Residence of Ku Din Ku Meh, Jalan Penang

Located at No. 20 in upper Penang Road is another restored heritage home that once belonged to a Ku Din Ku Meh (1848-1932), whose real name was Tengku Baharuddin bin Tengku Meh. He was a Kedah Malay who was the Administrator of Setul (Satun), with his writings and administrative records preserved in the Thai National Archives in Bangkok. The residence today is a budget hotel.

Pinang Peranakan Mansion, Church Street

A very good example of adaptive reuse, the former home of Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee has been converted into a showcase of the opulent lifestyle of the Peranakans and their many customs and traditions, displaying over a thousand pieces of antiques and collectibles of this unique community. Opens: Monday - Saturday, 9:00am to 5:00pm
Closed on Sundays and all public holidays
Daily conducted tour at 11.30am and 3.30pm sharp
Admission: RM10.00 for adult (aged 12 and above)
Free for children below 12 and RM5.00 for School Children in uniform.
Address: 29, Church Street, 10200 Penang
Tel: +6 04 264 2929, Fax: +6 04 264 1929

Penang Museum and Art Gallery, Lebuh Farquhar

Located at Lebuh Farquhar, the Penang Museum and Art Gallery is one of the most popular attractions in Malaysia. The building which houses the museum was built in 1821 and was formerly the Penang Free School. It showcases old photographs, maps, charts, historical relics, paintings of early Penang, all of which provide an insight to Penang's history.
Opens: 9:00am to 5:00pm daily except Fridays
Admission: RM1 for adults 50 sen for children
Tel: +6 04 263 1942

Penang Islamic Museum, Lebuh Armenian

Syed Al-Attas Mansion once belonged to Syed Mohammad Al-Attas, a Muslim of Achehnese descent who aupported Acheh’s struggle against the Dutch in the 19th century. Built in 1860 after the Straits Eclectic style, the mansion now houses the Penang Islamic Museum. The Penang Islamic Museum is open to the public
daily except on Tuesdays.
Visiting hours are from 9.30am to 6.00pm.
Entrance fee: RM3 for adults and RM1 for children below 12 years of age.
Address: 128, Armenian Street, Penang, Malaysia.
Tel: +6 04 262 0172
Fax: +6 04 264 4692
Website: www.penangislamicmuseum.net

Nagore Shrine, Lebuh King

Constructed in the early 1880's, the shrine is a memorial to the Caliph, Syed Shahul Hamid. Faithful devotees may be seen visiting the strine to seek favors on Thursdays.

Little India, Penang

This enclave boasts a rich living history that spans over two centuries. Popular with heritage enthusiasts, international conservationists, tourists and locals, Little India features a thriving and vibrant collection of historic attractions, places of worship, shops, restaurants, florists, barbers, astrologers, millers, money changers, fruit sellers and herb dealers.

Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak (KOMTAR), Jalan Penang

KOMTAR, a prominent Penang landmark, houses Government departments, commercial offices, department stores, shops and restaurants.The 65-storey complex also contains theaters, squash courts and a geodesic dome which serves as a multi-purpose hall, while the 55th floor offers a panoramic view of the city and on clear days, also of Gunung Jerai in Kedah.

Esplanade, Penang

Next to Fort Cornwallis is the Esplanade, a popular waterfront promenade which stretches from the hawker stalls at one end to the clock tower at the other. Central in the Esplanade is the Padang, a huge square of town green.

Standing proudly beside is the City Hall, a stately colonial building which is a fine example of British palladian architecture featuring magnificent Corinthian columns and huge windows. It was once the seat of local government.

China Town, Penang

China Town on the island stretches from Weld Quay to Lebuh Stewart, lebuh Muntri, Lebuh Campbell and Lebuh King. China Town is so large and well-preserved that you will sense and feel the lifestyle of Chinese immigrant settlers who came here in the 1800s.

Visitors will be intrigued by the many clanhouses, shophouses and temples found along these streets, which reflect the heritage left behind. Stepping into these streets will certainly take you back in time.

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, Lebuh Leith

Cheong Fatt Tze (1840-1917), a Hakka from Tai Pu in the Teochew district, migrated to Java in the 1850s where he prospered and moved his base to Penang in the early 1890s. A powerful Nanyang industrialist and a first-class Mandarin in the Manchu government, he was made Consul-General in Singapore and economic advisor to the Empress Dowager.

Cheong Fatt Tze had eight wives and owned many residences throughout his trading empire but made Penang his base, where he raised his six sons.

The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion was built over seven years from 1896 to 1904 by teams of master craftsmen from China. This mansion is only one of three of its kind left outside China. The mansion is the only stately Chinese-type dwelling representing the best of 18th and 19th century Chinese architecture in the State.

