Tuo Kayu Jao Mosque, 16th century mosque in Batang Barus, West Sumatra.

Tuo Kayu Jao Mosque is a wooden structure with a rectangular form approximately 15 meters long and 10 meters wide located in Batang Barus. The roof sits upon 27 wooden pillars that create a traditional multi-layered construction supporting the entire building.

The mosque's existence is recorded in 1599, making it the oldest in Solok Regency, though other records suggest older dates and the exact completion year is unknown. Local leaders say Angku Musaur and Angku Labai, buried near the mosque, played a role in its construction, which followed Islam's spread in the Solok region in the 16th century.

The structure displays traditional Minangkabau craftsmanship through its decorative details and distinctive three-tiered palm fiber roof. These building methods reflect local construction practices that remain connected to the community today.

The mosque stands in Jorong Kayu Jao, reached by road from the nearest village in Gunung Talang District. Visitors should ask local community leaders before entering, as it remains an active place of worship and religious education. The surrounding paths are unpaved, so sturdy shoes help.

The mosque sits in a valley beneath plantation land rather than in a typical urban or central location for a religious building. This remote setting has allowed the structure to remain largely unchanged across the centuries.