Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur (must see)

The Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, located in Kuala Lumpur, opened its doors on December 12, 1998. It's the largest museum dedicated to Islamic arts in Southeast Asia, boasting a collection of over 7,000 artifacts from across the Islamic world.

The museum's architecture combines modern design with traditional Islamic elements. Its exterior, spanning 30,000 square meters, features simple, contemporary lines along with classic Islamic design touches. Notable are its turquoise-tiled domes, which add a fabric-like texture to the building and make it a distinctive part of Kuala Lumpur's skyline. The entrance, adorned with tiles crafted by Iranian artisans, mirrors the design and includes a welcoming verse from the Qur'an, enhancing its connection with the environment.

Inside, the museum offers twelve galleries across two floors. The first floor focuses on Islamic architecture, Qur'an manuscripts, and artworks from India, China, and the Malay Peninsula. The second floor displays collections of Islamic arms and armor, textiles, jewelry, and coins, plus three galleries showcasing metal, wood, and ceramic artworks. The museum is also renowned for its collection of historic Islamic glassware.

Beyond its exhibits, the museum engages in educational and research activities, and it has advanced conservation facilities. A highlight is the meticulously restored "Ottoman Room" from the early 19th century, a significant exhibit that has contributed to international discussions on conserving Islamic architecture and the impact of tropical climates on painted wood, particularly relevant to Southeast Asia.

Why You Should Visit:
To spend a couple of hours surrounded by exquisite Islamic art and artifacts, curated extremely well in Malay, English, and Arabic.
The beautiful domed building has lots of light and there is plenty of space to wander and look at their collection of Qur'ans, jewelry, ceramics, weapons and so on.
The architecture gallery with models of significant mosques is also very good, and the gift shop actually has useful gifts – not just mugs and posters – and MANY of them, too!

Tip:
Make sure to bring cash as they do not accept credit cards; you are only free to visit the library or café or gift shop.
The National Mosque is just across the street, so it makes sense to visit these two places together.