If you are planning a trip to Malaysia, you have probably heard about a pink mosque considered as the most beautiful in the country. Beware, this famous religious building is not in Kuala Lumpur but in a nearby city called Putrajaya. Follow the guide! We have listed what you can do there to enjoy this amazing city.
About 20 kilometers south of Kuala Lumpur, the historic capital of Malaysia, is a much newer city called Putrajaya.
This city, named after the very first Malaysian Prime Minister, was built from scratch starting in 1995 to become the country's new administrative capital.
Since 1999, this administrative center has concentrated all of Malaysia's ministries and administrative buildings on an area of 49 km2. But the city, far from being austere, is worth a visit for the beauty of its gardens and architecture.
For tourists, Putrajaya's main attraction is not its history or administrative function, but rather a spectacular religious building: the famous Putra Mosque better known by the nickname Pink Mosque!
Malaysians call it The floating mosque because it is located on the edge of a lake. Seen from afar, this pink granite mosque topped with a kevlar dome of the same color looks like a water lily flower sitting on the water.
By its beauty and its amazing color, the building attracts all the glances, more especially as its minaret of a height of 116 meters is one of the highest of the world!
To admire this mosque in all its splendor and discover the details of its architecture, I advise you to go inside. The interior, which can accommodate 15,000 worshippers, is really beautiful because it is also decorated in shades of pink.
If you hesitate to enter, you should know that this place of worship is open to foreign visitors, provided that women wear a kind of large red cape with a hood covering their arms and head.
To get another interesting perspective on the famous pink mosque, I highly recommend taking a cruise on Putrajaya Lake. It is, in my opinion, the best local tourist attraction.
Malaysia's administrative capital is indeed home to one of the largest man-made lakes in the world. Covering 650 hectares, it is fed by two rivers that have been diverted.
The cruise on the lake will allow you to discover and admire many buildings, including Perdana Putra, the palace that houses the Prime Minister's offices and Seri Perdana, the Prime Minister's residence.
Just hop on a small boat to enjoy the ride on the lake and see the wonderful pink mosque reflected in its calm waters. This cruise also offers, for women, a refreshing break after visiting the mosque as the red cloak we told you about above keeps you very warm.
During the cruise on the lake or during a simple walk in the city, you will discover that the Putra Mosque is far from being the only interesting building in Putrajaya!
In this new city that seems to have sprung from nothing like Brasilia in Brazil, all the buildings are new and particularly impressive.
You can see the headquarters of various ministries but also many bridges of various styles and several mosques, including the Iron Mosque pictured below.
As you tour the city, you will discover that Putrajaya is also a garden city. Green spaces occupy more than a third of the area and special care has been taken to landscape the new administrative capital.
The city, which also hosts events and a festival, takes care of its image and decor for the delight of Malaysian or foreign visitors.
This new city rich in symbols abounds in monuments and sculptures. I was even surprised to come across sculptures created from recycled waste like this teapot built with... old tires!
To conclude, Putrajaya offers a nice getaway at the gates of Kuala Lumpur if you feel like a change of scenery for a day or even a half day.
Author Audrey on 30 March 2009
Travel and Tourism : Stay
Author Audrey on 12 July 2023
Travel and Tourism : Stay