Khoo Kongsi

Craftsmen from China commissioned this architectural masterpiece in 1906, at a time when the Khoo Clan was at its height of wealth and eminence. The intricate crafts, ornaments, tile and painting makes it one of the most beautifully sculptured pieces of Chinese architecture. The main charming street is flanked by rows of relatively well-kept mid-19th century shop houses. It opens into a courtyard fronted by the majestic Khoo Kongsi where many festivals are held throughout the year. Facing directly opposite is the traditional stage theater and at the side, the renovated Khoo Kongsi office building.

Butterfly Farm

The Penang Butterfly Farm established in 1986 is located at Teluk Bahang is a popular tourist attraction. It is home to over 4,000 tropical butterflies from about 150 species, in a natural habitat. A nature park with small reptiles in their natural habitats as well as the Museum of Asian Artifacts. Expansion plans are underway to include a night zoo which will feature nocturnal creatures and tropical insects. The farm is a not-to-be-missed for many.

Penang Bird Park

The highlight of the park is a large walk-in aviary containing 800 birds from all over the world set amidst prettily landscaped gardens. For supplements, Japanese carps, duck and swans swim merrily in and about ponds ornamented with enchanting lilies and lotuses, and there is a good collection of orchids, hibiscus and palm trees. A children's playground and pondok shelters make this a good choice for a wholesome weekend family outing.

The Bird Park restaurant serves local and Western food.

Penang Hill

For a cool retreat and fabulous views of Georgetown City, take a half-hour cable funicular train ride up from the Air Hitam railway station, which is in itself quite an experience. At its peak of 800m above sea level, savor overwhelming views of the terrain and glimpses of the built-up environment, fauna and flora of Penang's highest peak. Nature lovers can opt to take a six-kilometre hike up by nature trails accessible from the Botanical Gardens. Holiday bungalows are available.

Batu Ferringhi Beach

A little further along the coast towards Georgetown, Batu Ferringhi (Foreigner's Rock) is a resort strip lined with big hotels, tourist shops, restaurants and car and motorcycle rental offices. They are also plenty of moneychangers to welcome you.

The beach itself is quite good, thought not up there with Malaysia's best and the water is not of the tropically clear variety you might expect. The beach is kept clean, even on weekends when hordes of day-trippers visit.

Batu Ferringhi has the drawbacks of a large resort, it can be crowded and much of the greenery has been replaced by concrete, but also the advantages (plenty of restaurants, watering holes and recreation facilities). It has quite a lively resort feel, and there is a good night markets on the main road selling trinkets. The big hotels offer good deals at times and cheaper accommodation is available if you want a few days by the beach.

Things to Do in Penang

* Take a walking tour of historic downtown Georgetown.
* Visit the Penang Museum.
* Take the ferry across to the mainland.
* Visit the Snake Temple.
* Take the Tramway up Penang Hill.
* Hit the Beach!
* Visit the Tourist Belt Resorts and Hotels.
* Hike up Penang Hill.
* Take the Island Round Trip.
* Butterfly Farm
* The Gurney Drive Stroll.
* Visit Kek Lok Si (Temple of Supreme Bliss)
* Visit the Forestry Reserve.
* Visit the Botanic Gardens.
* Penang Bird Park.
* Batik Factory.
* Trip to Langkawi Island.
* Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram Siamese Temple.
* Dhammikarama Burmese Buddhist Temple.
* Take a Trishaw Ride.
* Eat Penang Road Ice Kacang.
* Tour the Tourist Belt Night Market.
* Enjoy the View from Komtar.
* Shopping for Penang Pewter.
* Sample the fruits at the Tropical Fruit Farm
* Visit the Tropical Spice Garden

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.

Penang 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.

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 State Musuem

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.

Penang Tourist Information

Penang – a world renowned exotic holiday destination – was known, once upon a time, as Pulau Pinang or the “Isle of the Betel Nut”. Listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2008, this virgin paradise has no shortage of cultural sights and natural scenery.

Nicknamed the Pearl of the Orient, Penang is famous for its soft sandy beaches and is fondly regarded as the food capital of Malaysia. A melting pot of hybrid communities, Penang is an interesting eclectic mix of Chinese, Malay, Indian, Siamese and sundry cultures.

Some of the most interesting sites of Penang include the sandy beaches of Tanjung Bungah, the landscape from the summit of Penang Hill and the vipers in the Snake Temple. The quaint nooks and crannies of Georgetown and the Tropical Spice Garden – the only spice garden in South East Asia – as well as Penang’s many flea markets, pasar malams’ and modern shopping malls also merit a visit.