Masjid Ubudiah Bukit Chandan, Perak - 1913

"Words have a magical power. They can either bring the greatest happiness or the deepest despair..." - Sigmund Freud

(Masjid Ubudiah Bukit Chandan)

GPS: 4.76417, 100.95085
04°45′51.01″N 100°57′03.06″E

(Entering the Royal Palace area)

(View of a mosque across the Perak River)

Masjid Ubudiah, also known as Masjid Iskandariah or the Royal Mosque is considered as one of the most beautiful mosques in Malaysia. The magnificent golden dome and minaret of the mosque are proof of the beauty of Islamic architecture. The design of the mosque is influenced by Indo-saracenic or Islamic-Indian architecture. It was designed by AB Hubback, a government architect at the time.

(The mosque is located on a hill)

(Designed by Arthur Benison Hubback)

(Built during the reign of Sultan Idris Murshidul Adzam Shah)

(Some resemblance to KL Railway STation)

(The main entrance is closed)

The mosque is octagonal and has a central golden dome, and four minarets as well as turrets topped with smaller golden domes. Italian marble was used to add bands of darker colour to the white building. The walls and floor of the mosque are made of red and white marble from Italy. The design of the whole mosque is very unique and neat. The prayer Hall is quite spacious.

(The construction was interrupted several times)

(The WWI also affected its construction)

(The most beautiful mosque in Perak)

Masjid Ubudiah is a symbol of Malay Islamic art. Its construction is a source of inspiration for lovers of traditional Malay architecture. The design has made Masjid Ubudiah as one of the heritage buildings with high quality architectural value. Before the Perak State Mosque was built in 1968, Masjid Ubudiah used to be the State Mosque.

(Sultan Idris died during its construction)

(Officiated by Sultan Abdul Jalil Karamtullah Shah)

(A symbol of pride for the residents of Perak)

The Makam Al-Ghufran or Perak Royal Mausoleum is located near the mosque.

The last time we were here was during our Kembara Ramadhan in 2019. We had the opportunity to have iftar and performed our solat sunat tarawih here.

(The Royal Mausoleum on Jalan Istana)

Attractions around Bukit Chandan

 "The biggest difference between money and time: You always know how much money you have but you never know how much time you have..."

(Kawasan Istana)

After visiting Masjid Ubudiah at Bukit Chandan, we detoured and visited several attractions around the area.

1. Baitul Anor

Baitul Anor is an uninhabited house located on Jalan Istana at Bukit Chandan in Kuala Kangsar. Baitul Anor was built by the master craftsman and builder Tuan Haji Sofian, sometimes referred to as Tukang Sofian, under the instructions of Raja Kechil Sulong Harun Al Rashid for his third wife, Raja Mentera binti Raja Sir Chulan.

Baitul Anor was named after Raja Anor Shah, the eldest son of Raja Harun Al Rashid and Raja Mentera.

 

(A brief detour)

(Masjid Ubudiah in the background)

2. Royal Museum of Perak

The Istana Kenangan was a royal residence built in 1926 for Sultan Iskandar Shah by the Malay carpenter Enci Sepian from Bukit Mertajam, with the assistance of his sons Zainal Abidin and Ismail. The palace was previously known as the Valley Palace due to its location. The palace had been the official residence between 1931 and 1933. However, upon completion of Istana Iskandariah, the Istana Kenangan was used to host royal receptions and where the palace guests stayed. It today houses the Royal Museum of Perak.

It is two storeys high with the top floor consisting of the bedchamber, family bedrooms and a dining hall. The ground floor was once used as the official royal office where its original floor was made out of solid wood. The wooden floor however had been replaced by marble.

(The Istana Kenangan)

(The Royal Museum of Perak)

 
3. Istana Iskandariah

Iskandariah Palace is the royal palace of the Perak Sultanate and the official residence of the Sultan of Perak since its completion in 1933. It is located in the royal town of Kuala Kangsar, Perak. All the Sultans of Perak have been installed in the palace since its completion. The palace is named after Sultan Iskandar Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Idris Murshidul Azzam Shah I Rahmatullah (1918 - 1938) who initiated its construction.

The design of the palace combines colonial European architecture with the pointed arches and onion-shaped domes of the Middle East and Central Asia. The building is rectangular in shape and faces the sunrise and the river. The roof is designed with one main dome in the centre and four subsidiary domes, one on each of the palace.

