The Islamic Arts Museum in Kuala Lumpur features over 10,000 artefacts from China, India, Middle East and Iran. Photo: TripAdvisor
Asia & Oceania
The Islamic Arts Museum has been ranked the top museum in Malaysia by TripAdvisor and No.8 in Asia. In the recent Travellers’ Choice awards for Museums, the museum in Kuala Lumpur is commended for its role in preserving Islamic art.
“With over 10,000 artefacts from China, Southeast Asia, India, Middle East and Iran, the Islamic Arts Museum in Kuala Lumpur is South-East Asia’s largest museum of Islamic art,” TripAdvisor revealed.
The travel site also recommend stopping by the Bird Park, National Planetarium and National Mosque when visiting the Islamic Arts Museum.
The museum is situated amidst the lush surroundings of the city’s Lake Gardens and is ranked as the No.2 thing to do in Kuala Lumpur on TripAdvisor.
The Islamic Arts Museum opened in 1998. Photo: TripAdvisor
Meanwhile, the Pinang Peranakan Mansion and Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum came in second and third place respectively.
Of the Pinang Peranakan Mansion, TripAdvisor has this to say: “Recreated as a typical home of a rich Baba (Straits-born Chinese man) of the 19th century, the interior features an eclectic mix of English floor tiles, Chinese carved-wood, Scottish ironwork and continental European art and furniture.”
At the museum, visitors should also look out for the special two-seater where prospective couples first meet, while being secretly observed by their elders.
The other two museums also snagged a spot in Asia’s top 25 list, with Pinang Peranakan Mansion ranked 10 and Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum ranked 22 in Asia.
Elsewhere, Xi’an’s Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses is named No.1 in Asia, while the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York took the top spot as the best museum in the world.
The unique design of the Pinang Peranakan Mansion coupled with the antiques on display, showcases the lifestyle and heritage of the Peranakan community. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for museums worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period.
Top 10 Museums in Malaysia
1. Islamic Arts Museum
2. Pinang Peranakan Mansion
3. Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum
4. Ipoh World at Han Chin Pet Soo
5. Colonial Penang Museum
6. Royal Selangor Visitor Centre
7. Straits Chinese Jewellery Museum Malacca
8. Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery
9. Petrosains Science Discovery Centre
10. Malacca Heritage Centre
For the complete list of winners from the 2016 Travellers’ Choice Museums, go to www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Museums. – Chester Chin
