Penang "The Pearl of the Orient" lies off the northwestern coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The state comprises the island of Penang, covering an area of about 285 sq Km, and a narrow strip of approximately 760 sq km on the mainland known as Seberang Perai(Province Wellesley), which is separated by a channel 3 km wide at the closest point. They are linked by the Penang Bridge and a cross-channel ferry service. It's population of more than 1 million represents a happy mix of the major races found in Malaysia with the Malays making up 32%, the Chinese 59% and the Indians 7%.

Penang History:

Penang had been, prior to the English, known as a harbour for pirates. Then in 1786 the Sultan of Kedah ceded the state of Penang (Pulau Pinang), also known as Betelnut Island to Captain Francis Light of the East India Company in return for British protection. It was England 's first stronghold in Asia , and they quickly populated the island and made it an important port within the Straits of Malacca. In 30 years the population boomed from almost nil to 10,000 with Georgetown as the capital. During World War II, the 'Pearl of the Orient' was invaded by the Japanese.At the same time the English departed.More Info>>

Penang Fact Files:

Area	285 Sq km
Population	1 Million(approx)
Language	Bahasa Melayu (Malay) is the national language but English is widely spoken.
Religion	Islam
Governer	Yang DiPertua Negeri
Currency	Ringgit Malaysia (MYR)
Climate	Penang's climate can be described as equatorial, a pleasant mix of warm, sunny days and occasional cooling rain storms, with August through November being the wettest months generally. Average rainfall is 255 cms (100 inches) throughout the year. Humidity is usually high, and the temperature varies between 21^o and 32^o Celsius (70^o to 95^o Fahrenheit).
GMT	+ 8 hours
Geographical Location	Penang is one of the 13 states of the Federation of Malaysia; located on the north-west coast of Peninsula Malaysia. It is bounded on the north and east by the state of Kedah, to the South by the State of Perak and to the west by the Straits of Malacca and Sumatra (Indonesia). Penang consists of the island of Penang and a coastal strip on the mainland known as Province Wellesley. The island covering an area of 285 square kilometers, is separated from the mainland by a channel. The island and mainland are linked by the 13.5km long Penang Bridge; apart from this, a 24-hour ferry service plies the channel.

Penang Culture :

Penang is a land thick in culture and religion.Like the rest of Malaysia the official religion of Penang is Islam, however Penang state is very tolerant of the many religions and faiths that are practised within its state, in other words there is 'freedom of worship. With it's multi-ethnic society, Penang sees a kaleidoscope of festivals and celebrations which seems to last the entire year--Chinese New Year ,Chap Goh Meh,Thaipusam,The Birthday of the Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin),Wesak Day, Hari Raya Puasa, Birthday of HM The Yang Di-pertua Agong, Saint Anne's Feast , Hari Raya Haji ,Festival of Nine Emperor Gods, National Day, Deepavali,Christmas Day etc. Aside from Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, Hindu and Christianity are prominent. Of note - each faith has on the island a building of worship that is well worth a visit. There could be no other place in the country that can dish up so many attractions within a small area. Therefore, for the history enthusiasts, spiritual seekers, or just a tourist bumming around, one have got to give Penang's religious spots a chance.

Penang Access :

By Air – The Penang International Airport is 16km from Georgetown. Cathay Pacific, Eva Air, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Thai International offer connecting flights.

By Rail – Butterworth is a major station on the north-south railway from Singapore to Bangkok. The ferry terminal to Penang island is within walking distance from the station.

By Driving – The North-South Expressway is an excellent freeway linking Alor Setar, in the north of Peninsular Malaysia, through Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru in the south.More Info>>

Penang Getting Around :

Penang 's public transport system is efficient and moving around by taxis, buses or trishaws may be a fun and inexpensive way of catching the sights.

CITY TAXIS
Most city taxis do not use the meter. You may either insist on the meter being turned on or agree on the price before you move off. Taxis normally charge between RM3.00 - RM6.00 for short distances within the city.

