Penang or “Pearl of the East”. Beautiful beaches and many attractions have made it one of the most popular destinations in the region.
Penang is located on the island of the same name on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The state of Penang, with the capital Georgetown, was founded in 1786 by the British and very quickly turned into a bustling shopping center, where East and West bizarrely mixed. It was through it that trade routes from Asia to England passed at that time.
The island is connected to the mainland by the Penang Bridge, 13.5 km long, which is considered one of the longest in Asia. If you want to cross to the island by ferry, as in the good old days, then he is now at your service 24 hours a day. The ferry departs from the pier at Butterworth on the mainland.
Penang owes much of its fame to its beautiful beaches, ideal for all kinds of water sports. Along its beaches there are many resorts of international standard, which offer all conditions for relaxation and entertainment. A special sign of Penang is the cheerfully decorated cycle rickshaw carriages, offering tourists to explore the island slowly and with pleasure.
What to see in Penang
Fort Cornwallis (Georgetown)
According to BAGLIB, the fort was built on the historic site where Captain Francis Light landed in 1786. Initially, it was a wooden building, but in 1804, using the labor of prisoners from local prisons, it was rebuilt, now from stone. Now the fort is one of the main attractions of Penang, and souvenir shops are located on its territory. Here you can also see the famous Dutch cannon, presented to the Sultan of Johor by the Dutch. After that, she was kidnapped by the Portuguese, for some time she was kept on the island of Java, then she was thrown into the sea by pirates, but in the end she returned to her historical place.
Temple Kek Lok Si
Kek Loh Si Temple is considered one of the largest and most beautiful Buddhist temples in Southeast Asia. Its seven-tiered pagoda, 30 meters high, is a mixture of Chinese, Burmese and Thai architectural styles. Work on the construction of the temple began in 1890 and continued for more than 20 years. In front of the temple there is a wide area for prayers, and on the sides are prayer halls and pagodas with sculptures of the Buddha. You can also feed the turtles that live in the temple pond. According to Chinese belief, turtles are a symbol of longevity.
Mount Penang
For panoramic views of the island, you can take the funicular to the top of Mount Penang (829 meters above sea level).
Penang Butterfly Farm
This picturesque tropical park with over 100 species of butterflies and insects is located in Teluk Bahang.
Serpent Temple
It is possible that there are no more such temples in the whole world. Here, on certain days, you can see a large cluster of snakes, which curl up in spirals peacefully on the altar. They are considered harmless because they are intoxicated by the smell of smoking incense.
Bukit Mertajam Game Reserve (Georgetown)
The reserve is located 18 km from the maritime station in Butterworth near the town of Bukit Mertajam. Located at an altitude of 457 m above sea level, it is spread over 37 hectares of tropical jungle with relic trees, ferns, wild flowers and is inhabited by numerous species of birds, butterflies and insects. For those who want to get to know wildlife better, there are paths to the very thicket of the jungle.
Bird Park (Georgetown)
The park covers an area of 5 acres in the Seberang Jaya area, where about 400 species of birds from all over the world live under a very high netting. The park is carefully decorated with artificial islands among streams, small gardens and ornamental trees, which create a natural habitat for exotic birds. Many different types of orchids, hibiscus and other tropical flowers also grow here.
Historical Museum and Art Gallery (Georgetown)
The museum and gallery are located on Lebuh Farquhar. Here are collected collections of old photographs, maps and other ancient relics related to the historical past of Penang. The museum was built in 1812 and was originally used as a school.
St George’s Church (Georgetown)
Built by prisoners in 1818, the church is one of the city’s oldest architectural monuments. At the entrance to this majestic English church there is a monument to Captain Francis Light.
Sri Mariamman Temple (Georgetown)
This temple, built in 1883, is famous for its numerous statues of Indian deities, the most valuable of which is the statue of God Subramaniam, decorated with gold, silver, diamonds and emeralds. The statue is one of the most important ritual elements of the annual Thaipusam celebration, when it is transported on a silver chariot through the streets of the city to the temple on Jalan Waterfall. To enter, you must obtain permission from the servants of the temple.
Chaiyamangkalaram Temple
At the Buddhist temple Wat Chaiyamangkalaram in Lorong Burmah, built by Thai architects, you can see the world’s third largest reclining Buddha statue, which is 33 meters long. In the niches of the walls are urns with the ashes of saints.
