.

Need to Know

There are separate entrances for men and women
Robes for women are available at the mosque.
The best time to visit the mosque is between 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM as it is between the prayer timing which makes it less crowded.
Visit the mosque wearing decent clothes and click pictures only outside the mosque.
Shoes are not allowed inside the mosque.