Makam Keluarga Noordin
Noordin Family Tomb, also called Noordin Mausoleum, is located facing Chulia Street next door to the original main entrance of the Kapitan Keling Mosque. The mausoleum was built in the mid 19th century by prominent Indian Muslim merchant Mahomed Noordin Merican, who arrived in Penang with his mother and his elder brother, Abdur Cauder Merican, who became the Kapitan Keling. The Noordin Family Tomb originally housed a school called Dunam Pillay. Classes were held there for learning the Al-Quran, Arabic, Malabar, Hindi, Tamil and English were held there. It became a tomb after it was used as a mausoleum to Mahomed Noordin Merican's mother.
Mahomed Noordin Merican came to Malaya from Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu, India (but he is not a Chola, as I have earlier reported here, but rather a Turlekan, a people originating from a place in Turkey). The word "Merican" is derived from the word "Mericalayar", which means "people from the sea", to denote their seafaring activities and businesses. Mahomed Noordin Merican passed away at the age of 92 in 1870. The Noordin Family Tomb originally served as the mausoleum for Mahomed Noordin Merican's mother. However, Noordin himself was also buried there when he died in 1870. Mahomed Noordin Merican's son, Mahomed Mashurdin Merican Noordin, was also known as MM Noordin. He was born in 1848 and died in 1924, in the house called Clifton, in Northam Road. He was the leader of the Indian Muslim community of George Town. The British authorities made him a Municipal Commissioner and a Justice of the Peace - he was one of the first Muslims to be accorded such an honor.
MM Noordin's son Aladin Merican Noordin, also known as A.M. Noordin, was the grandfather of the person who assisted me with the information, Wan Mohd Nasserudin Noordin. Wan Mohd Nasserudin Noordin's father was Isdin Merican Noordin, or I.M. Noordin, but better known as Wan Noordin, was one of the best known jockeys in Malaya, Singapore and Sarawak. After standing in a run-down state for decades, the Noordin Family Tomb was recently restored. Now it houses the Galeri Seni Lukis Persatuan Pelukis Melayu Pulau Pinang (Penang Malay Artist Association Art Gallery).
Getting there
From the Weld Quay Bus Terminal, cross Pengkalan Weld using the pedestrian bridge. Then turn left and walk along Pengkalan Weld until you reach Gat Lebuh Chulia. Turn right into Gat Lebuh Chulia and walk the distance. At the junction of Lebuh Pantai, Gat Lebuh Chulia becomes Lebuh Chulia. Continue along Lebuh Chulia until the junction with Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling. Cross Lebuh Chulia to the other side, and then cross Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling. Following that, continue a short distance down Lebuh Chulia, and you'll arrive at the Noordin Family Tomb on your left.
Nearby sights
Noordin Family Tomb, now used as the Malay Artist Art Gallery, is located in the middle of a very heritage-rich area, within the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site core zone. Within close walking distance are the following sights. The point of reference is the main entrance of the art gallery.
Masjid Kapitan Keling:
Located behind the Noordin Family Tomb, it can be reached by the entrance to the left of the tomb. If that entrance is locked, use the other entrance along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling. From the tomb, turn right and walk to the junction. At the junction, turn right and walk along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling until you reach the entrance.
Teochew Ancestral Temple: Turn right and walk along Lebuh Chulia until the junction. Cross the junction, and it is on the right side of the road facing Lebuh Queen
Sri Mahamariamman Temple: Turn right and walk along Lebuh Chulia until the junction. Cross the junction, and it is on the left side of Lebuh Queen
Kuan Yin Teng:
From Noordin Family Tomb, turn right, go along Lebuh Chulia until the junction of Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, then turn left. You will see Kuan Yin Teng on the left side of the road facing Lebuh China.
Nagore Shrine: Turn right along Lebuh Chulia. Go straight ahead, past the Jalan Kapitan Keling junction, and you will find it on the opposite side of the road, on the right side of the junction of Lebuh King.
Lim Kongsi: Turn right along Lebuh Chulia, cross the Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling junction, then turn right into Lorong Pitt. At the end of Lorong Pitt is Lebuh Ah Quee, with Lim Kongsi right in front.
Madrasah Hamid Arabi: Turn right along Lebuh Chulia, cross the Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling junction, then turn right into Lorong Pitt. At the end of Lorong Pitt is Lebuh Ah Quee, with Lim Kongsi right in front. To the right of Lim Kongsi is the Madrasah Hamid Arabi.
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!
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Noordin Family Tomb Tower, Chulia Street (8 January 2008)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Noordin Family Tomb Tower, Lebuh Chulia (1 September 2008)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Details of the arabesque stucco ornamentation (1 September 2008)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Details of the arabesque stucco ornamentation (8 January 2008)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Noordin Family Tomb Location Map
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