Welcome to Penang (Penang Tourism TVC)

Penang Ferry

Penang Ferry Service is the oldest ferry service in Malaysia. Located in the state of Penang, this famous ferry service connects Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal in Butterworth to Raja Tun Uda ferry terminal at Weld Quay in George Town in Penang Island. The ferries are designed for vehicles to roll-on/roll-off. Some board pedestrian passengers on the upper deck and small vehicles (cars) on the lower deck, whereas some board vehicles on both decks.

The benches for passengers on the upper decks have pivoting backs that can be flipped back and forth so passengers can sit facing in the direction of travel regardless of which way the ferry is going.

Ferries from Penang International Airport depart in George Town, located some 16 km / 9.9 miles distance from the airport. A regular bus service operates between the airport and city centre locations, as well as the bus terminal in Victoria Street, which is near the main Ferry Weld Quay

KOMTAR Penang

KOMTAR is located in central Georgetown, along the north-south Jalan Penang and east-west Jalan Magazine. The 65-storey high-rise and mall is one of the most prominent landmarks in Penang with a viewing deck on the 58th floor offering views of the island and across the straits to Penang’s mainland.

The cylindrical skyscraper is the sixth-tallest building in Malaysia and Penang’s tallest structure. It towers over Georgetown’s western corner, a section of town unofficially known as Chinatown since it is dominated by clusters of shuttered two-storey shop-houses and kongsis (clan houses) that have stood here in a variety of forms since the late 18th century.

 

Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram Temple in Penang

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.

Design of Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram Temple

Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram Temple is designed in typical Thai-style with sharp-eaved roofs and flamboyant ceilings. The temple entrance is set off by a statue of a naga (a Southeast Asian water dragon), while the exit is marked by a Chinese dragon (the East Asian equivalent).

These serpents lay coiled around the feet of two grim green-faced statues carrying hefty swords that flank the entryway: supposedly the statues were designed to ward off unwanted visitors.

Reclining Buddha

The reclining Buddha statue at Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram Temple is surrounded by elaborate images of a gold-leaf covered Buddha in different poses. Each pose is supposed to signify different things: Buddhists believe that the reclining Buddha, for example, (with his head resting in the palm of the right hand and his head pointing northwards) signifies enlightenment or Nirvana.

Around the outstretched giant Buddha sculpture are a series of hand-painted gold 3D images detailing Gautama Buddha’s story. Interesting fact: underneath the lounging Buddha are slots where urns containing the ashes of deceased devotees are stored.

Opening Hours: 10:00 – 18:00 Daily

Location: Lorong Burma, Pulau Tikus, Georgetown

 

Penang Bridge

Penang Bridge may not be an official sightseeing spot in Penang but it is the sight that greets most visitors to the island. A 13.5km-long suspension bridge that connects the island to the mainland at Seberang Perai, it is considered a Penang landmark, with locals comparing it to London Bridge.

Also known as Jambatan Pulau Pianng, before it was opened the only way to get to the mainland was via ferry: today the causeway is one of the busiest freeways in the country. The longest bridge in Malaysia and the fourth-longest in Southeast Asia, it is a toll bridge, with fees paid only when heading to the island. The only time it closes is for the annual Penang Bridge International Marathon.

 

Nine Emperor Gods Temple in Penang

The Nine Emperor Gods Temple is one of the largest temples in Butterworth. Dedicated to the Nine Emperor Gods of Taoist mores, it has gone through several makeovers over the years. It started out as a small attap shed on a rented plot of land in 1971 and was completed in 2000, at a cost of RM7 million.

The Nine Emperor Gods, believed to dwell in the stars, are the sons of Father Emperor Zhou Yu Dou Fu Yuan Jun and Mother of the Big Dipper Dou Mu Yuan Jun (Queen of Heaven). Their popularity has declined since being exported out of the southern provinces of China but in Penang there is a small group who still pay homage to these Nine Emperor Gods Festival

Also known as Rumah Berhala Tow Boo Kong, the elaborate temple is never busier than during the annual Nine Emperor Gods Festival. Taking place on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, this is when the spirits of the Nine Emperor Gods descend from the stars to earth and possess mediums, putting them in a trance.

The nine-day celebration (somewhat similar to Thaipusam) sees devotees dressed in traditional white, carrying incense and candles, awaiting the ‘arrival’ of the nine Gods. Some worshippers in a religious fervour practice flagellation and self-mutilation, displaying their dedication by fire walking, skewing their cheeks with sharp objects (including nine-metre spears). The celebration reaches its climax on the ninth day with a procession to send the deities back home, from the Nine Emperor Gods Temple to the beachfront.

