Surau Tinggi Kg Balun, Slim River, Perak - 1920

"The world is big enough to satisfy everyone's needs, but will always be too small to satisfy everyone's greed..." - Mahatma Gandhi

(Surau Tinggi Kampung Balun)

GPS: 3.825283, 101.423967

03°49′31.02″N 101°25′26.28″E

Surau Tinggi or also known as Masjid Lama Kampong Balun has a very unique design adopting the old Malay architecture of Perak. It has high pillars and has two stairs, one to climb up and the other to climb down.

(Surau Tinggi viewed from Masjid Kg Balun)

(A waqaf land of Masjid Lama)

(A road uphill leading to Surau Tinggi)

(Beautiful and elegant wooden building)

Surau Tinggi was built in 1925 led by the Village Head, Mohd Ibrahim Bujang after the opening of Kampung Balun in 1920. The building used high quality wood from the forest. This old surau/mosque is located on a hill away from the river. Surau Tinggi is built high for safety from frequent floods and from wild animals. This building was used by the earliest residents of this village, not only as a place of worship but also for community activities.

(The three levels)

(A frontal view)

(Capturing the moment at Surau Tinggi)

(The Surau Tinggi still standing strong)

(Another side view)

Surau Tinggi has three floors built without the use of nails except for the roof. The pulpit is located in the middle floor of the surau and the top floor is used as a look-out point to observe the whole village. A beduk made of hardwood is placed on the upper level. in the old days, apart from indicating the time of prayers, the beduk is used for the announcement of death. Nine knocks signified the death of a male adult, seven knocks signified the death of a female adult, and five knocks signified the death of a child.

(Abandoned and left unused)

(Spacious and airy cemented hall)

(The wooden stairs lead to upper level)

(Wooden pillars in the hall area)

(Wooden walls and stairs)

(Some wooden steps are missing)

(The hanging beduk at the upper floor)

Surau Tinggi was once used as a mosque for Jemaah prayer for the residents of Kampung Balun. Surau Tinggi which has its own uniqueness was renovated in 2013. However, it is now abandoned as it requires extensive repair works on some structural damages.

(The unique Surau Tinggi Kampung Balun)

(Spacious area in front of Surau Tinggi)

(Sekolah Agama Rakyat Irsyadunnas)

Sekolah Agama Rakyat Irsyadunnas is located next to Surau Tinggi. This Islamic Primary School uses the Islamic, academic and pre-tahfiz curriculum teaching and learning system.

(Located on higher ground)