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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.

Penang Butterfly Farm, located at Teluk Bahang, the Butterfly Farm has hundreds of species of butterflies and insects.