Masjid Negara - National Mosque of Malaysia

Ways to Experience this attraction

Kuala Lumpur: Private Batu Cave, National Mosque Tour, Lunch

4.0 hour

Deals start ₹4,306

4.6 /5

151 ratings

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From Kuala Lumpur: Taman Negara National Park Day Tour

15.0 hour

Deals start ₹12,695

4.4 /5

266 ratings

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From Kuala Lumpur: Full-Day Taman Negara National Park

12.0 hour

Deals start ₹13,203

4.3 /5

191 ratings

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Malaysia Tour - 2 ( KL City Tour )

Deals start ₹15,234

0 ratings

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KL Day Tour: Batu Caves, Thean Hou Temple & National Mosque

4.0 hour

Deals start ₹4,448

4.0 /5

3 ratings

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Selangor, KL to Singapore Malaysia

4.0 hour

Deals start ₹29,424

0 ratings

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Masjid Negara, Kuala Lumpur Overview

The National Mosque of Malaysia, commonly known as Masjid Negara, is one of the largest Sunni-affiliated mosques in Malaysia, located in Kuala Lumpur. It is perfectly reminiscent of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, adorned with abstract shapes and intricate geometric lattices. Rising above National Mosque, a 74m-high minaret issues the call to prayer, which can be heard across Chinatown. Non-Muslims are welcome to visit outside prayer times.

Able to accommodate 15,000 worshippers, the key feature of Masjid Negara is an umbrella-like blue-tile roof with 18 points symbolising the 13 states of Malaysia and the five pillars of Islam. The elegant design of this gigantic 1960s mosque is inspired by Mecca’s Masjid al-Haram. Officially opened up for the public in 1965, Masjid Negara was the brainchild of the UK-based architect Howard Ashley and Malaysian architects- Hisam Albakri and Baharuddin Kassim. ; robes are available for those who have not dressed appropriately.

Proud History of National Mosque of Malaysia

Malaysia officially gained independence from the British government on 31 August, 1957. To portray the progressive culture and newly found freedom of the country, the Federal Executive Council came up with a detailed plan to construct the National Mosque.

Originally, the council had decided to name the mosque Masjid Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al Haj to honor the then Prime Minister’s efforts in guiding the country towards independence. He, however, refused this honor and instead named it Masjid Negara as a reminiscence of the country’s peacefully achieved independence without bloodshed or mass disasters.

National Mosque of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur — Masjid Negara - A reminiscence of Mecca's Masjid al-Haram (Source)

Architecture of Masjid Negara

The National Mosque of Malaysia has a very modern and contemporary styled structure with a magnificent 73m tall minaret which is the mosque’s most prominent feature and is visible even from the Kuala Lumpur skyline.

Interior
The stunning mosque has a magnificent main prayer hall which is surrounded by 48 smaller intricate domes. Spread across an area of 13 acres, this masjid can accommodate upto 15,000 devotees. The mosque is adorned with abstract shapes and geometric lattice meant to embody the contemporary expressions of the traditional Islamic art of calligraphy and ornamentation.

The previously pink concrete roof has now been turned into a roof clad with blue and green tiles giving it a sleek and stylish appearance.

Masjid Negara, Kuala Lumpur — The stunning interior of the National Mosque (Source)

Tips

One must be appropriately dressed i.e they must not wear clothes which show skin. Shorts, sleeveless shirts and tops, skimpy clothes which show too much skin are not allowed although there is a provision of borrowing purple headscarves and robes at the main entrance in case one is unaware or the norms.
For non-muslims, it’s best to avoid the prayer timings as it’s very difficult to get through. Usual prayer timings are- 5:41 AM, 7:02 AM, 1:11 PM, 4:34 PM, 7:18 PM, 8:32 PM

How to Reach Masjid Negara

LRT: Masjid Negara is situated near Pasar Seni station (KLJ) and the Kuala Lumpur LRT station (KTM) from where one will have to walk for roughly 10 minutes to reach the masjid. Taking a cab up till the masjid is the easiest way to reach there and is quite a comfortable and affordable way to travel to the masjid. Per return trip should cost no more that RM 25 from anywhere within the city center.

Bus: The Rapid KL buses (B101 and B112) provide an economic means to commute as it drops off at the Dayabumi Complex from where the masjid is within walkable distance.

GoKL Bus: Kuala Lumpur has GoKL bus facilities (Red Line) from KL Sentral which drops one off directly at the masjid absolutely free of cost.