Nurul Islamiyah Mosque

Open Days: Daily For Prayer

Opening Hours: According To Daily Prayer Times / Exterior Visits Recommended From 08.00 – 17.00

 

Nurul Islamiyah Mosque, also known as Nooran Islamiyah Mosque, Ban Laem Panwa, is an important Muslim place of worship in Ban Laem Panwa, Wichit Subdistrict, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket. Located along Sakdidej Road, also known as the route to Cape Panwa, the mosque serves the Muslim community of Laem Panwa, Ao Yon, Khao Khad, and nearby coastal areas on Phuket’s southeastern side. It is a meaningful religious and cultural landmark for travelers who want to understand Phuket through Muslim community life, coastal villages, halal travel routes, and local faith.

 

Ban Laem Panwa is a coastal community near bays, small beaches, viewpoints, seafood areas, and the route to Phuket Aquarium. Many visitors know Cape Panwa for its quiet hotels, scenic east-coast views, Ao Yon Beach, and Phuket Aquarium. For the local community, however, Nurul Islamiyah Mosque is one of the most important spiritual landmarks in the area. It represents the continuity of Muslim life in a coastal Phuket village that has grown alongside tourism while preserving its own religious identity.

 

The mosque was first built in 1957. Before that time, Muslim residents from Laem Panwa, Ao Yon, and Khao Khad had to travel to the mosque at Ao Makham to perform religious duties. Because travel between villages was difficult in the past and the number of worshippers continued to grow, community leaders agreed that Laem Panwa needed its own mosque. Mr. Den Utsaha donated land for the mosque, and local residents contributed materials and labour to build the first prayer building.

 

The first mosque was a simple wooden structure with a zinc roof and concrete floor. It was not built for grandeur, but for practical worship and community need. As the Muslim community grew, the original structure became too small, and later mosque buildings were developed to better serve the congregation. This development reflects the growth of the Ban Laem Panwa Muslim community over several generations.

 

In 1968, the mosque was officially registered as Nurul Islamiyah Mosque, registration number 28 in Phuket. The name means “the light of Islam,” which fits its role as a spiritual centre for the community. The mosque has continued to support daily prayer, Friday congregational prayer, religious learning, charity events, and community gatherings.

 

During the early 1990s, the mosque expanded further to accommodate more worshippers. A new single-storey concrete mosque building was developed and began serving religious activities from 20 February 1993 onward. This newer building became the main prayer space for the community and remains closely tied to the identity of Ban Laem Panwa.

 

Nurul Islamiyah Mosque is used for daily prayers, Friday prayer, sermons, religious learning, and community communication. After prayer, the mosque also becomes a place where worshippers meet, share news, support one another, and maintain family and village relationships. This makes the mosque more than a prayer building. It is a living community institution.

 

The current imam is Mr. Abdullah Amit, who serves as the religious leader of the mosque. The mosque also has committee members and community representatives who support religious activities, charity events, educational work, and the upkeep of the mosque compound. Together, they help maintain the mosque as a centre of worship and community continuity.

 

Nurul Islamiyah Mosque is also associated with community charity events, including local fundraising activities that support religious education and mosque administration. These events bring together residents, local organisations, and supporters from nearby communities. They show the strong mutual-support culture of Phuket’s Muslim community and the role of the mosque as a centre for collective action.

 

The mosque is especially useful for halal travel planning in Cape Panwa. The surrounding area includes halal restaurants, seafood restaurants, viewpoints, quiet beaches, Phuket Aquarium, and hotels. Muslim travelers visiting Ao Yon, Cape Panwa, Phuket Aquarium, or Khao Khad View Tower can use the mosque as a prayer reference point during the day.

 

Cape Panwa has a different atmosphere from Phuket’s more famous west-coast beaches. It is quieter, more local, and more connected with bays, fishing communities, small beaches, viewpoints, and peaceful seaside hotels. Nurul Islamiyah Mosque adds an important cultural layer to this area by showing how Muslim community life continues beside tourism, coastal livelihoods, and everyday village routines.

