The Heritage of Georgetown

Georgetown, Penang’s capital situated on the northeastern coast of the island is littered with several interesting attractions.  The city was founded and built by the British in Malaysia, who named it after King George III.  There after the city experienced various waves of immigration which gave rise to its multicultural, multiethnic identity, a characteristic well represented in the many heritage buildings, which dot its cityscape.

Georgetown’s various heritage attractions are conveniently located close to each other within the city’s historic core, a UNESCO designated World Heritage Cultural site and can be easily explored on foot.

Some prominent heritage sights of Georgetown include: -

Fort Cornwallis- this star-shaped fort was constructed by Captain Francis Light as soon as he arrived in Penang in the 17^th century. The fort was reinforced and finished in the 19^th century. On display here are various original structures like prison cells, a chapel, ammunition storage areas, a harbor light, the original flagstaff and a few bronze cannons dating back to the 17^th century.

The Penang Town Hall-this grand Victorian edifice, inaugurated by Governor Sir Fedderick Weld in 1880, served as the epicenter of the town’s social activities.  Theater performances, church services and even the Penang State Library were hosted here.  A lofty Cenotaph onsite pays homage to the victims of World War1.

Convent Light Street school- This is the oldest girls school in Malaysia and is housed in a building, which was once the residence of the governor of Penang.

Kapitan Keling Mosque- this mosque was built in the 19^th century by Indian Muslim Soldiers attached to the British Army.

Ancient churches- Georgetown’s magnificent churches the Cathedral of the Assumption, a catholic church circa 1890, and the St. George’s Anglican Church completed in 1818 are definitely worth visiting.

The Penang State Museum- this stately building established in 1816, has housed the Penang Free School and the Hutchings School over the years.

The City Hall – is a magnificent exponent of the new Palladian school of architecture. Completed in 1903, it once housed the Penang seat of government but now houses the Municipal council of Penang Island.

The Srimahamarriman Temple –the oldest Hindu temple in Penang is dedicated to Hindu deity, Sri Muthu Marriaman. Originally erected as a humble structure, it has grown in stature over the years and is topped with an elaborate gopuram(tower) featuring 38 Hindu gods and goddesses.

The Goddess of Mercy Temple- Dating back to 1728, the Goddess of Mercy Temple is the oldest Chinese temple in Penang.

Chinese clan houses and temples- notable attractions of Georgetown also include the various, embellished Chines clan houses and temples, like the Khoo Kongsi,  the Yap Kongsi Temple, the Tua Pek Kong Temple and the Cheah Kongsi.

The complete listing of notable heritage buildings in Georgetown can be found at:- http://www.visitpenang.gov.my/UnescoHeritageBrochure.pdf

Malaysia: An Ideal Wedding Destination

Your wedding is often considered to be one of the most important days of your life.  On this day you write a new chapter with your significant other.

While deciding what kind of wedding ceremony, you want to have, you may want to stick to custom and tradition and wed at home or then you may choose to have a fabulous destination wedding with only close family and friends in attendance.
If you do choose the latter, then perhaps Malaysia is the perfect destination for you, for as a predominantly Muslim nation it can cater perfectly for a traditional Saudi wedding. Moreover, Malaysia with its diverse landscape of beautiful beaches, vivacious cities, and dense jungle terrains can provide the perfect setting for your wedding ceremony.

A wedding ceremony conducted according Islamic rites is very easy to arrange for in Malaysia and the country is also equipped with a wide range of hotels. Most hotels in Malaysia are equipped with more than one grand banquet hall as is required for the conduct of a typical Saudi Arabian wedding and they also have the ability to cater for a typical Saudi wedding buffet feast featuring sheep, lamb, rice and various other local and international delicacies along with fine Arabic coffees, teas, juices and bite-sized pastries and the like.

It is also worth mentioning that Malaysia’s well-established hospitality sector features all the leading global brands and is also extremely well priced, thus hosting a wedding in Malaysia actually makes perfect economic sense. Another vital fact is that citizens of Saudi Arabia enjoy visa-free access in Malaysia and this makes bringing friends and family over to Malaysia for a wedding infinitely easy.