An ornate structure north of the Jalan Raja Uda and the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway, Nine Emperor Gods Temple has curving pagodas and a dramatic roof with golden dragon statues. Since many devotees are vegetarians for the duration of the festival, within the temple, stalls will set up to sell vegetarian food. Sitting on reclaimed land facing the sea, it is easily accessible via the Jelutong Expressway: from here you drive to the Harbour Trade Centre and then turn right. The Nine Emperor Gods Temple is at the end of the road on your left.

Opening Hours: Daily, including Sundays and Public Holidays: 7 am to 9 pm

Address: On Lot 894 & 896, Mukim 14, Jalan Raja Uda, 12300 Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia

Tel: +604-331 8717

 

St. Anne’s Church in Penang

St. Anne’s Church is best known as the centre of pilgrimage for the annual St. Anne’s Feast in Malaysia. It started out as a small chapel built by visiting priest Fr. Adolphe Couellan in 1846. Today it is a sprawling complex, able to seat up to 1,800, with beautiful stained glass windows.

Named after St. Anne (mother of the Virgin Mary), the celebrations held here in July every year for St. Anne’s Feast draw Roman Catholics from all over Peninsular Malaysia, bringing the generally sleepy town of Bukit Mertajam to life. The event culminates with two nights of candlelit procession with devotees singing hymns as they walk on and around the church grounds.

 

Kek Lok Si Temple in Penang

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.

Location: Air Itam, Georgetown

Tel: +604 828 3317

Price Range: Entrance: Pagoda - RM2; Incline lift - RM2

 

Penang 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 stand 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.

Reconstruction

Originally built of nibong palms, during Colonel R.T. Farquhar’s term as Governor of Penang Fort Cornwallis was rebuilt with bricks and stones using Indian convict labour thus transforming the wooden fort into a stone structure.

Fort Cornwallis’ star shape is attributed to the fact that this design was a better defence against multiple fields of fire from enemies.

Interior of Fort Cornwallis

A bronze statue of Captain Francis Light stands near Fort Cornwallis’ main entrance. Inside the fort are prison cells, barracks, munitions storage areas, a harbour light once used to signal incoming ships and the original flagstaff.

At the southwest corner of the fort is Penang’s first chapel, built in 1799. You can also see several old bronze cannons inside the fort including Seri Rambai, which is popularly regarded as a fertility symbol. Locals often place offerings of flowers and joss sticks at its base.

Opening Hours: 09:00 – 18:30 Daily

Location: Lebuh Light

Tel: +602 61 0262

 

Mengkuang Dam in Penang

Mengkuang Dam is the only dam in Province Wellesley. Located 28km northeast of Butterworth, the main draw for visitors is its park featuring a scenic landscape with jogging trails (the best is the 10km trail that goes past orchards and rubber plantations), it has at least 300 visitors a day.

It contains up to 23.6 billion litres of water making it the largest dam in Penang. Officially opened in 1985, it is also called Empangan Mengkuang and the 81ft dam has a water-cache area of 3.9sqkm. It was officially opened by the former Governor, Dr. Tun Awang bin Hassan.

 

Kapitan Keling Mosque in Penang

Kapitan Keling Mosque is a Penang landmark. Built in 1801 by Penang’s first Indian Muslim settlers (East India Company troops), the Indo-Moorish structure is set at the junction of Lebuh Buckingham and Lebuh Pitt.

It is the largest mosque in Georgetown and looks sublime at sunset. It was named after the ‘kapitan’ of the Keling (a leader of the South Indian community similar to the leader of the Chinese community), Cauder Mydin Merican. The whitewashed mosque is topped with large golden-yellow Mughal-style domes, crescents and stars and features a single, typical Indian-Islamic minaret from which the sound of the azan (call to prayer) can be heard.

 

Dharmikarama Burmese Temple in Penang

Dharmikarama Burmese Temple is the only Burmese Buddhist temple outside Myanmar. Located in Georgetown Penang, it stands opposite Wat Chayamangkalaram Temple, with a pair of large stone elephants flanking the front gates. Inside the pagoda grounds is a Boddhi tree, a wishing pond and apartments for monks.

Devotees have contributed many statues of Buddha, so his serene-faced image can be found at almost every corner in different meditation poses. The walkways have a series of panels with beautiful murals depicting scenes of the journey of Prince Siddharta (dressed in typical Burmese fashion) achieving Nirvana and becoming Buddha.

Dharmikarama Burmese Temple History

Built in 1805, one of the most notable features found in the Dharmikarama Burmese Temple are two Panca Rupa (guardian protectors of the world) images, which stand over a globe. These mystical creatures are said to be the masters of water, land and air respectively and have the head of a lion, trunk of an elephant, body of a fish, wings of the mystical Garuda, ears and hooves of a horse, and the horns of a deer.

The first Buddhist temple in Penang, the Dhammikarama Burmese Buddhist Temple is one of two major Buddhist temples located within the Theravada Buddhist co-op on Burma Lane. It was built on land donated by a Buddhist devotee known as Nyonya Betong.

