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Penang Attractions

Touring Penang is a pleasant and memorable experience as there are many interesting places to visit. These may be broadly classified as follows:

• Modern structures
• Old buildings of architectural and historical importance
• Clan houses and places of worship
• Parks and hills
• Beaches

Modern Structures

Penang bridge - cable stayed, 13.5 km long, 8.5 km over water, the rest consisting of a viaduct on the island side with a flyover on the mainland. Longest in Asia, reputedly third longest in the world. The island end of the bridge begins near the University at Gelugor and the mainland end at Seberang Jaya. Toll is payable. Visitors not permitted to stop along bridge.

KOMTAR - a 65 storey tower atop a 4-storey podium block. Tallest in SE Asia, it houses all government departments, prime commercial space with civic and recreational facilities. KOMTAR is stragetically situated in the heart of the city on a 11 hectare site.

Old Buildings

Penang museum and art gallery - formerly the Penang Free School building, it was built in 1816 and houses a fine collection of historical documents, Malay treasures, Straits Chinese furniture, embroidery and custumes. It exhibits the fishing, agricultural and natural history of the island and its geographical educational and economic life. The art gallery displays several paintings - and holds frequent exhibitions of works - of local artists. Located at Farquhar Street, it opens daily from 9-12 noon and 2.45-5 pm. Closed on Sundays and public holidays, free admission.

Logan Memorial and high court - A marble statue stands in the high court compound dedicated to James Richardson Logan, a prominent lawyer and one-time editor of the `Penang Gazette'. Logan devoted his life to serving the public and was a strong advocate of freedom of speech, law and order until his death in 1869. Located in Farquhar Street opposite the Museum.

St. George's Church - A magnificient edifice built by convicts between 1817 and 1819, it is one of the oldest Anglican churches in Malaya and Singapore. In front of the church stands a monument to Capt. Francis Light. The building has semi-arches, mouldings, doric columns and pillars; the roof which was originally flat is now gable-shaped. Also located next to the Museum.

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion - Built by a Kwangtung businessman, this Chinese mansion of the 18th and 19th century is believed to be one of only three such buildings remaining outside China. The building has ancient tiled roofs, cobbled courtyards, russet brick walls and steel spiral stairways. It contains collections of rare porcelain, sculptures and carvings, tapestries and embroideries, lacquers, bronzes and other antiques. Located in Leith Street.

Fort Cornwallis and King Edward Circus Clock Tower - Originally a wooden structure, it was rebuilt between 1808 and 1810 by convict labour. Protruding from the fort's rampart are cannons retrieved by the British from pirates who had captured them from the Johore Sultanate.The main cannon 'Seri Rambau' is said to date back to 1613 and, according to local belief, childless women can conceive by placing flowers in its barrel and offering special prayers.The fort is also used as an amphitheatre.

The 60 foot clock tower built at the entrance to the the fort was presented to the town by a local millionaire in 1897 in conjunction with Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee, each foot signifying one year of her reign. Both structures above are at the Esplanade.

Clan houses and places of worship

Khoo Kongsi - The Khoo Kongsi (Leong San Thong - Dragon Mountain Hall) is the most picturesque clan temple in Malaysia. The two-storey edifice has pillars and walls adorned with meticulout carvings and gold leaf inlays and roofbeams made of the finest wood from ancient China. Located at Cannon Square, admission is free.

State mosque - Completed in 1980, it stands majestically on a 4.5 hectare site in the Greenlane surburb and is one of the most beautiful mosques in the country. A magnificient chandelier measuring 20 feet by 16 feet adorns the prayer hall which can accommodate 5000 worshipers. From the top of the 170 feet minaret, a panoramic view of Georgetown can be seen.

Permission to visit the mosque must be obtained from the State Religious Department. Appropriate dressing is required.

Kapitan Kling Mosque - This is Penang's first mosque, built around 1800 to replace an old attap structure that had been constructed in 1786 by an Indian Muslim merchant, Cauder Mohideen who was then the `Kling Kapitan' (Indian Muslim Headsman). Its dome shaped and well placed minaret reflects Islamic architecture of Indian influence. It is painted ochre yellow and has a green roof. Located in Pitt Street.

