Masjid Lama Tanjung Beringin, Negeri Sembilan – 1892

“At the end of the day, you put all the work in, and eventually it’ll pay off. It could be in a year, it could be in 30 years. Eventually, your hard work will pay off…”- Kevin Hart

(Masjid Lama Tanjung Beringin)

GPS: 2.699853, 102.164609
02°41′59.47″N 102°09′52.59″E

(The signage is covered with bushes)

(Left abandoned for many years)

Masjid Lama Tanjung Beringin is located at Kampung Tanjung Beringin, Seri Menanti. This mosque is the first mosque established around this royal town.

(Used to be the site for the Royal Adat Bersiram)

(Also used for congregational prayers)

Masjid Lama Tanjung Beringin also known as Masjid Lama Kampung Tengah was built in 1892 by Raja Melewar and the villagers on a waqaf land of Yam Tuan Tuanku Muhamad ibni Almarhum Tuanku Antah. The mosque can accommodate 200 worshipers. This mosque was built for coronation ceremonies and other activities for the local community in Seri Menanti..

(Interior view of the building)

(The porch and the main entrance)

The wooden architectural structure of the mosque looks simple, most probably not using nails when it was first built. The thatched roof of either daun nipah or rumbia had been replaced with zinc roofing. The building is in a bad state and decaying although some pillars still look sturdy. Looking at the roof and the dome, we were wondering the reason for the existence of a tempayan on the dome. 

(Dark clouds on the horizon)

There are some intricate carvings in the mosque most probably related to the adat bersiram that took place in the mosque during the reign of Raja Melewar. Because of its historical value, Masjid Lama Kampung Tanjung Beringin was gazetted as a National Heritage in 2008.

(A vernacular traditional mosque)

(Gazetted as a National Heritage)

It is sad to see a beautiful historical mosque that was built since the 18th century, left abandoned with no intention of reviving.

(Year of construction -1982 by Tukang Minang)

(The structure is still in good condition)

After spending time at Masjid Lama Tanjung Beringin, we had a brief driving tour of Bandar di Raja Seri Menanti.

(The Royal Ivory Archway) 

(Seri Menanti Royal Mausoleum and Royal Mosque)

(A grand entrance to Masjid DiRaja Tunku Munawir)

(An old palace converted to Royal Museum)

(An old palace with unique Minangkabau architecture)