Nagore Durgha Shrine, George Town

Nagore Durgha Shrine, George Town

Constructed at the dawn of the 19th Century, Nagore Durgha venerates Syed Shahul Hamid, a 13th-century Muslim saint from Nagore, India – a testament to the enduring legacy of Tamil Muslim traders who settled in Penang, bringing with them the tradition of the saint.

Regarded as the oldest Muslim Indian shrine in Penang with its original structure impeccably preserved, Nagore Durgha showcases distinctive South Indian architectural influences. Its rectangular layout features small, tapered minarets at each corner, separated by delicate lattice screens, while a "burji" denotes the plinth level of the edifice.

Welcoming worshippers through a portico with four arches, the front entrance leads to the prayer hall, featuring two onion-shaped domes crowned by inverted lotuses and Indian "kalashas". An adjacent wall features a built-in arcade, home to various shops offering Muslim prayer essentials, jewelry, and the traditional "songkok" headgear worn by males.

Remaining a focal point of religious devotion for Indian Muslims of Tamil descent, the shrine commemorates feast days with ceremonies marked by the distribution of food and the raising of flags, perpetuating the spiritual and cultural heritage of its founders.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in George Town. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Nagore Durgha Shrine on Map

Sight Name: Nagore Durgha Shrine
Sight Location: George Town, Malaysia (See walking tours in George Town)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in George Town, Malaysia

Create Your Own Walk in George Town

Create Your Own Walk in George Town

Creating your own self-guided walk in George Town is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
George Town's Historical Religious Buildings

George Town's Historical Religious Buildings

George Town, Malaysia, has much to be proud of when it comes to religious heritage. The city boasts a plethora of wonderful churches, temples, mosques, and other religious sites – each beautifully decorated and with its own unique story. Follow us on this self-guided walk and see some of them up close.

We start at the Acheen Street Mosque. Dating back to the early 19th century, this is one of...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles
George Town Introduction Walking Tour

George Town Introduction Walking Tour

Some felt in Malaya that the city of George Town should be renamed Tanjung Penaga ("Cape Penaga"). That was the name of the area where George Town now stands. But the Chinese, British, Muslim, Malay and Indian movers and shakers of the town wisely declined. It might be bad for business.

Captain Francis Light, R. N., came to Tanjung Penaga in 1786. He wanted to set up an entrepôt for...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
Farquhar Street Walking Tour

Farquhar Street Walking Tour

Farquhar Street, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2008, is a culturally rich thoroughfare in George Town, Malaysia, and home to many interesting historic properties. Let's take a brief journey down this storied street and see what they are.

At the outset of Farquhar stands the impressive Supreme Court building, a symbol of justice and governance in Penang. Just a stone's throw away,...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles