Pearl of the Orient
Malaysia’s ‘Pearl of the Orient’ carries a natural beauty and cultural splendour like no other place. Its name comes from the Malay translation of betel nut – ‘Pinang’. Every year, thousands of visitors come here to experience the unique cultural heritage and scenery. It is also a very cosmopolitan city, perhaps the second busiest in the country after Kuala Lumpur.
Island City
Penang consists of a 285 sq. km island connected via a 13 km bridge to an additional 760 sq. km of mainland, referred to as Seberang Perai. Commercial and administrative activity is concentrated in the capital of Georgetown, located on the northeast tip of the island. Temples and other historical sites are scattered in many places and the northern areas hides some picturesque beaches
Hokkien Heritage
While the population is multi-racial, the culture here seems to have adopted a permanent a Chinese tinge. It is not unusual to find Malays and Indians being able to speak the Hokkien language alongside the largely Chinese population (65 percent) of Penang. Eating out is a very popular past time and Penang’s hawker stalls are legendary among Malaysians for their excellent food and lively atmosphere.
Francis Light
Penang’s history was official recorded when the Sultan of Kedah ceded the state (then under his control) to Francis Light of the British East India Company in 1786. In exchange, the Sultan was promised British military protection from the Siamese by the crafty Light who had, in fact, no such backing.
When the Siamese invaded, there was no help rendered to the Sultan. He attempted to retake Penang back in 1790. The attack was unsuccessful and Penang continued to remain under British control with an additional strip of mainland added in 1800. The Sultan was paid 10,000 Spanish Dollars per annum in return.
Through the decades, Penang flourished as a centre for trade of tea, spices, china and cloth. It remained under British rule until it became part of Malaysia in 1957 during Independence Day.
The Modern Penang
Today, Penang is fast, furious and alive with culture and people. Though the number of visitors may have lessened since its duty-free status was taken over by Langkawi, the island state is currently undergoing a revival among visitors through tourism efforts by its people and the Government to return it to its glory days.
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Georgetown
The city of Georgetown is Penang’s capital city and the place to go to in search of historical sights and shopping adventures. Many cultural temples line the streets while certain areas are famous for their sale of antiques, artefacts, electronic goods, souvenirs and other commodities. The city area is well-connected through a link of roads, though some are one-way and narrow. Busy and fast-paced, Georgetown is a city that never sleeps, just like Kuala Lumpur.
Gurney Drive
The Gurney Drive is a fantastic place to catch a view of the sunset – and eat at hawkers stalls. Most of Penang’s glorious food can be ordered from the hawker stalls in the area, from Assam Laksa to Popiah and Char Keow Teow to Hokkien Mee. Many families also come here to picnic on weekends and during the night, a bazzar selling all types of goods comes alive in Gurney Drive.
City Hall
The City Hall located along the Esplanade is a fine building of Victorian architecture built in 1903; a reminder of the colonial era in Penang. The City Hall faces a historic field – Padang Kota which is a venue for festivals and other large-scale events. Today, the Hall is still used for period meetings among the Penang Municipal Council Chamber.
Clock Tower
The Clock Tower is a colonial reminder from the era of the British Empire in Penang. Built to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897, the Clock Tower was a gift to the British authorities from a local millionaire, Cheah Chen Eok. Moorish stylings dominate the structure and from afar, it resembles the minaret of a mosque.
Penang State Museum
The Penang Museum was built in 1965 and houses a collection of priceless artefacts and state treasures. Eight of the ten original oil paintings by the famous artist Captain Robert Smith are found here. Other items on display include porcelain, furniture, jewellery and costumes from past historical eras. There are also maps, charts and memorabilia used by the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman.
Fort Cornwallis
Cornwallis was an ancient fort built by Francis Light, the founder of Penang, on the spot where he landed in 1786. It was originally built as a wooden stockade by convicts, receiving concrete upgrades through time. Today, the fort has been converted into an open-air park complete with amphitheatre, a history gallery, cafes, and souvenir shops. There are also a few cannons sitting around, the most famous being Seri Rambai, reputedly having mystical powers.
Penang War Museum
The War Museum situated on Batu Maung Hill traces the history of World War II in Malaysia. Located on a sprawling 20-acre piece of land, visitors will be taken on a journey through a soldier’s perspective as he narrates the dangers and challenges of war. There are canons, armaments, survival kits used by soldiers on display as well as underground installations such as pillboxes, tunnels and ventilations shafts. Visitors will be enlightened by the many war relics exhibited and hopefully, come out with a better understanding of the nature of global conflict.