Recommended locales for destination weddings in Malaysia include: -

Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur can be easily accessed from any part of the globe. An exciting city, where the old and the new worlds co-exist in harmony, Kuala Lumpur is offers numerous shopping, dining and entertainment options guaranteed to keep your guests sufficiently entertained.

Penang

Gorgeous beaches, World heritage sites, top-notch hotels and a fabulous array of delicious street foods count enhance Penang’s reputation as a wedding destination.

Resort destinations

Malaysia is home to several spectacular islands like Langkawi, Pangkor, Tiomman, Pulau Gaya which host some of the most luxurious resort hotels, well-equipped to host a truly one of a kind destination wedding.

Baba Nyonya Cuisine

 Malaysian cuisine is held in high esteem throughout the world. Renowned for its rich and complex flavors, Malaysian cuisine is believed to reflect the varied social fabric of Malaysian society and features several components, one of which is Peranakan cuisine or Nyonya Baba cuisine.
The evolution of the Peranakan people can be traced to the 15^th, century, a period during which the Ming Dynasty ruled in China. A Chinese Emperor from that period gave his daughter’s hand in marriage to the Sultan of Malacca in an effort to cement ties with the rich and strategically located Sultanate. The Chinese Princess arrived in Malacca with a sizeable entourage, which numbered more than 500.  The Princess’s attendants went on to settle down in Malacca as they intermarried with the local Malays. This union produced the first generation of Chinese-Malays, the Peranakan

A male Peranakan in time came to be referred to by the term ‘Baba’ while a female was known as ‘Nyonya’. The Peranakans went on to create their own unique culture and heritage, which was a hybrid of Chinese and Malay cultures sprinkled with various colonial influences as Malacca was in fact ruled by three colonial powers, Portuguese, Dutch and British.

Nyonya communities at first were concentrated around Malacca but these folk soon migrated to other areas like Penang and Singapore, and were also referred to as ‘the Straits Chinese.’  Aside from a unique culture and tradition, the Peranakans were also known for their delicious, homegrown fare, an intensely flavorful cuisine made with Chinese, Malay, European and even Thai ingredients.

This delectable Perankan cuisine is prepared several key ingredients like belacan(a dried shrimp paste), tamarind, coconut milk, lemongrass, galangal wild ginger), chilies, shallots and kaffir lime and pandan(screw pine) leaves.

Omnipresent in Malaysia at various food-courts, street-stalls and fine-dining restaurants, Nyonya Baba fare should feature as a must-sample on any gastronomic expedition in Malaysia.

Popular dishes of Nyonya Baba cuisine include dishes like Mee Siam (a piquant rice noodle dish), Chicken Kapitan (a rich chicken curry usually served with a lacy Roti Jala), Kangkug Belacan(water spinach sautéed with belacan) and  mouth-watering Peranakan deserts like Bubur Cha Cha, Cendol and colorful Kuih (Peranakan cakes).

 

Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta 2013

If you enjoy sailing or are simply mesmerized by the sight of yachts sailing across waterways, then a trip to Malaysia beckons this month, as the country gets ready to host its spectacular Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta 2013 from the 15^th to 23^rd November 2013.

This challenging annual sailing extravaganza features a series of competitive offshore races organized by the Royal Selangor Yacht Club in association with the well-known offshore racing organization, RORC (the Royal Ocean Racing Club). Conceived and launched in 1990, as a sequel to the five annual offshore series of races, which linked the most popular and beautiful isles off the west coast of Malaysia, namely Pangkor, Penang and Langkawi, the Raja Mudra Selangor International Regatta, enjoys royal patronage from His Royal Highness, the Sultan of Selangor.

The 24the edition of the Regatta this year, will feature three overnight passage races encompassing a total of 260 miles (from Port Klang to Pangkor, Pangkor to Penang and Penang to Langkawi), along with three days of harbor racing in Penang and Langkawi. 

