Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia: A Masterpiece of Design | Malaysia Purple Travel Guide
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Backpack and Snorkel Purple Travel GuideThe Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (IAMM) is a world-class cultural institution and houses the largest collection of Islamic art in Southeast Asia. Opened in 1998, the museum spans over 322,917 square feet (30,000 square meters) and is set in the lush surroundings of the Perdana Botanical Garden. The museum acts as a bridge between the Middle East and the Asian world, showcasing a collection that is as geographically diverse as it is artistically profound.
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Why You Should Visit
The IAMM offers an incredibly deep, high-quality, and tranquil experience. For the self-guided traveler, it is an essential resource for understanding the aesthetic, historical, and geographical diversity of Islamic civilization. Unlike many museums that focus solely on the Middle East, the IAMM provides significant space to the Islamic heritage of China, India, and the Malay World, offering a more inclusive view of global history. It is also an air-conditioned sanctuary where the minimal, bright interiors provide a calm respite from the tropical heat.
What is Special About It?
- The Architecture Gallery: This is arguably the most famous section of the museum. It features incredibly detailed scale models of the most significant mosques in the world, including the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and the Taj Mahal in India. These models allow you to study the engineering and geometry of these sites from a bird's-eye perspective.
- The Ottoman Room: One of the most unique permanent exhibits is a reconstructed 19th-century reception room from a home in Ottoman Syria. The wooden paneling, mirrors, and ornate gold-leaf decorations have been meticulously restored to show the luxury of an aristocratic Damascus home.
- The Five Domes: You should look up as you move through the museum. The building features five turquoise-tiled domes that are visible from the exterior. Inside, the undersides of these domes are decorated with intricate, pastel-colored plasterwork patterns inspired by traditional Persian and Central Asian designs.
- Qur’an and Manuscript Gallery: This gallery houses some of the world's oldest and most beautiful handwritten Qur’ans. You can see rare manuscripts written on vellum or silk, featuring exquisite gold illumination and various styles of calligraphy that have evolved over 1,400 years.
Architecture, History and Facts
- The Blue Iwan: The main entrance is designed as a contemporary iwan—a vaulted hall opening into a courtyard. It is framed by a magnificent ‘Blue Iwan’ of hand-painted tiles executed by master craftsmen from Isfahan, Iran.
- Integration of Light: The museum was designed to maximize natural light. The central ‘Inverted Dome Pavilion’ on the ground floor uses a glass-ceiling design to create a play of light and shadow on the polished white marble floors.
- Global Collection: The museum houses over 7,000 artifacts across 12 permanent galleries. These are organized by both material (such as Metalwork, Wood, and Ceramics) and by region (India, China, and the Malay Peninsula).
Self-Guided Information
Category |
Details |
|---|---|
Opening Hours |
Mondays to Sundays: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM, Last Entry: 5:30 PM |
Admission Fee |
International Adult: RM 20.00 (US$4.60). |
Dining |
MOZA Restaurant: Located within the museum, serving high-quality Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine. Open 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM. |
Photography |
Permitted for personal use. Flash photography and tripods are strictly prohibited. |
Getting There |
A 5-minute walk from the National Mosque. The nearest train station is the Kuala Lumpur KTM Station (Old Station). |
Traveler Tip
You should visit the Museum Shop on the ground floor; it is widely considered one of the best museum gift shops in Asia, selling high-quality jewelry, art books, and handcrafted silk scarves that you will not find elsewhere in the city. If you need a moment of silence, you should go to the Open Space Gallery on the ground floor, which has full-length windows overlooking the greenery of the botanical gardens.
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Author: Rudy at Backpack and Snorkel
Bio: Owner of Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guides. We create in-depth guides to help you plan unforgettable vacations around the world.
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