PENANG
Penang (off the coast of northwest Malaysia, reached by 13-kilometers bridge from Butterworth) is a developed island with a lot of hotels,some nice beaches, some not-so-nice beaches, pushy touts, some factories and a distinctly Chinese character. The state of Penang has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai (formerly Province Wellesley) on the Malay Peninsula. The state of Penang, including the mainland part, covers 1,048 square kilometers (404 square miles) while the island of Penang covers 750 square kilometers 285 square miles. The population density of the state is 1451 people per square kilometer. The capital is George Town. The second smallest Malaysian state by land mass,
Penang means Betel Nut. It’s main city and port, George Town, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with Malacca in 2008. Today, over 1.5 million people live in Penang state while about a million live on Penang Island, which can be reached from Butterworth on the mainland by the Penang Bridge or frequent ferries that run 24 hours a day. It has a cruise ship port and of late has become popular with Koreans, Chinese and Taiwanese. Among Penang’s attractions are an inclined railway to the top of Penang Hill, ferries to the mainland and Sumatra, small antique shops, and numerous temples, mosques, British colonial buildings, and perhaps most of all its food and culture.
Penang should be enjoyed more from a cultural, foodie and architectural level than a beach one as the water at some beaches is murky and there are too many pushy vendors. Michelle Jana Chan wrote in The Telegraph: “On the northern tip of the island, Ferringhi beach has, sadly, lost its lustre — with murky waters and pestering touts Michelle Jana Chan wrote in The Telegraph: “The main city, George Town, feels like a brash young Hong Kong with its colonial architecture, waterfront skyscrapers and antiquated streets. The downtown area... reflects its mercantile history with the striking Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, a former residence of a Chinese shipping magnate, and the 19th-century clan house Khoo Kongsi, as well as Buddhist temples, mosques and churches. This cultural heritage is the island's greatest draw, combined with Malaysia's best street hawker food, such as roti canai (spicy lentils wrapped in hot, flaky bread), Assam laksa (a sour fish soup made with tamarind stock) and char kuey teow (stir-fried seafood noodles). [Source: Michelle Jana Chan, The Telegraph, November 17, 2011]
1) Local Tourism Office: Pejabat Tourism Malaysia Negeri Pulau Pinang, No. 11, Beach Street, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, Tel: 604-261 0058, Fax: 604-262 3688. 2) Tourist Information Centre George Town, 10, Jalan Tun Syed Sheh, Barakbah, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, Tel: 604-262-0066/261-9067. 3) Tourist Information Centre Penang International Airport, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, Tel: 604-643-0501.
History of Penang
Located about 120 kilometers south of the Thai border, Penang was a small trading entrepot amd a remote fishing outpost until it was transformed by the British into a repair facility for British East India Company ships in the late 1700s. The British were first attracted to George Town's natural harbor as the spot to anchor their warships in defending British East India Company posts. As trading in the area developed, Chinese, Indians, Arabs, and many others settled harmoniously alongside the indigenous Malays. Since then Penang has never looked back.
Hsu Chuang Khoo of Reuters wrote: “The island of Penang...was a stop for traders as long ago as the 16th century, when Europeans sailed east in search of the spices that grew on islands just beyond the peninsular, in what is now Indonesia. Penang... lies at the northern entrance of the Malacca strait, then as now the main sea channel linking east and west Asia. The British took possession of it in 1786 and established George Town as a trading centre. The British erected some fine colonial buildings, including a Georgian fort and elegant Victorian church, but the real attractions are the jam of gilded Chinese temples, bleached minarets and the epic, sculpted facades of Indian shrines.” Source: Hsu Chuang Khoo, Reuters, September 24, 2007]
Arguably Penang’s character today is more Chinese than British. The early Chinese settlers who first starting comming in large numbers came in the late 19th century. They mainly belong to Hokkien and Cantonese communities and brought their customs and culture with them, building Chinese-style houses, erecting clan houses and setting up secret Chinese societies. Malaysia's economic boom in many ways began on Penang in the 1960s and 1970s, when Japanese and United States companies set up light assembly factories there. Many of the inhabitants are descendants of Chinese and Indians brought to the island by the British to work as laborers and clerks. Fishermen and traders from the Middle East and Thailand also settled there.
