Marvel at the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque
Built to give the impression that it is floating on water, the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque is a must-see sight in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah in Malaysia. Four minarets, a blue dome and a golden dome are the striking features of the mosque. Closely resembling Medina’s Nawabi Mosque, the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque is an architectural marvel in itself!
As you walk through the mosque you’ll notice that the design is highly influenced by the Arabic form of architecture. Known locally as the floating Mosque, the true beauty of the mosque can be seen when paddle boating on the man-made lagoon towards the mosque.
The mosque hopes to incorporate the local community’s religious, social and economic aspects and has a joint project of a fish farm within its grounds. It also houses four madrassas and a healthcare clinic for the community’s welfare.
Being a place of worship by the Islamic community you are required to dress modestly with your head covered. It’s considered respectable if you remove your footwear at the entrance. Once you remove your footwear you can go to the taps and wash your hands and feet before you enter the inner parts of the mosque. If you are a non-muslim, you won’t be allowed in during prayer hours, but the call to prayer is something you should stop and listen to at least once when you are in Malaysia.
Ask the locals in the mosque for the history of the mosque and they will happily tell you why certain things are done in a particular manner. A local travel guide can also help in this regard. You can find yourself a suitable travel guide from a portal like Locaguide, who can not only accompany you on your Kota Kinabalu city tour but also help you understand the cultural, historic and social significance of these beautiful structures.
Once you have had your fill of the inside of the mosque, head out to watch the sunset over the city of Kota Kinabalu and the man-made lake outside. Just sitting around in the shade can calm you, allow you to deeply introspect and find some peace within yourself.
Originally published at www.tripcanvas.com on August 27, 2018.