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Penang is known throughout the world as the Pearl of the Orient. It is an island situated off the northwest coast of peninsular Malaysia. In the local language of Malay, the island is called Pulau Pinang which means the Isle of Betel Nut. Penang is also the name of the state which includes the island and part of the mainland. George Town is the state capital and is situated on Penang island itself.
The island has a heritage embedded in British Colonial history. Back in the year 1786, Penang and the entire state of Penang belonged to the Sultan of Kedah. His state was perpetually under the threat of attack from the neighboring country of Siam (now know as Thailand). As long as he made gifts to the King of Siam, Kedah was safe. The Sultan grew tired of this arrangement and turned to the British government for help. In exchange for protection, Kedah agreed to give the island to the British and was persuaded to give up part of the mainland as well so that the British could defend the island if need be.
So in 1786, Sir Francis Light took over Penang and established a trading post there. Soon after the island became a major trading port for spices and tea. The British made a wise move in acquiring this island and but they reneged on the agreement with the Sultan of Kedah.
Apart from the island’s many beautiful beaches, Penang offers many unusual local attractions. Understandably some tourists are short on time and must be selective. Here are six of the island’s top must see sights.
1. Fort Cornwallis was built on the site of Sir Francis Light’s first landing on the island. It was originally a wooden stockade but later in 1804, with the aid of prison convicts, the fort was rebuilt using concrete. There you will find a famous Dutch canon. The canon was originally a present from the Dutch to the Sultan of Johor (a southern state). A few years later, the Achenese raided Johor and took with them the canon. Years later, the Achenese sent it over to Kuala Selangor to forge an allegiance with the Bugis. When the British attacked the Bugis, the cannon went with them to Penang.
2. The Khoo Kongsi temple stands as a testament to the wave of Chinese immigration to the island in the nineteenth century. The original temple was said to be so beautiful that it even outshone the temple belonging to the Emperor of China. Sadly, it was burnt down on the very day it was finished. The temple was rebuilt as a scaled down version of the original.
3. Kek Lok Si is a Buddhist temple built on to a hill side in Air Hitam. The temple was built in many tiers and took twenty years to build. It has a turtle pond, many beautiful sculptures and shrines.
4. Penang Hill was originally developed by the British as a place where they could get away from the equatorial weather. There is a funicular railway that takes about a half hour to get to the top. The cool air is refreshing and offers visitors a respite from the humidity. The panoramic view of Penang is priceless.
5. Wat Chayamankalaram is a Buddhist temple that houses the world’s third largest reclining Buddha. The statue is 33 meters long and is covered with gold leafed saffron.
6. Sri Mariamman Temple is Penang’s oldest Hindu temple. It was built in 1883 and has many colorful statues of Hindu deities; the most famous being the statue of Lord Subramaniam. The statue is richly decorated in gold, silver, diamonds, and emeralds.
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