(The entrance to the royal palace)

(Onion-shaped domes of the palace)

Masjid Ridzuaniah Kuala Kangsar, Perak - 1915

"Humility will open more doors than arrogance ever will..." - Zig Ziglar

(Masjid Ridzuaniah Kuala Kangsar)

GPS: 4.774995, 100.940124
04°46′29.98″N 100°56′24.45″E

(A first glimpse of Masjid Ridzuaniah)

(Old trees still standing strong)

Masjid Ridzuaniah was built in 1915 during the reign of Sultan Idris Murshidul' Adzam Shah (1887-1916) the 28th Sultan of Perak. The building was built on a piece of land endowed by Al Mahrum Sultan Idris Shah I. Although Masjid Ridzuaniah is the biggest mosque in Kuala Kangsar, it was not as popular as the famous Masjid Ubudiah Bukit Chandan. Masjid Ridzuaniah was built shortly after the Masjid Ubudiah was erected.

(An old photo of Masjid Ridzuaniah)

(A beautiful friendly mosque)

(A huge ablution kolah)

(The fountain is not working)

(Ablution area for men)

Masjid Ridzuaniah was officially opened by Sultan Abdul Jalil Karamatullah Shah in October 1916. Since then, the mosque had undergone a few renovations. During the reign of Sultan Iskandar Shah (1918-1938), the praying area was extended to accommodate 600 people and in 1968, during the reign of Sultan Idris Shah II (1963-1984), it was expanded again, to accommodate more than 1000 worshippers. In 1980-1981, the mosque changed from its original shape to its current state. The mosque consisted of a praying hall in the shape of a hexagon with a dome in the centre.

(An antique clock and the mimbar)

(The wooden mimbar)

(The ladies prayer area at a corner)

(Can accommodate about 1,000 congregations)

Masjid Ridzuaniah is a comfortable mosque complete with amenities and popular with travellers. Todate, the Ridzuaniah Mosque is used as the District Mosque of Kuala Kangsar.

(A popular mosque to travellers)

(The minaret is located in front of the mosque)

We performed our jama’ solat Zohor and Asar here before we drove to Bukit Chandan to visit the majestic Masjid Ubudiah and some other historical buildings around the area.

(The car park was empty when we left)

(A nice lone pagoda at the junction)

(Malay College Kuala Kangsar)

(Kuala Kangsar Clock Tower)

Masjid Kota Lama Kanan, Perak – 1916

"Too many people over value what they are not and under value what they are..." - Malcolm Forbes

(Masjid Kota Lama Kanan)

GPS: 4.790452, 100.949353
04°47′25.63″N 100°56′57.67″E

Masjid Kota Lama Kanan is located on the banks of Sungai Perak in Kampung Kota Lama Kanan. The distance from the Royal City of Kuala Kangsar is only 3.5 km via the Sultan Abdul Jalil bridge.

(Crossing the Sultan Abdul Jalil bridge)

(Located in Kampung Batang Kulim in Kuala Kangsar)

(The signboard will soon be covered by bushes)

Masjid Kota Lama Kanan was built during the reign of the late Sultan Mansur Shah, the 2nd Sultan of Perak from the fund donated by Tengku Permaisuri Cik Uteh Mariah, the government and other donors. The mosque started its operation in October 1916. The Kota Lama Kanan Mosque was rebuilt in 1916 replacing the original mosque that had been burnt down by the British Colonials during the Perak War in 1875-1876.

(A lonely mosque by Sungai Perak)

(A through road crossing the compound of the mosque)

(An old cannon by the mosque)

(The cannon is called the ‘meriam padam pelita')

Time and age have changed the appearance of this mosque from the old design to the current design. The structure of the building is simple and does not have the characteristics of Islamic architecture. The basic plan for the building is the squarish prayer hall. The golden dome is located at the centre of the prayer hall. This mosque has no minaret. The extension and additional buildings around the mosque were according to the needs then and due to the increase in the number of congregation members. Until now, this mosque has never been inaugurated.

(The main door is lock outside prayer times)

(Notice board at the dining area)

Masjid Kota Lama Kanan has its own mystic stories. During the great floods, where everywhere else was flooded, the mosque was not affected. In this mosque there is a memorial stone resembling a tombstone meant for Sultan Mansur Shah, the 2nd Sultan of Perak who ruled Perak between 1549 to 1577. 

(The main prayer hall)

(There is a tombstone at the front row)

After the death of Sultan Mudzaffar Shah in Tanah Abang, Lambor, Sultan Mansur Shah was installed as the 2nd Sultan of Perak. It is said that while waiting for the Friday sermon, Sultan Mansur Shah had suddenly disappeared without leaving any trace. This memorial stone was installed by the order of Sultan Idris Murshidul 'Adzam Shah, the 28th Sultan of Perak in memory of Sultan Mansur Shah.

(A cemetery lot by the mosque)

(A tomb for some very important persons)

(A mix of old and new graves)

In addition to the memorial stone, there is an old cannon called the ‘meriam padam pelita' literally mean ‘lamp-extinguishing cannon' located at the side of the mosque next to the cemetery.

This mosque is also one of the places visited by the Sultan during the coronation ceremony of the newly enthroned sultan.

(From a wooden mosque to brick mosque)

(Leaving a mosque full of mysteries)