Getting to and Around Penang
Penang is connected to the Malaysian by a 13 kilometer toll bridge in Butterworth. There are also ferries between Penang and the Malaysian mainland as well as with Sumatra. The bridge is part of the North-South Expressway; traffic is often congested. Bridge is being expanded from 4-lane to 6-lane. Jelutong Expressway, Route 3113 is an extension of Penang Bridge and links George Town, Bayan Lepas and Penang Internatioanl Airport. Website with current road conditions on the bridge: NK ( website: penangbridge.com.my/intro.php"; website: penangbridge.com.my/intro.php.
Flights from Kuala Lumpur take about an hour. Penang International Airport, in Bayan Lepas. Airport is16 kilometers (10 miles) from George Town. Penang can also be reached in 7 hours by car on a route that takes the traveller through the principal tin mining region of the country and near Kuala Kangsar, the site of the Ubidiah Mosque, one of the most beautiful in Malaysia. Singapore lies about an hour away by air or 7 hours by car or train off the southern coast of the peninsula. Bus terminals for travel to other states in Malaysia are near ferry terminals in Province Wellesley and Sungai Nibong.
Roads and Transport: According to ASIRT: “1) Roads are often congested. 2) In older areas, city center roads are often narrow. 3) Many streets in larger cities are one-way, making getting around difficult for new-comers. 4) In newer areas, city center streets tend to be broader. However, congestion may still be a problem. 5) Both self-drive rental cars and rental cars with a driver are available. 6) Rental bicycles and motorcycles are available. [Source: Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT), 2007]
Public transportation: 1) Routes offered by older bus services are poorly organized. Service is unreliable. 2) Some bus services, such as Yellow Bus Company Berhad, no longer operate.
3) Taxis, city buses, trishaws and the George Town shuttle bus provide public transport. 4) Taxi drivers refuse to use meters. Agree on fare before boarding. 5) RapidPenang (Rapid Penang Sendirian Berhad) buses run on schedule. Schedules are easy to read. Buses are new, comfortable. Contact information: Rapid Penang Sdn Bhd, Lorong Kulit, 10460 Penang. Tel: 604-2288991; website: rapidpg.com.my
KOMTAR is the main bus station. There is a smaller bus station near the ferry terminal. Buses going to KOMTAR may not continue to the ferry terminal; ask driver prior to boarding. George Town “Shuttle Bus”: a free bus service that provides transport to popular areas of the city, including KOMTAR and Penang Road. Service runs at 12 minute intervals and is available 7:00am-7:00pm Monday-Friday and 7:00am-2:00pm on Saturday. No Service on Sunday or holidays.
George Town
George Town is the capital and main town on Penang. A former hippie hangout, where travelers once thumbed their nose at Malaysia's harsh drug laws by openly smoking marijuana, it is now a bustling city with a few old building sandwiched between modern supermarkets, shopping centers, office, and souvenir shops. There is even a 65-floor skyscraper, the Tun Abdul Razak complex, along with other.
George Town is located on the eastern side of Penang island, the side that faces the Malaysian mainland, north of the bridge that connects Penang Island to the mainland. George Town has a population of about 225,000 and is Malaysia's leading port. As a sign of how multi-cultural the town is, George Town boasts two mosques, several historic churches, Buddhist pagodas and Chinese, Shiva, and Sri Mariamman temples. The temple of Kek Lok Si, in the suburb of Ayer Itam, is said to be the largest and finest temple in Southeast Asia. Several religious and/or cultural festivals are held in George Town annually. [Source: Cities of the World, Gale Group Inc., 2002, adapted from a October 1994 U.S. State Department report]
Hsu Chuang Khoo of Reuters wrote: “The sweet smell of incense from a centuries-old Chinese temple, the perfume of a Hindu shrine decked in flowers and the call to Muslim prayer. The old Malaysian trading port of George Town makes a powerful assault on the senses, through the peaceful co-existence of Asian races and religions, all crammed together in a streetscape stuck in time. While the world resounds with religious discord, multi-racial Malaysia is pushing for George Town on the island of Penang to be recognized internationally as a historical oasis of religious and social harmony. "Penang is so unique -- a multicultural trading town, a melting pot of all the great religions, townscapes of unique architecture," Laurence Loh, a conservation architect said. "There's nowhere else in the world like it. There is only one Penang in the world. It's all that we really are, that's the whole selling point of Penang." [Source: Hsu Chuang Khoo, Reuters, September 24, 2007]
But there are some issues. “In the old quarter of George Town and also in Malacca, the old shophouses are literally crumbling, their brickwork riddled with damp. Without the meagre maintenance that comes with human occupation, many of them might have collapsed long ago. One award-winning restoration, carried out by Loh on a magnificent old Chinese mansion, gives a vivid glimpse of the wealth and color of George Town in the late 19th century -- and is also an example of how it can regain some of its former glory. Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, restored in 1999 with its facade painted in its original color of dazzling indigo-blue, is now a boutique hotel but it remains a rare example of restoration.”
