Masjid Tinggi Bagan Serai is a distinctive wooden mosque topped with a zinc roof, originally built in 1897 and later officially inaugurated in 1928 by the late Sultan Iskandar of Perak.
Its unique architecture is believed to have been inspired by the traditional mosque designs of Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Indonesia. During the colonial period, a wave of migrants from Banjarmasin settled in this part of Perak and played a significant role in developing the local rice industry. Reflecting this heritage, the road beside the mosque is named Jalan Banjar.
The mosque follows the Nusantara architectural style, a term that refers to the vernacular design traditions of the Malay Archipelago. Its roof comprises three tiers and is crowned with a pyramid-shaped dome. As with all mosques, it is oriented toward the qibla, the direction of Mecca.
The prayer area is divided into two sections: the main prayer hall, which serves as the central space for congregational prayers, and the serambi at the front, which functions as the mosque’s entrance. The serambi often serves as an extension of the prayer space during times of overflow.
On the mosque’s left side are two ablution areas—one with a traditional well and the other with an ablution pond. A prominent feature of the mosque is its three-storey tower, historically used to call the faithful to prayer. Remarkably, the azan (call to prayer) from this tower has been said to carry up to two miles (around three kilometers) away.