Kuan Yin (Goddess of Mercy) Temple - Also known as the temple of the Goddess of Mercy, it was built in 1800 by the first Chinese settlers of the Hokkien and Cantonese communities. The temple has been designed in the finest tradition of ancient Chinese architecture. It attracts both ardent pilgrims seeking the assistance of Kuan Yin and tourists. Puppet shows are staged in the temple grounds during the Goddess' birthday celebrations in March and October. Located in Pitt Street.

Kek Lok Si - It is the most famous and biggest Buddhist temple in Malaysia and one of the first built in SE Asia. Work on the temple started in 1890 along the hill slope of Air Itam and took more than two decades to complete. Although there are many altars built along the hill, the dominating structure is the seven-tier, 30 metre high Ban Po That Pagoda (Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas) which combines Chinese, Thai and Burmese architecture and craftmanship.

Snake Temple - The Snake Temple or the Temple of the Azure Cloud, which was built in 1850 on a hillock by the roadside, is dedicated to the diety Char Soo Kong. It is a sanctuary for pit vipers which coil around objects on the altars and other parts of the temple. Although poisonous, these snakes are not known to bite. Devotees refer to them as `officers' of the deity and regard them as `holy and harmless'. Located in Bayan Lepas about 1.5 km. from the International Airport.

Wat Chayamangkalaram - A Buddhist temple of Thai architecture on a 5-acre site, it houses the world's third largest reclining Buddha which measures 33 metres. Behind the statue are niches where urns containing the ashes of the dead are stored. A nine-storey pagoda approximately 165 feet high and reputed to be the highest such structure in the country is found on the site. There are also statues of gigantic `naga' serpents, mystical creatures that link earth to heaven, from the balustrades at the entrance to the meditation hall. Located at Burmah Lane, admission is free. Photography is not permitted within the temple.

Sri Mariamman Temple - Built in 1883, it is the oldest and most famous Hindu temple in Penang. It contains fascinating scupltured gods and goddesses, amongst them a priceless statue of Lord Subramaniam decorated in gold, diamonds and other precious stones. The temple has a scupltured tower at the entrance and inside it are the symbols of the nine planets. The signs of the zodiac are carved in wood on the ceiling. Located in Queen Street, admission is free.

Parks and hills

Penang Hill - A popular rendezvous for the local people and visitors, the hill is 830 metres above sea level. Transport to the summit is by means of a funicular railway which takes 30 minutes. Here the temperature drops to 18 C, a welcome change from the heat below. It offers a panoramic view of Georgetown and the coastal areas of the mainland. Facilities up the hill include a children's playground, teahouse, hotel, hill mosque and an Indian temple. The railway station is located at Air Itam and the services normally operate until late evening.

Botanical Gardens - It is the only one in Malaysia and occupies an area of 30 hectares, set in an ideal valley-like area surrounded by forested hills. The garden has a collection of both local and tropical flora and fauna. There are hundreds of trees and flowery plants and dozens of plant houses and nurseries, fern gardens and lily ponds. Attractions also include a replica of the Penang bridge, the library and of course, the rhesus monkeys. In the evening,a it is the favourite spot for family picnics and jogging. Located off the Waterfall Road.

Forest Recreation Park - This is a beautifully landscaped park, on the northwest coast. It covers 100 hectares, has several freshwater pools, footpaths, rest huts, and a children's playground. There is a forestry museum which houses exhibits of tropical timbers and their products and preserved insect species. Located at Telok Bahang, 24 km from Georgetown. Admission is free.

Youth Park - The park is ideal for picnicking, camping, archery and aero-modelling. Hikers can use a foothpath that leads to Penang Hill. The centre piece of the park is a roller-skating rink. Located at Quarry Drive near the Botanical Gardens.

Beaches

Penang has attractive beaches that stretch for miles from Tanjong Bungah to Bungah to Batu Ferringhi right up to Telok Bahang. At Tanjong Bungah, the beaches are suitable for swimming.

At the beachfront in Batu Ferringhi several watersports operators provide sailing and para-sailing gear and speed-boating facilities. Telok Bahang is a picturesque stretch of traditional Malay homes with a pier made of wooden stakes. From here, visitors can hire a boat to take them to the unspoilt beaches of Muka Head and Pantai Kerachut (Monkey Beach).

Take our photo tour of Penang's fabulous beaches.

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