Kalhuvakaru Mosque to be relocated to former Dhiraagu HQ grounds

The famed ‘travelling mosque’ – Kalhuvakaru Mosque – will be reassembled and restored at the land in Chaandhanee Magu where the Dhiraagu headquarters was previously situated, says Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage.

Kalhuvakaru Mosque – an architectural marvel built in the 18th century during Sultan Hassan Nooradeen Iskandhar's reign – was disassembled during former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom to develop and modernize the Rasrani Bageecha (then known as Sultan’s Park).

Built using coral stones and lacquered woodwork, and without use of any form of motor, all pieces of the mosque are designed to fit together like pieces of a puzzle – leading it to be called ‘the travelling mosque’.

Locating the disassembled pieces of the mosque and finding it a new home was one of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s electoral pledges.

Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage issued a statement this Thursday announcing the President, with counsel from his Cabinet, has made the decision to re-assemble Kalhuvakaru Mosque at the junction of Chandhanee Magu and Medhu Ziyaaraih Magu where the Dhiraagu headquarters was previously located.

The ministry said it is in the process of treating and repairing the pieces of the mosque. And is working on preparing a blueprint and plan on reassembling the mosque at its new location.

The office has also opened the opportunity for members of the public to volunteer and join in the efforts to restore the historic mosque.

The Kalhuvakaru Mosque was previously located at where the winter theme park at the Rasrani Bageecha now stands.