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PENANG
ISLAND
Penang Island also known as Penang or Pulau Pinang or Pulau Mutiara
was established by Sir Francis Light in 1786 as the first British
trading post in the Far East. Sir Francis Light had persuaded the
Sultan of Kedah to cede Pulau Pinang to the British in exchange for
military assistance. Through negotiation with The Sultan of Kedah
Sir Francis Light managed to add additional territory on the adjoining
mainland coast, Province Wellesly or it is now commonly known as Butterworth.
Their primary interest in Penang was that it serve as a safe stopover
for British ships plying the far more profitable China trade.
When Sir Francis Light landed, on the site of the present Esplanade
or Padang Kota as it is known locally, Penang was virtually uninhabited
and covered in dense vegetation. Fort Cornwallis was built on the
site of Sir Francis Light's historic landing in 1786.
In order to induce his sepoy forces and the locals to clear the jungle
on the island, Light allegedly loaded cannons with gold coins and
fired into the jungle on this tropical Island. Before long, sufficient
land had been cleared for settlement, and traders and merchants began
to arrive. Within a few decades, this tropical island had attracted
more than thousands of settlers and traders, including Sumatrans,
Indians, Arabs and especially Chinese.
Penang was soon established as a major trading port for tea, spices,
china, and cloth.
Penang is today a bustling city with a unique blend of the East and
West. This is reflected in its heritage buildings as well as in the
lifestyles, food and custom of the local people. Georgetown, named
after King George III of England, is the seat of the state's administration
as well as the centre for commerce, education, social activities and
entertainment.
What makes Penang Island really tick is the vibrant and intriguing
city of Georgetown, on the island's north-eastern coast. This city
has more Chinese flavour than either Singapore or Hong Kong, you could
be forgiven for thinking that the clock stopped at least 50 years
ago. Georgetown is a compact city and it's a delight to wander around.
Set off in any direction and you're certain to see beautiful old Chinese
houses, vegetable markets, temples, ceremonies, trishaws, mahjong
games and all the other characteristic of Asian street life.
Penang too is a pleasant shopping centre. Its shopping
facilities ranging from modern complexes to roadside stalls and the
'pasar malam', night markets, offer an almost endless range of products.
The main shopping centres are along Penang Road, Burmah Road and Campbell
Street in the city.
One of the more prominent shopping complexes on the island is Kompleks
Tun Abdul Razak (KOMTAR) on Penang Road; it has over 200 shops.
PLACES OF INTEREST
According to local folklore, the Snake Temple, dedicated to a Buddhist
healer-priest, was inhabited by snakes which crawled out of the jungle
on the night of the temple's completion. The snakes are still there
today. The Kek Lok Si Temple, at Air Itam, is reputed to be the most
beautiful and largest temple complex in Southeast Asia. Its seven-story
pagoda, over 90 feet high, is a harmonious blend of Chinese, Thai,
and Burmese architecture and craftsmanship. Other worthwhile stops
are the delightful Penang Bird Park, sited in Seberang Jaya on the
mainland. It housed over 400 species of birds from all over the world.
The park also contains a wide variety of orchids and hibiscus. Next,
the romantic peak of Penang Hill, a popular refuges from the heat
of the low-lying city. It is accessible by cabled train. From the
summit of Penang Hill one will be view the panoramic of Georgetown.
Fort Cornwallis, the site of Sir Francis Light's
first historic landing on Penang Island. This fort is sited at Padang
Kota.
The Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve, crisscrossed with beautiful trails
leading to isolated beaches. A trek through the reserve's interior
reveals rare flora, monkeys chattering in the trees, sea eagles ,
and maybe a glimpse of a Hawksbill turtle heading for the sea.
Orchid and Hibiscus Garden, located at Bukit Jambul,
feature Orchid and Hibiscus Garden and a Reptile Farm. Attractions
include an ornamental Japanese pond, a cacti garden, a pottery corner,
a deer park, and cascades.
Bukit Mertajam Recreational Park, located approximately
18 km from Butterworth ferry terminal, this park covers a wide area
of hilly terrain that ascends several hundred meters above sea level.
Its cool hill air encourages a profusion of ferns, ephiphytes and
wild flowers, as well as exotic butterflies, birds and insects. For
the adventurous, there are numerous jungle tracks leading to the heart
of the forest.