The temple is at its busiest during festivals such as Wesak Day as well as Thankyan (Water Festival) in April – a celebration similar to Thailand’s Song kran festival, in which devotees splash water at each other and pay respect to elders.

As with any house of worship in Malaysia please remove your shoes before entering the Dharmikarama Burmese Temple: place your shoes along with the rows of others on the steps leading up to certain prayer halls. The cheapest way to get to Dharmikarama Burmese Temple from Komtar or Lebuh Chulia, is to hop on board TransitLink bus #202, Minibus 26, 31 and 88 or Hin Bus #93.

Opening Hours: 05:00 – 18:00

Address: 24 Lorong Burmah, 10250 Penang

 

Bukit Mertajam Recreational Forest (Tokun Hill)

Rising 457m above sea level, Bukit Mertajam Recreational Forest sprawls over 37 hectares of lush, hilly terrain. This forest reserve is equipped with camping sites and numerous streams pouring into shallow ponds. The four-kilometre hiking trail that leads all the way to the mountain’s summit is extremely popular with hikers and joggers alike. A small waterfall also passes through this area, providing visitors with a refreshing cool dip.

 

Batu Ferringhi

Batu Ferringhi is the most famous stretch of beach in Penang. This is where you find a big concentration of beach resorts. From the mid 70's to the early 90's, the Batu Ferringhi stretch saw massive construction as hotels line the shore one after another. In their wake are highrise condominiums offering splendid views of the sea overlooking the mainland. On a clear day, you can see Kedah Peak, also known as Gunung Jerai.

The word Ferringhi, often variously spelled as Ferringhi and Ferringhi, is said to originate as the Malay term for a person of Portuguese descent, but eventually came to embrace all Westerners. This word however, is not particular to the Malay language. There is a strong possibility that it is derived from Arabic, as the word feringgi is used as far afield as Ethiopia to mean a Western foreigner. The word further mutates to "farang", the Thai term for a Western foreigner. The name Batu Ferringhi would therefore mean the rocky promontory where the Western foreigner landed - a name that is uncannily appropriate to this day.

Like much of the northern coast of Penang, the shore has beautiful stretches of white sand dotted with huge boulders. During weekends, you will see local people coming here to picnic and anglers come to fish. The sea water, however, is not clean enough for swimming, and is likely to be infested with jellyfish.

 

Arulmigu Karumariamman Temple in Penang

Arulmigu Karumariamman Temple in Penang

Arulmigu Karumariamman Temple is a South Indian Hindu temple set beside the Penang Bird Park. Built in 1997, it is noteworthy because it has the largest and tallest (72ft) rajagopuram (main sculpture tower) in Malaysia. The RM2.3 million temple is dedicated to the Hindu deity Arulmigu Karumariamman.

 

Located in Seberang Jaya, the entrance to the rajagopuram, at 21ft-tall and 11ft-wide, is also the largest in the country. Arulmigu Karumariamman Temple started out as a temple for estate workers living in the Paduma Estate in Perai, until the area was turned into a township in the 1970s. At the urging of residents the State Government gave the go-ahead to build a new temple and work began in 1996.

Location: Seberang Perai

 

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion in Penang

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion in Penang

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. We’ve listed the island’s attractions so the next time you make a trip here be sure to consult this A – Z list so you don’t miss out on anything.

 

Is 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.

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion Layout

Rescued from ruin in the 1990s, the indigo-blue mansion blends elements of Eastern and Western design and stands apart from other structures along the street due to its distinctively gregarious exterior. Featuring art nouveau stained glass and beautiful floor tiles, the mansion is a beautiful representation of the architectural style preferred by wealthy Straits Chinese of the time.

In 1989 the mansion was purchased from Cheong Fatt Tze's descendants in order to save the structure from imminent development that would have resulted in its demolition. Maintained as a private residence, the property also operates as a 16-room bed-and-breakfast as part of an ongoing restoration project; additionally the estate also doubles as a museum. You can choose to visit the mansion on a one-hour guided tour or you can spend the night at the boutique hotel.

Accolades

Highlighted in various TV programs on networks such as CNN, BBC, The History Channel and Discovery Travel & Living, Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion has also been featured in various films ranging from the 1993 Oscar-winning French film Indochine to the critically-acclaimed 2009 motion picture The Blue Mansion.

Winner of the 1995 Malaysian National Architectural Award for Conservation, the 2000 UNESCO Most Excellent' Heritage Conservation Award, ‘Best Tourist Attraction 2003’ Merit Award by the Malaysian Ministry of Culture, Arts & Tourism and the 2008 Best of Malaysia Travel Award’s ‘Best Boutique Hotel’ by Expatriate Lifestyle magazine, Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion is undoubtedly one of Penang’s most prominent attractions.

Address: 14, Leith Street, 10200 Penang

Tel: +604 262 0006