At the heart of this area stands Masjid India, a spiritual and cultural landmark with roots dating back to 1863. Initially known as Masjid Kampung Melaka, this small wooden mosque was built by Encik Baki, the father-in-law of Haji Abdullah Hukum. It was a popular place of worship for Indian Muslim devotees and was later called Masjid Keling, Masjid Chulia, and Masjid India Selatan.

Over time, the mosque underwent significant transformations, adopting a South Indian architectural style:Onion-domed chatris, those elegant umbrella-shaped cupolas, adorn the roof, while arched windows, carved with Islamic motifs, let in the soft glow of natural light. The single minaret, topped with a chatri, stands tall. And the vertically-striped ventilators, punctuated by balconies, add a touch of architectural flair. The first floor, a domain for men, while the second is reserved for women. The ground floor, a communal space for gatherings and assemblies.

Old residents recall its bucolic past:

“The mosque was beautiful. There was a small wooden mosque with a big sandy compound and a few coconut trees. It had a unique green bush that used to cover the whole back of the fence. I have never seen that bush ever again in my life. There was also a pond where people came to wash their feet and hands before prayers. It was a man-made pond with fish inside. That was our playground. We used to play hide-and-seek, kunda-kundi (“stick game”), marbles, chopping board, slippers and cards on the five-foot way of the shophouse. If we became too noisy, the iman would come out and chase us!”

• 1863: Masjid India was built by Encik Baki with bricks and timber.
• 1889: Masjid India is shown on a map published by W.T. Wood of the Kuala Lumpur Land Office.
• Before 1892: Two mosques were located in Kampung Rawa (now Malacca Street and Ampang Street). One was on Java Street (now Jalan Tun Perak) and the other in the northwest of Malay Street (now the location of Masjid India).
• 1900: An extension was added to Masjid India to accommodate the growing congregation.
• 1939: A wooden annexure was constructed.
• 1952: Another extension was added due to space constraints.
• 1962: A committee was formed to build a new three-storey mosque. The old building was pulled down, and the foundation for the new mosque was laid by the Sultan of Selangor on 11th September.
  • Rumour has it that the renowned architect Lee Yoon Thim was commissioned (by the South Indian Muslim Committee on Mountbatten Road) to design a mosque and madrasa on Malay Street back in the early 1960s. While the project may not have fully materialised, his influence can still be seen in the architecture of Masjid India. Some believe that Lee’s design aesthetic is evident in the mosque’s exterior, which shares similarities with the Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru.
• 1964: On 29th June, the Sultan of Selangor officially opened the new three-storey mosque.
• 1990s: Masjid India faced challenges of inadequate space and facilities due to growing numbers of worshippers.
• 1999: A major renovation took place, including the construction of a basement with more toilets, ablution spaces, and additional prayer space. Separate ablution and toilet facilities for women were introduced.
• 2002: The mosque was given a facelift, with the building clad in polished granite slabs.