A Golden Place of Worship: A Guide to the Sultan Mosque
Kampong Glam is one of Singapore’s most beloved neighborhoods. It has a long, interesting history, and it’s also home to countless beautiful cultural landmarks; one such landmark is the Sultan Mosque.
Located near Arab Street, the Sultan Mosque is more than just a place of worship; it’s also an architectural marvel. It towers over the shophouses in the neighborhood, and its golden dome is like a beacon luring you in.
If you’d like to visit the Sultan Mosque, be sure to read this article for a memorable time.
Things to Know
Address: 3 Muscat St, Singapore 198833
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—10 am to 9 pm
Contact Number: +6562934405
History and Background
— From: yipyewchong
Also known as the Masjid Sultan, the Sultan Mosque has been around since colonial times. It was built in 1824 at the request of Sultan Hussain Shah, who was the ruler of Temasek (the former name of Singapore).
At the time, the mosque was just a brick structure with an area that was enough to accommodate the local Muslim population.
A hundred years later, it underwent reconstruction, which made the design more intricate and added more space for devotees.
In 1975, the Sultan Mosque was officially declared a national monument of Singapore.
Now, even though it’s been about two centuries since it was built, the Sultan Mosque remains one of the most prominent mosques and one of the most impressive religious buildings in Singapore.
How to Get There
MRT: Riding the MRT is the best way to get to the Sultan Mosque. You just have to ride the train and alight at either the Bugis station or Jalan Besar station, then walk to your destination (it should take about less than 10 minutes).
Bus: If you prefer riding the bus, ride any of the following bus services: 7, 32, 51, 61, 63, 80, 145, 197, 175, and 648. These buses pass by North Bridge Road, which is where you can find the mosque.
Taxi or Ride-Hailing App: It’s also possible to get to the Sultan Mosque via a taxi or a private car from a ride-hailing app.
Car: If you want to drive to the mosque, take note that there’s no parking lot within the premises. Instead, you have to park in any of the nearby car parks, such as the Golden Landmark Shopping Complex Car Park (on 145 Arab Street).
Best Time to Visit
— From: aknakh
If you just want to stop by to explore the mosque and admire its architecture, the best time to visit should be during the daytime. That way, you can see the mosque in all its glory and take the best photos with your camera phone.
That said, if you’re not a Muslim, I would recommend avoiding coming here during prayer times. The mosque will be packed, and you don’t want to be in the way of the devotees.
Another perfect time to visit the mosque is during any Muslim holiday (e.g. Ramadan) because it becomes a place of celebration. In other words, the mosque will be the most active, and you get to participate in fun activities.
Rules to Keep in Mind
— From: anggieranggani and rava_avgani
To ensure that you won’t experience any problems when visiting the Sultan Mosque, be sure to keep the following rules in mind:
- Wear the proper attire. Since the mosque is a place of worship, you must adhere to its dress code if you want to step inside.
- For Men: sleeved tops and long pants
- For Women: long-sleeved tops, skirts or pants that cover up to your ankles, no cleavage
- For Students: sleeved tops and track pants
- None of the clothes should be see-through
- Before stepping inside the mosque, remove your footwear.
- Observe silence and be respectful.
- If you wish to take photos inside, turn off the flash.
What to Do
Admire the eye-catching architecture
— From: shoko.no.tabi
The architecture is definitely the first thing you’ll notice when you see the Sultan Mosque. For starters, its massive dome is painted golden, so when hit by sunlight, it practically shines!
The closer you come to the mosque, you’ll even see more artistic details. For example, every onion-shaped dome is decorated with glass bottles, which were donated by lower-income Muslims back in the day.
There are also gold accents on the mosque’s facade. It’s truly a sight for sore eyes!
Join a walking tour
— From: tkdsl8655
You can come to the Sultan Mosque and explore it by yourself, but if you want a more in-depth experience, you can join a walking tour.
A walking tour involves a group of visitors and a guide who will take you around. This guide will also impart information about the mosque, so you’ll be more knowledgeable by the end.
Most walking tours don’t just revolve around the mosque; instead, they’re more of a tour around Kampong Glam, and the mosque is one of the waypoints. So, you can also explore other landmarks in the neighborhood!
Monster Day Tours offers free Kampong Glam walking tours; you just have to meet with the others at the specified rendezvous. There are also paid walking tours, and these offer more benefits like more places to visit or complimentary snacks.
Attend events
— From: adjienegara
If you’re lucky enough to find yourself in Singapore during any of the Islamic holidays, then you might want to head to the Sultan Mosque. This is because the mosque will hold events in celebration of these holidays, and it’s fun to see people celebrating.
Aside from Islamic holidays, the mosque also hosts other kinds of events, such as a symposium during International Women’s Day.
If you want to be updated on what events are available at the mosque, be sure to check their website now and then.