SIGHTS
PENANG/GEORGETOWN, MALAYSIA

Area Code 04 $1=RM3.32 Nov 7, 2007

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Penang has many historical and cultural sights. Most places of interest are walk-able from the backpacker area, wandering around is the best way to explore the city.
Penang has a number of beaches on the north coast - Batu Feringgi is a built-up resort with many facilities, towards Teluk Bahang is less developed.
Buses to all sites outside of the city pass through KOMTAR.

Photo: Penang's Trishaw

Except "U" bus, all bus information is old.
The numbers could be wrong.
Please report us, if you know the correct bus number.

Central Area
Free bus is running between George Town Jetty to Komtar Bus station running through the old area. Get a map for it at a tourist office.
S1 Fort Cornwallis: Jl Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah, Near Tourist office. E end of the Gerrge Town. As you land from the ferry, walk right. 8:30-19:00 Entry fee: RM1 Site of Francis Light's landing in Penang in 1786. Built in 1804 by British with convict labor. Contains a museum, souvenir shop, open-air amphitheater, history gallery, Dutch cannon. Some parts of it is under reconstruction now.
Free bus stop 17/20, Bus: #4, 7, 10, 18, 101, 202, 303, 313, 325, 136, 137, Mini bus: 80, 84, 86, 88
S2 St. George's Anglican church: Lh. Farquhar. NE of Old area. Old Anglican Church in SE Asia. Built by convict labor in 1818. Serives(traditional) held Su8:30
Free bus stop 6/7, Bus: #4, 7, 10, 11,18, 101, 202, 303, 313, 325, 351, 136, 137,6, 88
S3 Pinang Museum & Art Gallery: Lh. Light+Lh. Farquhar. NE of Old area. Sa-Th9-17:00 Free RM1 Built in 1821. Photography exhibition, History Room has a display about the Penang Riots of 1876. Art Gallery showing local artists work. Free bus stop 6/7, Bus: #4, 7, 10, 11,18, 101, 202, 303, 313, 325, 351, 136, 137,6, 88
S4 Kuan Yin Temple (Goddess of Mercy Temple): Jl Masjid Kapitan Keling. Free entry 9-18:00
Built early 19th C. by Chinese immigrants. Beautifully preserved carved, wooden ceilings/beams in honor of the 18 armed Goddess, Kuan Yin. Fake paper money bought from the many stores nearby is ritually burnt outside for good luck and the granting of wishes.
Free bus stop 7, Bus: #4, 7, 10, 18, 101, 202, 303, 313, 325, 136, 137, Mini bus: 80, 84, 86, 88
S5 Sri(Maha) Mariamann Temple: Lebuh Queen+Lebuh Chulia. 8-12, 16-21:00. Entry Permission required
Hindu temple, built in 1883. Houses a gold, diamond, emerald-studded statue of Lord Subramaniam. During the Thaipusam Festival, the statue is carried on a silver chariot by devotees to the temple at Jl Waterfall.
Free bus stop 6/16, Bus: #4, 7, 10, 11, 101, 202, 303, 313, 325, 136, 137, Mini bus: 80, 84, 86, 88
S6 Kapitan Kling Mosque: Jl Masjid Kapitan Kling. Free entry. 9-17:00, Visitors welcome - must be appropriately dressed. Built in early 1800's. One of the oldest mosque in Penang. Yellow, Indian-style mosque with dome-shaped minaret.
Free bus stop 6/16, Bus: #4, 7, 10, 18, 101, 202, 303, 313, 325, 136, 137, Mini bus: 80, 88
S7 Khoo Kongsi: (Khoo Clan House). Lh Cannon,near the S end of Jl Masjid Kapitan Keling. 9-17:00, RM5, Chinese Clan House. Built in 1902 by members of the Khoo Clan, now used as a temple cum meeting house by men with the Khoo surname. The most impressive of the Clan Houses for its elaborate decoration. It houses a collection of Chinese art and sculptures. Free bus stop 15, Bus: #4, 7, 10, 18, 101, 202, 303, 313, 325, Mini bus: 88
S8 Cheong Fatttze Mansion: 14 Leith St. N part of central area, near Continental Hotel. Guided tour only 11:00, 15:00, 1880's Large Chinese Mansion awarded by UNESCO. Free bus stop 7, Bus: #4, 7, 10, 11,18, 101, 202, 303, 313, 325, 351, 136, 137,6, 88
S9 KOMTAR: Jl Penang. Skyscraper office/shopping/entertainment complex. The highest building in Penang great views of the island from the *observatory and restaurant on the top floor. The shopping, transport hub of Penang.
* Entrance tickets to the observatory at TIC on 3F. RM5?- exchangeable for goods in the souvenir store.
Free bus stop 9/10, Bus: most bus come here.
S10 'Millionaires Row': Jl Sultan Ahmed Shah. N of the old area, next to the water. W from Lebuh Farguhar. A street of largely run-down Colonial/Chinese style mansions, formerly owned by rich tycoons.
S11 Wat Chayamang Kalaram: Lorong Burmah, N part of town, a few km from the central area. 7-17:30. Free entry Thai Buddhist temple. Houses a 33m, gold-plated Reclining Buddha. Blue buses #93,202, mini-bus #31,88, RM0.70?
S12 Botanical Gardens: Waterfall Rd, 8km NW edge of Georgetown. 5:00-20:00, free entry Started in 1884 by the British. Lots of monkeys. Crowded in main areas.
transport: Bus U102 from KOMTOR
OUT OF TOWN
S20 Kek Lok Si Temple: (Monastery of Supreme Bliss) On hill S of Ayer Itam. free entry to complex. Pagoda RM2, 9-17:00
Built 1890-1910. Huge Chinese, Thai & Burmese -influenced, ornate temple complex. Within the complex is a 7-tier Pagoda, landscaped garden, an over-full turtle pool. The route to the temple is through a shopping arcade.
transport: Bus #201, 203, 204
S21 Penang Hill: N from Ayer Itam. Funicular to the summit, every 30min, 6:30-21:30, Weekend 6:30-21:30 RM4 return
There are excellent views of Georgetown from the top of the 850m high Hill, particularly at sunset... Very crowded at weekends. There are a number of walking trails, recommended only for the fit.
D'Budget Hostel organizes walking trips up Penang Hill on Sundays.subject to demand
transport: Bus #201
S22 Snake Temple: Bayan Lepas, 12km from Georgetown. 7-19:00, RM1. Temple dedicated to the god Chor Soo Kong, it was believed that snakes were his disciples. A very small number of de-fanged snakes are still kept here. Most visitors are disappointed.
transport: Yellow bus #66, minibus 32, MR0.60, from Pengkalan Weld or KOMTAR to Temple.
S23 Batu Feringgi Beach: Very developed beach resort on the N coast. The sea, though a beautiful colour, suffers from pollution and large numbers of jelly fish. Has a good shopping area for handicrafts and souvenirs.
transport: bus U-101 RM2
S24 Bird Park: Seberang Jaya. 9-19:00, , Near the Penang Bridge. RM10
transport: 65, 515 from Batterworth Bus Terminal
S25 Teluk Bahang: Small fishing village on the N coast. Some restaurants & a couple of cheap accommodation options. Access Bus #93,94,202 transport: bus U-101 RM2
S26 Penang Butterfly Farm: 1km from Jl Teluk Bahang junction. T811253/F812011 Open: M-F9-17, Sa/Su9-18:00
Huge variety of butterflies & insects in a pleasant environment Entrance fee: RM 12.5
transport bus U-101 RM2

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