George Town and Melaka, UNESCO World Heritage Sites
George Town and Malacca (Melaka) were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. According to UNESCO: “Melaka and George Town, historic cities of the Straits of Malacca have developed over 500 years of trading and cultural exchanges between East and West in the Straits of Malacca. The influences of Asia and Europe have endowed the towns with a specific multicultural heritage that is both tangible and intangible. With its government buildings, churches, squares and fortifications, Melaka demonstrates the early stages of this history originating in the 15th-century Malay sultanate and the Portuguese and Dutch periods beginning in the early 16th century. Featuring residential and commercial buildings, George Town represents the British era from the end of the 18th century. The two towns constitute a unique architectural and cultural townscape without parallel anywhere in East and Southeast Asia.” [Source: UNESCO]
“Melaka and George Town, Malaysia, are remarkable examples of historic colonial towns on the Straits of Malacca that demonstrate a succession of historical and cultural influences arising from their former function as trading ports linking East and West. These are the most complete surviving historic city centres on the Straits of Malacca with a multi-cultural living heritage originating from the trade routes from Great Britain and Europe through the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and the Malay Archipelago to China. Both towns bear testimony to a living multi-cultural heritage and tradition of Asia, where the many religions and cultures met and coexisted. They reflect the coming together of cultural elements from the Malay Archipelago, India and China with those of Europe, to create a unique architecture, culture and townscape.
“Melaka and George Town represent exceptional examples of multi-cultural trading towns in East and Southeast Asia, forged from the mercantile and exchanges of Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures and three successive European colonial powers for almost 500 years, each with its imprints on the architecture and urban form, technology and monumental art. Both towns show different stages of development and the successive changes over a long span of time and are thus complementary.
“Melaka and George Town are living testimony to the multi-cultural heritage and tradition of Asia, and European colonial influences. This multi-cultural tangible and intangible heritage is expressed in the great variety of religious buildings of different faiths, ethnic quarters, the many languages, worship and religious festivals, dances, costumes, art and music, food, and daily life.
“Melaka and George Town reflect a mixture of influences which have created a unique architecture, culture and townscape without parallel anywhere in East and South Asia. In particular, they demonstrate an exceptional range of shophouses and townhouses. These buildings show many different types and stages of development of the building type, some originating in the Dutch or Portuguese periods....Both towns exhibit a generally acceptable state of conservation, although efforts are required to ensure the conservation of shophouses.”
George Town Almost Loses Its UNESCO World Heritage Status
But soon after George Town achieved its UNESCO World Heritage Site status there was discussion of taking it away. AFP reported: “The UN said Malaysia's Penang island could lose its newly-acquired world heritage status because of a row over plans for four high-rise hotels. Hubert Gijzen, the regional chief of UNESCO, the UN's cultural wing, who officially presented the listing to Penang and southern Malacca state at the weekend, said the body would send experts to help resolve the controversy. It is claimed that the hotels, all of which have been approved by Malaysian planning authorities, would be too tall under UNESCO's rules for world heritage listing. Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said his government was in a bind as the state could not afford to face legal action over cancelling the buildings which exceed UNESCO's 15-meter maximum height limit. He said three of the buildings were approved by a previous state government, and the fourth was approved before heritage status was granted in July. [Source: AFP, November 25, 2008]
“A member of the former state government has said the guidelines on the height policy had been amended to allow the buildings, and Gijzen said that claim would have to be investigated. All countries have to go strictly by the guidelines which are rarely amended. If it violates the guidelines then it cannot be done," he said. The UNESCO boss said the determining factor would be the exact location of the buildings. "There is a matter of which zone these buildings are located in as the rules are very strict for the inner zone, less so for the immediate zone and there is some flexibility for the outer zone," he said. "If the development is outside the outer zone, it could be higher than 15 meters." The New Straits Times reported that two of the four hotels would be located in the inner zone while the other two would be in the outer zone.
