Acheen Street Mosque (Masjid Lebuh Aceh)

Tools

The Acheen Street Mosque or Masjid Lebuh Acheh is an old mosque located at the heritage enclave of George Town. It was also called the Mesjid Jamek as well as Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh. The mosque was founded in 1801, making it one of the oldest mosques in Penang. The founder was Tengku Sheriff Syed Hussain Al-Aidid, an Acehnese clan leader who moved to Penang at the invitation of Captain Francis Light, and settled at what became Acheen Street.

Acheen Street Mosque (4 July 2004)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

In the 18th century, with Malacca in decline, trades along the Straits of Malacca moved northwards to Acheh. When Francis Light established the trading post in Penang, he wanted to create a Britsh trading post that rivals Acheh. To do this, he attracted merchants and traders from all over to settle in George Town. As a result, Penang had substantial communities of immigrants from Phuket, China, South India, Acheh, Arabia, and Jews from as far away as Armenia. One of these who settled here was Tengku Syed, a wealthy Achehnese merchant of Arab descent.

Acheen Street Mosque (4 July 2004)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

The Acheen Street Mosque has a Arab-style minaret with a Achehnese roof. The difference between this mosque and the other one, the Kapitan Kling nearby, is that the Acheen Street Mosque was built by a Achehnese, hence a Malay, whereas the Kapitan Kling Mosque was built by the Indian Muslims.

Acheen Street Mosque (4 July 2004)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

Getting there

Take the Rapid Penang Bus Nos. 10, 103, 301, 302, 308, 401 or U502 to Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, walk down the road to Medan Cannon, and you'd see the Acheen Street Mosque at the end of Medan Cannon. You can also take Rapid Penang Bus Nos. 11, 101, 104, 201, 202, 203, U204 or U206 to nearby Lebuh Chulia, and then walk to Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, following by Medan Cannon.

Nearby Sights

Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi

Penang Islamic Museum

Penang Heritage Centre

120 Armenian Street (Dr Sun Yat Sen's Penang Base)

Choo Chay Keong Temple (Yap Temple)

Yap Kongsi

Cheah Kongsi

Visiting Penang

If you're planning a trip to Penang, please go through the information I have assembled in Penang Travel Tips. You'd find there information covering all aspect about Penang, including accommodation, transport, food, shopping, places of interest and more. Everything you need to know Penang is right there at your finger tips!