 

Non-Muslim visitors may respectfully view the exterior of the mosque, but should not enter prayer areas without permission. Visitors should not photograph worshippers during prayer, speak loudly, or disturb mosque activities. Anyone wishing to see the interior should first ask permission from mosque representatives or community members, especially on Fridays and during prayer times.

 

Modest clothing is required around the mosque. Men should wear shirts with sleeves and proper trousers. Women should choose clothing that covers shoulders, arms, and legs appropriately. Beachwear, sleeveless tops, and revealing clothing are not suitable. Visitors should keep their behaviour quiet and respectful throughout the visit.

 

Getting There from Phuket Town is straightforward. Take Sakdidej Road toward Ao Makham, Ao Yon, and Cape Panwa. When reaching the Laem Panwa area in Wichit, follow the local road toward the mosque. Private car, rental car, taxi, or ride-hailing service is the most practical way to visit, as this is a local community route rather than a major public-transport stop.

 

From Ao Yon or Cape Panwa, follow Sakdidej Road back toward Phuket Town. The mosque is located in the Ban Laem Panwa area, along the same route connecting hotels, local homes, halal restaurants, and coastal attractions. Visitors should allow extra travel time in the morning and evening because the road is used by residents, hotel traffic, and visitors traveling to Cape Panwa attractions.

 

Nearby places that pair well with the mosque include Cape Panwa, Phuket Aquarium, Ao Yon Beach, Khao Khad View Tower, Ao Makham, Saphan Hin, and Phuket Old Town. A practical half-day route can begin in Phuket Town, continue to Khao Khad View Tower, stop at Nurul Islamiyah Mosque for prayer or a respectful exterior visit, then continue to halal dining, Ao Yon Beach, or Phuket Aquarium.

 

Nearby food options include halal restaurants, Muslim-owned eateries, and seafood restaurants around Laem Panwa and Wichit. Travelers looking for clearly halal options can consider The Panwa Cafe n’ Restaurant, Panwa Halal Food, The Old Panwa, and Hill House Halal Restaurant. General seafood restaurants should be checked directly for ingredients and preparation methods.

 

Accommodation around Cape Panwa and Ao Yon ranges from luxury beachfront resorts to smaller beachfront hotels. Nearby options include Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort, Cape Panwa Hotel, V Villas Phuket MGallery Collection, My Beach Resort Phuket, and Panwa Boutique Beachfront. Staying in this area is suitable for travelers who prefer quieter coastal surroundings, east-coast scenery, and relatively easy access to Phuket Town.

 

Overall, Nurul Islamiyah Mosque is best understood as a religious and community landmark rather than a conventional tourist attraction. Its strengths are its origin from local faith in 1957, its status as Phuket mosque registration number 28, its name meaning “the light of Islam,” its role under the leadership of Imam Abdullah Amit, and its location near Cape Panwa’s beaches, viewpoints, aquarium, halal food options, and hotels. For travelers who want to see Phuket through Muslim coastal community life, this mosque is one of the meaningful places on the southeastern side of the island.

 

 

A: Nurul Islamiyah Mosque is located in Ban Laem Panwa, Wichit Subdistrict, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket, along Sakdidej Road on the route to Cape Panwa.

 

A: The mosque was first built in 1957 through the collective effort of Muslim residents from Laem Panwa, Ao Yon, and Khao Khad.

 

A: It is the main religious centre for the Ban Laem Panwa Muslim community, supporting daily prayers, Friday prayer, charity activities, religious learning, and community gatherings.

 

A: The imam of the mosque is Mr. Abdullah Amit.

 

A: Non-Muslim visitors may respectfully view the exterior, but should not enter prayer areas without permission or photograph worshippers during prayer.

 

A: From Phuket Town, take Sakdidej Road toward Ao Makham, Ao Yon, and Cape Panwa. The mosque is located in the Ban Laem Panwa area of Wichit.

 

A: Yes. Nearby halal and Muslim-friendly options include The Panwa Cafe n’ Restaurant, Panwa Halal Food, The Old Panwa, and Hill House Halal Restaurant.

 

A: Nearby places include Cape Panwa, Phuket Aquarium, Ao Yon Beach, Khao Khad View Tower, Ao Makham, Saphan Hin, and Phuket Old Town.