Masjid Tarik Air

Masjid Tarik Air is a small mosque along Burmah Road, George Town, at the junction with Aboo Sittee Lane. It dates to 1880, to a very different era when pipe water is not readily available.

In the old days, a battalion of water carriers would convey fresh water collected from the Waterfall (the Botanical Gardens Waterfall) and carry it all the way to town. Often, bullock carts and oxen were used to transport the water, but it is not infrequent to find coolies carting water pails on yokes. That is why Burmah Road is known in Hokkien as Chia Chooi Lor, or Jalan Kreta Ayer in Malay, meaning "water cart road".

Masjid Tarik Air was a rest stop for the coolies, many of whom were Indian Muslims. It was also the site where the perform their daily prayers before continuing on their journey.