Top 10 Places to visit in Penang Island, Malaysia !
Penang is a Malaysian island off the Malay Peninsula in the
Strait of Malacca. An island of rich Chinese heritage, Penang has an array of
temples, ruins, museums, preserved forests, and beautiful beaches that make a
trip here more than worthwhile.
Top it off with the fact that this island is said to be the
country’s unofficial food capital, and its no wonder that tourism plays a huge
role in its economy. From the water’s edge at the Clan Jetties to the brilliant
blue sheen of the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, Penang is fairly impressive.
When handpicking selections for our list, we decided upon an
interesting and eclectic mix of modern and quirky offerings, family-friendly
amusement parks, and natural and cultural attractions, all of which are
suitable for visitors of all ages.
1.
Penang Hill
Penang Hill was the first colonial hill station developed in
Peninsular Malaysia. Comprising Western Hill, Bukit Laksamana, Tiger Hill,
Flagstaff Hill and Government Hill, it is located six km away from Georgetown.
The hilly and forested area is the state's primary hill resort. Set 821m above
Penang’s capital, islanders call it Bukit Bendera and it is generally about
five degrees cooler than Georgetown.
It is the last patch of tropical rainforest in Penang so the
flora and fauna here have been protected since 1960. It does not have the same
prominence as Genting Highlands, Fraser’s Hill or Cameron Highlands but it is
one of Penang’s best-known tourist attractions due to its fresher climate.
2.
Kek Lok Si Temple
Standing on a hilltop at Air Itam, near Penang Hill, Kek Lok
Si is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia. The complex is divided into
three zones while the temple grounds comprise the hill entrance, souvenir, food
and drinks stalls and the turtle liberation pond. The mid section of the temple
houses temples, gardens, the pagoda and the four heavenly kings pavilion;
meanwhile the hilltop plays host to an enormous statue of the Goddess of Mercy,
Kuan Yin as well as more gardens and temples.
Comprising a series of monasteries, prayer halls, temples
and beautifully-landscaped gardens, this national icon was built in 1890 by
Beow Lean, a devout immigrant Chinese Buddhist. The ten-acre site was purchased
in 1893 and the initial temple structure was built on the summit of He Shan.
20 years later, the two-decade long additional construction
of this sprawling house of worship is largely funded by donations from the Penang
Straits Chinese community. The complex is a cornerstone of the Malaysian
Chinese community. Also known as the ‘Temple of Supreme Bliss’, it features a
maze of souvenir kiosks as well as a turtle and fish pond.
The turtle pond – known as The Liberation Pond – was built
because according to Chinese tradition, turtles symbolize longevity, strength
and endurance and the act of capturing and freeing a turtle is a symbol of
spiritual liberation.
3.
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, a boutique hotel that’s one of
Penang’s best-known attractions in an ornate edifice built in the traditional
Hakka – Teochew style. Located at 14 Leith Street, the structure was erected in
the 1880s when Hakka merchant, Cheong Fatt Tze commissioned its construction.
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion History - A self-made and affluent
merchant-trader, Cheong Fatt Tze left China as a penniless teenager but soon
rose to the ranks of the well-heeled when he established a vast financial
empire throughout East Asia at the end of 19th century. Despite the popularity
of modern Anglo-Indian designs at the time, he chose to build his domicile as a
traditional-style Chinese courtyard house. The stately manor has 38 rooms, five
granite-paved courtyards, seven staircases and 220 timber-frame windows.
4.
Escape Adventureland
Escape Adventureplay Penang is a cool alternative to the
beach and has quickly turned into a firm favourite with outdoor adventure
seekers on the island. An outdoor, eco-conscious theme park specialising in
zip-lining (a pulley suspended on a stainless steel cable, tied between two
trees on an incline), the park also hosts other fun jungle activities for all
ages.
A creative and fun way to foster a love of the outdoors,
especially among kids, the park started out in 2012 with standout attractions
such as a free fall from a 20 metre-high jump platform, an inner tube slide and
tree rope swing.
There are quite a few thrill rides to try here. We love the
Atan’s Leap, a gravity-defying free fall activity that will see you taking the
plunge from a 20 metre-high platform. You will fall through the air and land
safely onto an absolutely-safe, extremely large, inflated featherbed on the
ground; for safety purposes, this activity is limited to those aged 13 years
old and above.
Another attempt to push the laws of physics at Escape
Adventureplay Penang is the Flying Lemur, an obstacle course that will have you
climbing 98 feet off the ground. To reach the finish line, you will have to
overcome hurdles that will include the region’s longest zip line (456
feet-long) across a ravine. The thrilling final obstacle will have your
adrenaline levels peaking!
5.
Adventure Zone Theme Park
While on vacation, parents can find it a little hard to keep
the little ones entertained while simultaneously having a good time themselves.
The 10,300sqft, Adventure Zone Theme Park is Penang’s answer to that. Geared
towards families, with plenty of offerings to keep youngsters of all ages
occupied, it is home to more than 30 activities and is divided into three zones
– the special features section, kids area and toddler sector with modular play
equipment.
The major highlight for both kids and adults can be found at
the special features section, where there are three slides – the first two
(Astra slide and double drop slide with ball pit exit) are designed for
children, but the third is a 24ft-high drop slide perfect for all ages.
At the kids’ area, you can expect ladder climbs, swinging
steps, pull up ramps and hurdles and more, while the toddler section is filled
with padded ramps, climbs and tumble towers sure to excite kids under the age
of four. There is free Wi-Fi available, which is great for parents that just
want to chill out at the onsite café, or you can go for a 15-minute Segway
ride.