Upper Penang Road
This northern portion of this historical road is now a brand new entertainment circle, akin to Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur. Upmarket restaurants, karaoke joints, bars, discotheques, pubs, and vogue boutique shops have sprouted over the precinct, offering visitors a wild night out in Penang. Most are housed in heritage buildings restored to provide a funky edge to Penang’s entertainment scene.
Hainanese Mariners' Lodge/ Penang Heritage Trust
The building was formerly used by itinerant Hainanese mariners for accommodation but was converted in 1998 to set up the Penang Heritage Trust, a non-profit organisation dedicated to preserving Penang’s unique Chinese culture. The centre offers visitors information on Penang’s heritage sites, organises projects, tours and provides accommodation. Nearby are some Chinese workshops that include a traditional carpenter, a goldsmith’s guild and a Cantonese association, all open for visits.
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
The house was built and named after a Hakka migrant in 1890. He was born a penniless person but eventually became the most powerful overseas Chinese merchant of his time in Nanyang. Moving to Penang, he continued to build his empire of shipping, opium and mining in Southeast Asia. The house is a magnificent architectural marvel with distinct European styling and stained-glass windows. Today, the house is open for visitors to learn more about Cheong’s history through antiques and paraphernalia displayed in the building.
Stay in Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
Kapitan Keling Mosque
The largest and oldest mosque in Penang was built in 1801 and further redesigned in 1910 by a German architect – Henry Alfred Neubronner, who gave the mosque its British Raj Moghul revival appearance and an elegant minaret. It is named after an Indian Muslim merchant – the ‘Kapitan Keling’ (headman) Caudeer Mohudeen.
Penang Toy Museum
The Toy Museum is Penang’s latest attraction with over 100,000 toys, dolls, models and other collectibles. Started by an avid collector of toys, the museum is also said to be the largest of its kind in Asia with many different chambers showcasing toys from different genres such as anime, Hong Kong movie stars, horror, science fiction and fantasy.
Dr Sun Yat Sen's Penang Base
A simple shop lot became the base from 1909 – 1911 for the revolutionary Chinese leader Dr Sun Yat Sen’s efforts to modernise China and turn it into a republic. Penang supported Dr Sun’s efforts and raised funds for the uprising in China during that historical period. The shop lot is open for visitors wishing to learn more about the historical leader and his activities in Penang.
Mahamariamman Temple
This is the oldest Hindu temple in Penang dating all the way back to 1833 and is adorned with many sculptures. Nearby is Little Indian, a collection of shopping areas that brim with Indian culture and noise.
Kek Lok Si Temple
The Kek Lok Si is a finely-crafted Buddhist temple, located on a hill in Ayer Hitam. Inside, visitors can stroll in the gardens, visit a turtle pond and admire shrines and other sculptures of Buddhist origin. Visitors should also try the delicious Asam Laksa dishes which are sold in stalls near the temple.
Wat Chayamangkalaram
Yet another Buddhist temple, the Wat houses a reclining Buddha statue that is the third largest of its kind in the world - 33 meters in length. On the temple grounds, there are many Buddhist sculptures as well. The temple was built by a Thai monk in 1845, who had a penchant for Penang’s Asam Laksa.
St George's Church
Saint George Church is the oldest Anglican Church in Malaysia which still holds regular services every Sunday. Built in 1818 by convicts, the church has a memorial dedicated to Francis Light sitting in front.
Millionaires’ Row
There is a popular saying among the Straits Chinese – immigrant Chinese families cannot keep their wealth any longer than three generations; the first will earn it, the second will prosper it, and the third will waste it away. That was the subject of a recent local movie in Malaysia entitled ‘Third Generation’.How the saying ties in with the Millionaires row of houses is left for you to ponder as you admire the street of mansions, now owned by the descendants of millionaires. Each of the five mansions on the street was built by wealthy businessmen, including the Honda dealer Loh Boon Siew and former shipping magnate Lim Mah Chye.
P.Ramlee’s House
The Malay actor P. Ramlee was the most famous actor of his time in Malaysia. This was his residence during his career in the 1930-40s. Inside, visitors can view his memorabilia and other articles related to his acting and biography. All furnishings have been carefully preserved to maintain the house as it originally was when it was used by P. Ramlee.
Quoted from : http://www.penang.ws/penang-attractions/placevisit.htm
