Abdul Gaffoor Mosque Originally a wooden structure, the mosque was erected by Shaik Abdul Gaffoor Shaik Hyder on Dunlop Street in 1859. The land between Dunlop Street and Mayo Street is part of the Dunlop Street Mosque Endowment. Shaik Abdul Gaffoor, as one of the trustees of the endowment, directed the building of shophouses on the land. He then collected the income generated from the shophouses and applied it to the construction of the brick mosque. Building began in 1907. In 1910, when the new mosque was partially completed, the old wooden building was pulled down. The brick mosque was restored in 2003, and was the first mosque to be presented with the Architectural Heritage Award by the Urban Redevelopment Authority.

Above the main door of the mosque there is an elaborate sundial. The sundial— unique in the Islamic world— is decorated with Arabic calligraphy, denoting the names of the 25 prophets of Islam. The yellow- and- green colour scheme, the intricate decoration, and the blend of Islamic and European architecture, make this mosque distinct. It was gazetted as a national monument in 1979.

Photo credit: Sin Kam Cheong