Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Kota Kinabalu City Mosque

Kota Kinabalu City Mosque Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas Wikimedia

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Kota Kinabalu City Mosque

The Kinabalu City Mosque also known as the floating mosque is located on the shores of Likas Bay on the northeastern side of downtown Kota Kinabalu. The mosque features a classical style of Islamic architecture and offers an unforgettable view of the sunset. It is the largest mosque in the city and can hold up to 12,000 worshippers.

It is surrounded by a man-made lagoon that give a dramatic look to the mosque on a full moon night. It is open to the public to view however; a registration fee is required before you access the mosque.  The mosque is open all days of the week except on Fridays when it remains closed from public visits. The opening time is 8. Am and closing time is 5. Pm, however sometimes the time may differ from activities such as night glow stand-up paddles.

1. Largest Mosque in the City

Kota Kinabalu City Mosque Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas Wikimedia

Kota Kinabalu city Mosque is the largest mosque in Kota Kinabalu. It is constructed on a 14.83-acre (6.00ha) site at Pasir Road on the shores of Likas Bay, south China Sea.

 It is a huge building that can hold up to a maximum capacity of 12,000 worshippers. This show how big the building is to hold such a big capacity.

2. It Features a Classical Style of Architecture

Kota Kinabalu mosque is one of the most beautiful structures in the city and the entire country of Malaysia. It is the perfect blend of modern and Islamic architecture officially opened in 2000 to celebrate Kota Kinabalu’s elevation to the state capital of Sabah. The architecture of the mosque highly resembles the Nabawi Mosque in Medina, the final resting place of Muhammad.

The mosque featured a classical style with four minarets, dome of the mosque is striking and resplendent in gold and blue colours. The mosque is surrounded by an artificial lagoon that made it to be named a floating mosque.

3. Non- Muslims Can Enter the Mosque

Unlike many mosques, Kota Kinabalu Mosque allows non-Muslims to enter. Tourists from all different religions can visit this amazing building and get to learn more about its features such as its architecture when it was built, how much it cost as well as enjoy the amazing view of the sunset. However, during prayers, only Muslims are allowed to access the mosque.

4. It is Centrally Located

The mosque is centrally located in the city and is situated near the South China Sea, it can be reached easily from the city centre of Kota Kinabalu. The Mosque is just 3 KM from the main Kota Kinabalu City and is easily accessible.

To get to the Mosque you can take a local taxi which will cost you around 15 MYR one way. you can as well use public means and take a bus No. 5A from the front of Hotel Shangri-La and it will cost you around 1.50 MYR per person one way.

5. It is Referred to Floating Mosque

Kota Kinabalu City Mosque Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas Wikimedia

The Kota Kinabalu city Mosque is referred to as a floating mosque. The mosque is surrounded by an artificial Lagoon, this makes the building appear to be floating when viewed from a distance and casts a fantastic beauty of the mosque reflection into the cool blue waters. This is one of the attractions in the mosque and makes many people visit to see this amazing view.

6. The Construction of the Mosque Cost a lot of Money

Kota Kinabalu City Mosque Photo By CEphoto, Uwe Aranas Wikimedia

Since the mosque was constructed using the modern classic style and the design is based on the Nabawi Mosque, a mosque built by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the city of Medina in the Al Madinah Province of Saudi Arabia.

The construction of the mosque started in 1989 when the preparation was being made and the installation of foundation piles began in 1992. In the years 1993 and 1994 construction was delayed due lack of funds. However, the construction was completed and the mosque opened on February 2, 2000. The construction process cost 34 million Malaysian ringgits which is a lot of money.

7. It is a Common Tourist Destination

Kota Kinabalu City Mosque Photo By CEphoto, Uwe Aranas Wikimedia

The Kota Kinabalu Mosque is a tourist destination site in Malaysia. It is one of the sites which earns revenue for the country. All tourists that visit have to pass through the Kota Kinabalu Mosque tourist department to pay some fee for entrance.

 For an international visit you have to pay a fee of RM 5 but for all Malaysian is free of charge to visit. It is open all days of the week starting from 8. Am to 5 pm except on Friday when it remains closed. You only need less or an hour to tour the whole Mosque.

8. Photographers’ Common Destination

The mosque is as well photographers destination since there are tourists visiting day in and day out. In Kota Kinabalu, you find professional photographers at affordable prices.

 They guide you in getting your best shots and bringing the best out of your memories. One of the best photographer tours has been the night glow stand-up paddles in Kota Kinabalu and stand-up paddle boarding with sunrise or sunset tour. When you visit the mosque do not forget to get yourself one of the photographers to capture your memories.

9. Mode of Dressing is Strict

Since it is a worshipping area there are rules on what to wear to be able to enter the mosque. Visitors are required to wear modest clothing.

 Lonely Planet, ( a travel guide book publisher founded in Australia in 1973 and the company has published over 150 million books) recommends dressing in long trousers and making sure you wear something that covers your arms. I as well request you wear a decent dressing code to honour the place of worship.

10. It Introduced Paddle Boats Rides

The Kota Mosque management in 2008 introduced paddle boat rides. The main aim of these paddle boat rides was to allow visitors to view the mosque from the water which is more fun.

A mosque committee member also stated that this was to make the mosque more relevant to the community’s life encompassing religion, economy and social aspects. During this activity, participants will learn the basic technique of stand-up paddling.