“Penang's capital, George Town, along with the port city of Malacca, were awarded heritage status after years of waiting for recognition. Penang's capital was honored for its colonial-era pre-World War II buildings. Malaysia had hoped the heritage listing would boost tourism, which is a key foreign exchange earner.
Sights in George Town
Sights in George Town include Jalan Northam (a street lined with mansion built in the 1920 for rich planation owners and merchant princes), the twin-spired Cathedral of the Assumption, the Anglican St. George's Church, forts, an old quarter with streets for goldsmiths and coffin makers, a botanical gardens with a lot of monkeys, a butterfly farm and a bird park. Fort Cornwallis is a historic landmark built on the spot where Captain Francis Light first set ashore on Penang Island over 200 years ago. Penang's Eastern & Oriental Hotel was a haunt of Rudyard Kipling and Somerset Maugham. It reopened in 1997 after a $24 million restoration. For a view of the city and ocean, visitors can ascend 2500-foot-high Penang Hill on a narrow gauge tram. Street markets are popular, selling a variety of interesting things to eat, drink, wear, or put in your home.
Pinang Peranakan Mansion (Church Street) is magnificent townhouse and the former residence and office of Chinese Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee, a 19th century Hakka tin-miner and secret society leader of Hai San. Built in the 1890s, it incorporates Chinese carved-wood panels, with English floor tiles and Scottish iron works and is filled with more than 1,000 antiques and collectibles. Special permission has to be requested before taking photographs. Getting There: By Taxi: Take a taxi to the mansion. It is situated on a busy section at Church Street. 29 Church Street, 10200 Penang, Tel: 604- 264 2929, Fax: 604- 264 1929, Email : rmhbaba@streamyx.com
Penang Museum & Art Gallery (on Jalan Farquhar in George Town) welcomes you with a regal bronze statue of Captain Francis Light, the founder of the Penang Straits Settlement, gazing down upon you. Regarded as one of the better state museums in Malaysia, it is divided into galleries dedicated to Penang's historical communities, as well as particular historical events that took place in Penang. The museum houses a fine collection of old photographs, maps, historical documents, Chinese furniture, embroidery, costumes and other historical relics. On the first floor where the Art Gallery is located, works of local artists and paintings of old Penang are on display, namely those by William Daniels and Captain Robert Smith. From time to time, special exhibitions are held here. Getting There: By Foot or Taxi: Penang Museum & Art Gallery is in Central George Town on Lebuh Farquhar, in between Jalan Masjid Kapitan Kling (Lebuh Pitt) and Love Lane (Lorong Cinta).
Kapitan Keling Mosque (on Jalan Masjid Kapitan Kling) was first erected by the troops of the East India Company who were some of Penang's first Muslim settlers, in the late 1700s. Several years later, the growing Indian Muslim community required a more permanent mosque. In 1801, the community, led by their leader, Cauder Mydin Merican or also referred to as 'Kapitan Keling', was granted with an 18-acre lot. Made of brick, the original mosque was a single-storey structure, but over the years, the mosque has seen plenty of renovation works. Surrounded by a low wall, this white-washed mosque is adorned with yellow Moghul-style domes and turrets. A madrassah (a place where religious classes are held) can also be found within the mosque's compound. The tall minaret, once used by the muezzin to deliver his call to prayers, is located on the corner of Buckingham and Pitt Street. Getting There: By Foot or Taxi: Kapitan Keling Mosque is on Jalan Masjid Kapitan Kling (Lebuh Pitt) in between Lebuh Chulia and Jalan Buckingham. Contact: Penang Tourist Information Centre, Tel: 604-264 3494/263 4941, Fax: 604-262 3688, Email: mtpbpen@tourism.gov.my
Gurney Drive: Food Central on Penang
Gurney Drive is arguably the best place in Penang to find good food. plate. The popular seafront promenade exemplifies the colors and atmosphere of Penang — fun, lively and vibrant. Also known by its Malay name, “Persiaran Gurney”, Gurney Drive offers delightful street and high-end cuisine.
