EXPLORAQUEST MELAKA - TRANQUERAH MOSQUE - 19.2.2009

The Tranquerah Mosque was built in 1728 at the same time as the Kampung Hulu Mosque. It was originally built of timber and has had many restorations since.

As is with most historical mosques in Melaka, the roofs of the Tranquerah Mosque assimilated the pagoda form (level roof). The main roof has a pyramidal, hipped and pitched design. Pitched roofs are roofs with a slope or inclination of more than 15 degrees angle. Hipped roofs are where all sides slope downwards towards the wall because there are no gables. This design usually is square thus giving the pyramid shape of the top-most roof.

The architecture styles of most mosques built in the 18th century can be divided into two styles - the traditional and the vernacular (regional). The traditional means that the style is influenced by the designs of local Malay houses, their way of life and environment. The regional style as distinguished by the level or tiered roofs, decorative roof ridges and clay tiles, octagonal minarets and buildings which are square in shape are the result of regional influences. This is partly because some of the Malays are descendents of various ethnic groups from Indonesia eg. Malays of Javanese descent are from the island of Java and Malays of Bugis descent are from the island of Sulawesi (http://www.hbp.usm.my/conservation/SeminarPaper/PAPERRIYADH.html)

The ornamentation of Tranquerah Mosque are influenced by Malay, Sumatran and Chinese designs. The profound ridges are similar to the designs widely used in Chinese temples

The Tranquerah Mosque minaret is a polygonal shaped minaret with 6 tiers. The form of the minaret resembles a pagoda and suggest strong Chinese influence


The tier roof designs allows for air circulation gaps between each tier. However in the case of the Tranquerah Mosque, the gap is now sealed. Notice the unique "double" motifs on the ridge. The lower is a common design that is featured in a number of other mosques while the top spots an interesting "snail-like" motive. Co-incidently, this snail like motif on the ridge ending of the roof is also typical of many Chinese temple designs


Here's a sied view of the snail-like motif on the ridge. On this particular ridge, a metal ornament can be seen

What's there to do?
1. You might want t0 compare all the designs of mosques found along Jalan Tengkera to Klebang to Panjung Kling right up to Sg Udang
2. Discover who gave away Singapore to Sir Stamford Raffles on 6 February 1819?
3. Check out the famous "internationally knowned Limbongan Kueh Keria
4. Check out the famous vanilla coconut shake

Now who says there's nothing to see and nothing to do in Melaka?