Islamic Heritage Park, Islamic cultural park in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia

Islamic Heritage Park occupies Wan Man Island, a former nipah swamp in Kuala Terengganu. Its 22 mosque replicas, monuments and minarets are built at scales from 1:4 to 1:22 of the originals, among them the Dome of the Rock, the Taj Mahal and the Great Mosque of Samarra. The Crystal Mosque, a steel-and-glass landmark, stands on the same grounds.

The site opened in 2008 as a way to introduce people to Islamic buildings from different countries. Since then it has become a place where visitors learn about the architecture and heritage of these regions.

The park honors Islamic architecture through replicas that help visitors understand important religious sites without traveling far to experience them. You can see buildings from different regions and learn how these structures look and function in worship and community life.

The grounds are best explored on foot, with pathways connecting the different replicas to one another. It makes sense to arrive early in the morning to avoid the most visitors and get the best light for photography.

One of the structures is built from steel and glass and hovers over the water. This modern design stands in sharp contrast to the traditional replicas surrounding it and creates a surprising visual shift.