Food courts and open-air hawker stalls pepper the seaside stretch, offering gastronomic delights well into the night. Local favourites such as Penang Laksa, Bak Kuk Teh (a herbal stew of pork ribs and meat), Oh Chien (fried oyster omelette), grilled squid, and nasi lemak make for mouth-watering meals. The New Gurney Drive Food Court has both a halal and non-halal section, and is open from 6:00pm.
If you’re craving for something other than hawker food, try the piping hot dim sum at the Corner Club Restaurant. For weight watchers, the 24-hour Mr. Pot offers a selection of sandwiches and toast, all-day breakfast sets, healthy meals and oil-free dishes. Nearby, along Lorong Burma, is the island’s first Burmese temple. Built in 1803, the Dharmikarama Burmese Temple has striking golden rooftops, pagodas, a huge Boddhi tree and a wishing well.
Nearby, the Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram Temple greets worshippers and visitors alike with its unique architecture: sharp-eaves, extravagant ceilings and images of Asian dragons. The temple was built in 1845, with a huge 108-foot long reclining Buddha within its walls, said to be the third largest Buddha statue in the world.
Getting There: By Road/Car or Taxi: Gurney Drive is a 20 minutes’ drive from the Penang International Airport. It can be accessed from Jalan Kelawei and is a 15-minute drive from the ferry terminal. Contact: Penang Tourism Malaysia Office, Tel: 604-264 3494/263 4941, Fax: 604-262 3688, Email: mtpbpen@tourism.gov.my
Kek Lok Si: Largest Buddhist Temple in Southeast Asia?
Kek Lok Si is said to be the largest Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia, and arguably the most famous temple in Penang. Also known as the Temple of Supreme Bliss, it located in Air Itam. The hills in that area — called “He San” or Crane Hill — have traditionally been regarded as near perfect in “feng shui” terms and have traditionally been a retreat for monks and Taoists seeking for immortality.
Construction of the temple began in 1893 under the guidance of the chief monk of the Goddess of Mercy Temple at Pitt Street. The Manchu Emperor Guangxu approved of the project, and gave the temple a tablet and 70,000 volumes of the Imperial Edition of the Buddhist Sutras. Other Chinese rulers, namely Emperor Kuang Xi and the Dowager Empress Cixi, also gave gifts to the temple
The best time to visit Kek Lok Si is during the Chinese New Year celebrations, when the temple is adorned with thousands of bright hanging lanterns. At other times, there is still much to see, with prayer halls, pagodas, bell towers and a tortoise pond topping the list. Its main draw is the striking seven-storey Pagoda of Rama VI (Pagoda of 10,000 Buddhas), completed in 1930. Boasting 10,000 alabaster and bronze statues of Buddha, its design symbolises the harmony between Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism, marrying a Chinese octagonal base with a middle tier of Thai design, topped by a Burmese crown. One can climb to the top of the pagoda via a steep flight of stairs and be rewarded with a great view of Penang. The 30.2m bronze statue of Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, is yet another popular highlight.
Opening hours are from 7:00am–9:00pm daily. Admission is free, except for a small charge of each for entry into the pagoda and the Sky Lift. Getting There: By Road or Bus: Depending on where you’re coming from, take the Rapid Penang Bus 201, 203, 204, 206, 306 or U502. You will be able to see the Kuan Yin statue from afar. Stop at the bus stop located along Jalan Pasar, at the foothills of the temple. From there, follow the signs leading to the temple. Contact: Kek Lok Si Temple, Address: Air Itam, Penang, Malaysia, Tel: 604-828 3317
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (on Lebuh Leith, in between Lebuh Chulia and Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah) is a famous indigo-blue Chinese Courtyard House in George Town owned by Cheong Fatt Tze, a prominent Chinese figure in the newly established Penang Straits Settlement during the 19th century. Built in the 1880s, the mansion was constructed by master craftsmen brought in especially from China, who used their skills to fashion the mansion with 38 rooms, fove granite-paved courtyards, seven staircases and 220 windows.