Open: 10:00 – 19:00
Address: centre Shangri-La Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa and
Shangri La Golden Sands Resort, Jalan Batu Ferringhi
Tel: +604 886 1911
6.
Made In Penang Interactive Museum
The Made in Penang Interactive Museum really helps shake off
pre-existing ideas of boring, outdated museums, instead offering visitors a
fun, exciting way to view artwork with exhibits that have clever 3D imagery
features. For example, a portrait of the Penang Snake Temple, with a large 3D
snake slithering out from the framework.
A museum where getting involved is truly part of the fun,
pictures range from historical images such as battleships being blown up by
cannons, to elevators with iconic horror movie characters inside. The trick is
that artists have used different colours, textured contours and some props to
create each unique photo.
Open: 09:00 – 18:00
Address: No.3, Pengkalan Weld, George Town, Penang.
Tel: +604 262 6119
7.
Penang War Museum
Penang War Museum in Bukit Batu Maung was a fort built by
the British in the 1930s. In 1941 it gained fame when it became the site where
the battle for Penang against the invading Japanese army was lost. These days
it is a museum open to the public and is billed as Southeast Asia’s largest war
museum.
Situated on the road to Teluk Kumbar on Penang’s southern
coast, the fort was initially supposed to be a preserved citadel constructed as
part of a plan to protect the island from foreign invasion. It is also known as
Muzium Perang Pulau Pinang.
Penang War Museum History - The former British bastion was
manned by British, Sikh and Malay soldiers after its completion. It fell during
WWII when the Japanese launched an attack against the fort from inland, rather
than from the sea, as was expected by the British.
From that day onwards (17 December 1941) the Japanese
commandeered the stronghold and the army base became chequered with a dark
past. It was used as a prison base for acts of torture and other cruelties; as
a result of these war atrocities, the garrison was dubbed ‘Bukit Hantu’ (Ghost
Hill) by locals due to the hundreds of people who were brought here and beheaded.
8.
Fort Cornwallis
Fort Cornwallis is the largest standing fort in Malaysia.
Set close to the Esplanade and Penang Clocktower, the star-shaped bastion is
one of the oldest structures in Penang. Named after Marquis Charles Cornwallis,
only a set of ten-foot high outer walls remain, with an enclosed park within.
Situated on Penang’s north-eastern coast, a stroll along the
privately-managed Fort Cornwallis’ perimeters will take you about 10 minutes.
It is a surreal experience to hear the 1812 Overture playing over the speaker
system while a Malaysian man dressed in full British regalia stands at the
gate. Inside the fort is a variety of vaguely-informative exhibits.
Fort Cornwallis History - Built in 1786, Fort Cornwallis was
intended as a defensive structure against pirates, Kedah forces and even the
French during the Napoleonic Wars. However although it was initially built for
the Royal artillery troops and the military, it served an administrative
function rather than an actively defensive one. Spanning 4490sqft it was built
as a stockade with no permanent structures.
The fort stands on the site where Captain Francis Light
first set foot in 1786 on the then virtually-uninhabited Penang and took
possession of the island from the Sultan of Kedah. He then established a free
port to lure trade from Britain’s Dutch rivals.
9.
Penang Khoo Khongsi
Khoo Kongsi is one of Georgetown’s most interesting
attractions. Built some 650 years ago, it is part of the goh tai seh (five big
clans) that formed the backbone of the Hokkien community in olden-days Penang.
One of Penang’s most lavishly decorated kongsis, it is located on Jalan Acheh,
off Lebuh Pitt. A kongsi (clan house) is a building in which Chinese families
of the same surname gather to worship their ancestors.
Representing a family’s social and spiritual commitments
between extended relations, ancestors and the outside community, the kongsi
also acts as an important means of solidarity. These days the primary functions
of kongsis are supportive roles: they help with the educations of members’
children, settle disputes and advance loans.
Penang Khoo Kongsi History - The kongsis were initially
developed as a way for 19th-century immigrants to band together according to
their respective districts. Unsurprisingly, as a result of this clan-centric
bias, hostile sentiments developed between the different clan houses resulting
in rivalry and eventually violence.
Many of the kongsis in Penang are more than
100 years old; the Khoo Kongsi, once known as one of the most prominent Chinese
lineages in Malaysia, is probably the most famous clan house in Penang. Founded
by the Leong San Tong clan from the Sin Kang clan village in Hokkien Province,
the clan house was built primarily to showcase the success of the Khoo family.
10.
Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram
Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram Temple is the largest Thai temple in
Penang. Set just off Jalan Burma (on the way to Batu Ferringhi), the
yellow-and-blue temple is also known as Wat Buppharam. Built in 1845, it is
home to a 108ft-long reclining Buddha image, said to be the third largest in
the world.
Draped in a gold-leafed saffron robe, the sprawling statue
was erected as a monument to signify Buddha’s final resting position at his
death and symbolizes his detachment from worldly matters.
Located opposite the
less extravagant Dharmmikarama Temple (which lights up beautifully at night)
Wat Chaiya Mangakalaram Temple is a beautiful sight with ornate, gold pagodas,
and mural-painted walls.
History of Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram Temple - Spread across
five acres of land (which was gifted by Queen Victoria to the Thai community as
a gesture of goodwill to bolster trading relations with Thailand) Wat Chaiya
Mangkalaram Temple was originally led by a Thai Theravada Buddhist monk,
Phortan Kuat.
Also known as the ‘Powerful Monk’, he was very much adored
by his congregation: to this day, his devotees bring bowls of asam laksa
(coconut-based sour gravy noodles) to his shrine to honour him.
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