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Butterworth
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SUNWAY
HOTEL GEORGETOWN 
Sunway Hotel Georgetown, Penang, No. 33, New Lanes, Off MacAlister
Road, Penang, Malaysia, is located at the heart of Georgetown
Penang. Malaysia. The Sunway Hotel is centrally located in historical,
bustling Georgetown, the heart of Penang and within easy walking
distance to famous landmarks of Penang Island, shopping and
government offices. CLICK
HERE
        
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ROAD/FARQUHAR STREET |
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Butterworth
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Penang Butterfly Farm, located at Teluk Bahang, the Butterfly
Farm has hundreds of species of butterflies and insects.
Botanical Garden, offer peace and tranquility amidst
lush green surroundings, tropical plants, and the vibrant colors
of Penang's flora.
Wat Chayamangkalaram Temple, a Buddhist temple
of Thai architecture houses a magnificent gold-plated reclining
Buddha that is said to be the third largest in the world. The
niches behind the statue house urns containing the ashes of devotees.
St George's Church, a stately Anglican colonial
church is one of the oldest landmarks in the city. The entrance
features a memorial canopy dedicated to Captain Sir Francis Light,
who is buried in the adjoining ceremony.
Sri Mariamman Temple, built in the late nineteenth century,
features fascinating sculptures of gods and goddesses.
Penang Museum and Art Gallery, located at Lebuh Farquhar,
the Penang Museum and Art Gallery houses old photographs, maps,
charts and historical relics. It was built in 1821 and was formerly
the Penang Free School.
Khoo Kongsi, the wave of Chinese immigration
to Penang during the nineteenth century gave rise to the formation
of clan formations, or kongsi, which served as surrogate kinship
and professional associations for immigrants who had left behind
family and friends.
Carpenters' Guild, located at 70 Lorong Love,
The Carpenters' Guild temple, or Loo Pun Hong, is dedicated to
Lo Pan, patron deity of carpenters and other building artisans.
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, located at Lebuh Leith,
Cheong Fatt Tze was the Hakka name of the powerful Nanyang industrialist
who was also a Mandarin of the Highest Order in the goverment
of China. His importance was acknowledged by flags flown at half-mast
by Dutch and British Goverments when he died.
Kuan Yin Teng Temple, located in the centre of
the old part of Georgetown is nowhere near as impressive, but
it's one of the most popular temples in the city.
Accommodations
Accommodation facilities available for the state of Penang or
Pulau Pinang, Malaysia includes Mutiara Beach Resort Ferringhi
Penang, Crown Prince Hotel Penang, Tanjung Bungah Beach Hotel
Penang, Naza Hotel Tanjung Tokong Penang, Ferringhi Beach Hotel
Penang, Casuarina Beach Resort Penang and Sri Sayang Resort Penang.
GETTING TO PENANG
The island is linked to the mainland by the Penang Bridge or Jambatan
Pulau Pinang, which is 13.5 km long and it is the longest bridge
in Asia. A toll of RM7.00 is collected at the Penang Bridge toll
plaza.
However, if you prefer the old world charm of traveling in the
famous 24-hour ferry service, the service still exists. The ferry
leaves from Butterworth and tickets can be purchased there. Ferry
fare-Adults: 40 sen, Children: 20 sen. For cars below 1200cc the
rate is RM4; RM5 for cars 1200cc- 1600cc and cars above 1600cc
pay RM6. Penang's Bayan Lepas International Airport is about 20
km from Georgetown, its capital. If you wish to travel by train,
the Railway Station is on the mainland, located at Butterworth,
Seberang Prai.
Malaysia Airlines has multiple daily flights
from KLIA and Subang to the Penang International Airport.
The North-South
Expressway passes through Penang with interchanges at
Jawi, Bukit Tambun, Bukit Tengah, Butterworth & Sungai Dua.
It is roughly a 4 hour drive from Kuala Lumpur. Use the Ferry
or the Penang Bridge to get to the Island. PLUSLiner
operates daily Interstate Coaches from Kuala Lumpur to Butterworth
or the Island. KTMB
operates Senandung Langkawi and Express Rakyat
daily rail service from KL Sentral.
Malaysia Hotels Dot CC, brings you some of the best hotels in
the state of Penang, Malaysia. We bring to you Mutiara Beach Resort
Ferringhi Penang, Crown Prince Hotel Penang, Tanjung Bungah Beach
Hotel Penang, Naza Hotel Tanjung Tokong Penang, Ferringhi Beach
Hotel Penang, Casuarina Beach Resort Penang and Sri Sayang Resort
Penang. We present them here comprehensively with factual information
on all our participating hotels and resorts on the Island of Penang,
Malaysia.
Welcome Malaysia Hotels Dot CC
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