Rescued from the perils of development in the 1990s by a small group of Heritage preservationists led by Laurence Loh, the Cheong Fatt Tze mansion possesses splendid Chinese timber carvings,Gothic louvre windows, russet brick walls and porcelain cut & paste decorative shard works, art nouveau stained glass panels, Stoke-on-Trent floor tiles and Scottish cast iron work.Its layout is based on feng-shui principles, and filled with rare a collection of sculptures, carvings, tapestries and other antiques.
In 2000, the Cheong Fatt Tze mansion received the inaugural Unesco Asia-Pacific Heritage Conservation Award, selected as the 'Most Excellent Project' in the Asia Pacific Rim following its RM7.6 milllion restoration works. Getting There: By Foot or Taxi: Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion is on Lebuh Leith, in between Lebuh Chulia and Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah. Contact: For more information, please visit
Khoo Kongsi
Khoo Kongsi (on Jalan Masjid Kapitan Kling between Armenian Street and Lebuh Aceh) is 19th century Chinese-style clan house. When the first immigrants from the Hokkien province of China arrived in Penang, one of the first things they set out to do was build one of the most magnificent clan houses in Penang. Work began on the clan house in the 1890's which resulted in what was said to be a palace which rivalled that of the Emperor of China. As the story goes, this extravagance incurred the wrath of the Gods and on the first night of the clan house's completion, an unexplainable fire broke out and burnt the house down! It wasn't until 1902 that the current clan house began construction.
One of five clan houses still standing in George Town, the Khoo Kongsi clan house takes on a remarkable resemblance to a mini clan village. One of the grandest clan houses in Penang, the Khoo Kongsi features tall thin columns supporting a gently sloping, red tiled roof, topped with carvings of dragons, phoenixes, mythical animals and various scenes from popular Chinese legends.
The clan house also has a grand hall adorned with resplendent and intricate carvings and richly ornamented pillars which are said to have been crafted by master craftsmen from China. Other major Hokkien clan houses that can be found in Penang are the Cheah Kongsi, Yeah Kongsi, Lim Kongsi and Tan Kongsi. Getting There: By Foot or Taxi: There are two entrances to the Khoo Kongsi. One is on Jalan Masjid Kapitan Kling (Lebuh Pitt), in between Armenian Street and Lebuh Aceh. The second entrance is on Lebuh Pantai, also in between Armenian Street and Lebuh Aceh.
Kuan Yin Temple (Goddess of Mercy Temple)
Kuan Yin Temple (Central George Town on Jalan Masjid Kapitan Kling)was built in the 1800s by early Chinese settlers of the Hokkien and Cantonese communities. The temple was originally named Kong Hock Keong temple (Cantonese-Hokkien Temple) and was once used not only for religious but also for social functions within the Chinese community. However, the temple lost some of its importance when the current Chinese Town Hall was constructed in the 1880s.
The Goddess of Mercy Temple, or Kuan Yin Temple, is the first temple ever built in George Town, Penang, by Chinese settlers. The temple honors Kuan Yin, the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara who is said to have attained Nirvana but had chosen instead to remain on earth in order to provide guidance and help others strive to reach Nirvana. The temple interior is usually filled with the scent of sandalwood incense, burnt by devotees who visit the temple to pray and seek guidance from Kuan Yin, who is closely associated with compassion.