CITY BUSES
Most of buses use coin machine to collect fares. The main bus terminals are Pengkalan Weld (ferry terminal) and KOMTAR (ground floor).

GEORGETOWN "SHUTTLE BUS"
This is a free bus service courtesy of the Georgetown Municipal Council. The route starts at the ferry terminal and passes through popular parts of Georgetown , including Komtar and Penang Road . The service runs at regular 12-minute intervals from 7:00am to 7:00pm on Mondays to Fridays and 7:00am to 2:00pm on Saturdays. There is no service on Sundays and public holidays.

TRISHAWS
A trishaw ride is one of the best ways of seeing Penang . Besides the novelty of traveling in this open-fronted three-wheeled vehicle, trishaws allow visitors the opportunity of doing the sights at a more leisurely pacestopping at any point to snap pictures or buy souvenirs. There is no standard fare and it would be wise to agree on the price before you step on the trishaw. For extended sightseeing, it is advisable to hire them by the hour. More Info>>

Penang Shopping :

Penang is definitely a shopper's paradise, with hundreds of retail establishments located conveniently in and around the city. The main shopping areas in Penang are concentrated in Jalan Penang, Lebuh Campbell, Lebuh Kapitan Keling, Lebuh Chulia, and Lebuh Pantai. Few places can compare with Penang for its variety of goods and reasonably cheap prices. During the annual Penang Shopping Carnival, one can take delight in bargains galore. The merry atmosphere is not confined to major shopping centers but also to the ever popular and delightful venues like Campbell Street and Little India. In addition to special discounts, retailers will be offering gifts, and organizing fun filled competitions. Bargaining is still very much a part of life in Penang, hence one should not be afraid to haggle over prices or to ask for discounts, especially in smaller shops.

Department stores are open from 10 am till 10 pm daily, while most of the shops in the shopping malls are open from 10 am till 9 pm 10 pm. The prices are fixed in the department stores and in the shopping malls. More Info>>

Penang Attraction :

Palm-fringed beaches, charming colonial buildings, mysterious places of worship, and her pulsating street life make Penang an exotic destination. An amazing land of contrasts and variety, there is an interesting blend of the old and new in Penang.

See the following for a preview of her appeal.

George Town :
• Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion	• Oeding-Erdel factory tour
• China Town	• P. Ramlee's birthplace & gallery
• Clock Tower, Pesara King Edward	• Penang Islamic Museum
• Esplanade	• Segara Ninda – former home of Ku Din Ku Meh
• Fort Cornwallis	• Proposed Dr Sun Yat-Sen Museum
• Komtar	• The Streets of George Town
• Museum and Art Gallery	• War Museum , Batu Maung
• Nagore Shrine
Places of Worship :
• Acheen Street Mosque	• Nattukkotai Temple
• Church of the Holy Name of Jesus	• The State Mosque
• Dharmikarama Burmese Temple	• Snake Temple
• Kapitan Kling Mosque	• Sri Mariamman Temple
• Kek Lok Si Temple	• St. Anne’s Church
• Khoo Kongsi	• St. George’s Church
• Kuan Yin Temple	• Wat Chayamankalaram
Natural Getaways & Parks :
• The Aquarium of the Fisheries Research Institute	• Kampung Seronok
• Balik Pulau	• Penang Hill
• Beach and fishing villages	• Pulau Aman
• Botanical Gardens	• Pulau Jerejak
• Bukit Jambul Orchid and Hibiscus Garden	• Tropical Fruit Farm
• Butterfly Farm	• Tropical Spice Garden
• Hutan Lipur Teluk Bahang Teluk Bahang Recreational Forest
Seberang Prai :
• Mengkuang Dam	• Penang Bird Park
• Penang Bridge	• St Anne's Church

Events In Penang :

As an island of enchantment, Penang sizzles with contrasting cultures and colorful festive celebrations all through the year, including a series of dynamic events to cater to both locals and visitors from near and far.

More Info>>

Map Of Penang :