The temple also honors Ma Chor Poh, the patron saint of seafarers, who was highly regarded by the Chinese settlers, many of whom had travelled great distances, crossing the seas from China to Penang. Enjoy the temple's many beautiful features like the dragon-entwined pillars, carved from a type of green stone, which support the temple's high roof. Also look for the statue of Kuan Yin, located in an inner chamber, which depicts a woman with 18 arms, who has a countenance which exudes inner peace and worldly contentment. Getting There: By Foot or Taxi: The temple is in Central George Town on Jalan Masjid Kapitan Kling (Lebuh Pitt) in between Lorong Stewart and Lebuh Farquhar. Contact: Penang Tourist Information Centre, Tel: 604-264 3494/263 4941, Fax: 604-262 3688, Email: mtpbpen@tourism.gov.my
Sights and Beaches on Penang Island
This Penang War Museum (20 minutes from George Town) was erected on the original defense complex built by British before World War II. It became a defense fort during the war. Today, it is a sprawling historical complex exhibiting many items related to war along with displays on important historical events. Getting There: By Road: Located at Batu Maung. Contact: The Penang War Museum, Tel: 604-626 5142/421 3606
Tropical Spice Garden (20 minute from George Town) spreads over 3.2 hectares and houses more than 500 varieties of flora from Malaysia and other regions. Getting There: By Road: It's located at Teluk Bahang. From Geogetown follow the signboard heading to Batu Feringgi. It's about. Contact: Tropical Spice Garden, Tel: 604-881 1797.
Ferringhi Beach (the coastal road north-west of George Town) is a developed resort with luxury hotels on the north side of Penang island. The beaches themselves are not that nice. The main drawn is a string of starred resorts and aquatic thrills and sports such as wind-surfing, kayaking and parasailing. It is the most popular beach in Penang especially in the evening when food stall and an open-air bazaar are set up. items. Getting There: By Taxi: Your best option to get to and from Batu Ferringhi to George Town and back is by taxi. Buses are infrequent and it's just too far and too hot to cycle. Contact: Penang Tourist Information Centre, Tel: 604-264 3494/263 4941, Fax: 604-262 3688, Email: mtpbpen@tourism.gov.my
Other Penang Beaches include Penang-Tanjung Bungah and Teluk Bahang. The quietest and least developed beaches are on the northwest coast. Getting to these beaches is a bit of a hassle. Your best bet is renting motor scooters. According to the Lonely Planet guides, there is a nice waterfall and swimming hole right near the main road at milestone 20 at Titi Kerawang.
Fort Cornwallis
Fort Cornwallis (on the edge of Central George Town) is named after the Governor-General in Bengal in the late 1700s, Charles Cornwallis. One of the most interesting historical landmarks in George Town. It is located close to the Esplanade, next to the Victoria Memorial Clock.
The fort's walls, roughly 10 feet high, are laid out in a star-shape formation. A stroll along the perimeters takes roughly 10 minutes. Inside the fort, you can still see some of the original structures built over a century ago, including a chapel, prison cells, ammunitions storage area, a harbour light once used to signal incoming ships, the original flagstaff and several old bronze cannons, one of which is a Dutch cannon called the Seri Rambai, dated 1603. An interesting note about the Seri Rambai is that some locals believe that this particular cannon can have a positive effect on a woman's fertility.
Today, this privately managed historical site is popular among visitors. It is equipped with a tourist information kiosk, a cafe, an open-air amphitheatre, a history gallery, a souvenir centre as well as guides who can take you around the fort grounds and provide you with a glimpse into the fort's history.
Getting There: By Foot or Taxi: Fort Cornwallis is on the edge of Central George Town on Jalan T. S. S. Barakbah off Lebuh Light. Contact: Penang Tourist Information Centre, Tel: 604-264 3494/263 4941, Fax: 604-262 3688, Email: mtpbpen@tourism.gov.my
Snake Temple
Snake Temple (outside of George Town) is where poisonous pit vipers and other kinds of snakes can be found coiled around alters and statues of Chinese gods. The incense burned in the temple dopes and subdues the snakes to such a degree you can have yourself photographed with snakes draped from form arms and legs.
Snake Temple was completed in 1850 and nobody knows why the snakes first appeared, but these days they are attracted by eggs left at night by local people as offerings. The number of snakes varies from day to day. Some days they are everywhere; other days you have look to find them.
Most of the snakes are Wagler’s pit vipers, a poisonous snake common throughout Southeast Asia and appear to be tolerant of constant human handling. Thick, with a chunky head and yellow cross bands and scattered spots on their body, Wagler’s vipers are sluggish during the day, when they usually rest in trees. At night they ambush small mammals birds, lizards and frogs by hanging upside-down from tree branches. Although the bite is painful it is seldom fatal to humans.
Penang Botanic Gardens
Penang Botanic Gardens (eight kilometers from George Town) features 100-year-old trees, forested hills and the giant water lilies of the Amazon River basin. Also known as the Waterfall Gardens because of the cascading waterfalls nearby, the Gardens were originally established by the British in 1884 as a research centre studying the commercial viability of exquisite plants from different parts of the world. These days, the Gardens not only offer tranquillity from the urban rush, but also an education in botanical conservation.
There are many walking tracks one can choose from, leading to plants like the Pinang Palm (Areca catechu, from which the island of Penang got its name), and wildlife such as long-tailed Macaques, Dusky Leaf Monkeys, Black Giant Squirrels and a myriad of insects and butterflies. A note if you’re planning on having a picnic: the monkeys aren’t exactly coy about wanting a share of your food, so be prepared for the eventuality that you may need to refuel later. An international flower fest is held at the Penang Botanic Gardens every year, along with several other events.
Getting There: By Road or Car: The Garden is about eight kilometers from the town centre. Parking is available at several car parks just outside the Garden entrance. By Bus: Bus 10 from George Town takes you all the way to the Gardens. It stops in the large car park just outside the entrance. Contact: Penang Botanic Gardens Department: Address: Jalan Kebun Bunga, 10350 Penang, Malaysia, Tel: 604-227 0428, Fax: 604-228 6075, Email: botani@penang.gov.my . The Garden is open daily from 5:00am to 8:00pm. Guided tours are available for the public and organized groups. Admission is free.
Penang National Park
Penang National Park (45 minutes by road from George Town) is the smallest national park in the country at 2,562 hectares. It was gazetted in 2003 and is home to 46 species of birds such as the stork-billed kingfishers, white-breasted waterhens and great egrets. A 2000 expedition led by the Malaysian Nature Society recorded 417 flora and 143 fauna species. Before the area was designated as a national park, the locals knew it as Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve. Some of the activities carried out are fishing, swimming and hiking.
The park is the only one in Malaysia that contains six different types of habitat: a meromictic lake (a lake that occurs seasonally, where there is a distinct layering of waters), wetlands, mangroves, mudflats, coral reefs and turtle nesting beaches. The pure, sandy stretch of Pantai Kerachut is also a favourite nesting place of Green turtles from April to August, and the Olive Ridley from September to February. The turtle hatchery set up in Pantai Kerachut in 1995 is now managed by the State Fisheries Department along with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) and the Forestry Department. They also manage the upkeep of the park, which is in pristine conditions.
The bio-diversity of the park is also impressive, with 1,000 species of plants including five different species of the Bintangor tree. Some of the best hardwood trees can be found here, especially from the shorea species, such as Meranti and Merawan Baru. In fact, the area is the only known place in Penang where the red, paper-like barked Gelam trees grow. There are also various plant pitchers, wild orchids and funghi, and medicinal plants.
Getting There: By Car or Boat: There are two entry points to the park, one is at Kuala Sungai Pinang via boat or the other entry point is Teluk Bahang, which is easily accessible by car. Penang National Park is less than 45 minutes by road from the capital, George Town. The journey passes through urban and rural settings along the northern coastal road of Tanjung Tokong, Tanjung Bungah, Batu Ferringhi and Teluk Bahang towns. The first entrance to the park is at Teluk Bahang, or you can take a boat from Kampung Kuala Sungai Pinang. Trails through the park are well-paved with ample signages. Contact: Department of Wildlife and National Parks Penang, Tel: 604-881 3530/881 2016/261 3039
Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons,
Text Sources: Malaysia Tourism websites, Malaysia government websites, UNESCO, Wikipedia, Lonely Planet guides, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, National Geographic, The New Yorker, Bloomberg, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Japan News, Yomiuri Shimbun, Compton's Encyclopedia and various books and other publications.
Updated in August 2020