The Regatta typically draws yachts of all shapes and sizes ranging from IRC1 racers to classic yachts, multihulls and ancient, slow moving100-year-old cruisers. All competing vessels of the Regatta in 2013 will set sail from a new kick-off point, the new Royal Selangor Yacht Club (RSYC) Marina Annexe at Pulau Indah. They will make stops along Malaysia’s best-known tropical isles before ending their journey at a new destination in Langkawi its Telaga Harbor.

The Regatta will span nine days and feature a variety of races including passage races and inshore harbor sprints, ensuring much excitement for participants and spectators alike.

Aside from thrilling races, this sailing extravaganza will also feature several ritzy social events like regatta dinners, a rickshaw race and the Miss International Yachting Malaysia contest.

 

 

Penang- More than just White Sands

Penang, an island state situated in north-west Malaysia is an immensely popular vacation destination in Malaysian. Penang’s history can be traced to the 15^th century when it began life as a remote backwater, inhabited by a small community of Malays and Southern Indian merchants. Penang’s emerged on the global scene, when it was discovered by Francis Light, an agent for the British East India Company in 1786. Light arrived on the northeast part of Penang and soon went about establishing the settlement of Georgetown, which he named after King George III.
Georgetown was Britain’s most prominent outpost in Malaya and it attracted hordes of European, Arab, Indian, Chinese and Malay traders who settled down here. This multi-ethnic and multi-cultural character of Penang continues to endure until today.

Prominent attractions in Penang include:-

Penang Hill

The  summit of Bukit Bendera(Penang Hill) can be accessed via a path that lies within the Penang Botanic Gardens but this walk can take up to two to three hours. An easier way to get to this summit is to ride the air-conditioned funicular, which transports visitors to the top of the hill in just five minutes. Once at the top, visitors can savor the awe-inspiring views of the city of Georgetown, surrounded by lofty hills and sparkling seas. Cafes and stores located at the summit offer visitors a chance to take a breather and relax as they relish the views.

The Penang Botanic Gardens

The Penang Botanical Gardens extend over thirty verdant acres.  Popularly referred to as ‘the Waterfall Gardens’, after the stream that tumbles down from Penang Hill, the gardens are a favorite haunt of the city’s morning walkers and joggers. The botanical gardens host various attractions like an orchid house, a palm house, a cactus garden, a bromeliad house and several native trees, plants and shrubs. The gardens are also home to a large population of long-tailed macaque monkeys, birds and insects. Visitors are cautioned not to feed the monkeys as they to get aggravated and bite. A path from within the garden leads to the top of Penang Hill.

Batu Ferringhi Night Market

Penang’s famous white-sand Batu Ferringhi beach hosts a wide variety of resorts and offers a multitude of water sporting activities. However, this gorgeous beachfront also hosts lively night market populated by numerous vendors who offer products like t-shirts, DVDs, accessories, toys, souvenirs and a various other knick-knacks favored by tourists. The night market at Batu Ferringhi is a cacophony of sights, sounds and tastes in the fashion of most south-east Asian markets and is great fun to visit.

Kek Lok Si Temple

The Kek Lok Si Temple also known as the ‘Temple of Supreme Bliss’ is the largest Buddhist temple complex in Malaysia. The temple dates back to 1893 when it was constructed on the terraces of Penang Hill.  Star attractions at the temple include the seven-storey tall Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas and the 90ft (30 m) tall statue of Kuan Yin (the Chinese Goddess of Mercy) which was added to the complex in 2003. 

 

 

The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (the Blue Mansion)

Cheong Fatt Tze was Chinese tycoon who built a huge empire in Southeast Asia in the late 19^th Century.  He arrived in Penang in 1890, and went on to build, the magnificent ‘Blue Mansion’ to accommodate his large family which included eight wives.

This well preserved mansion which is built according to traditional Feng Shui principles and is a fine example of Chinese architecture (the Hakka-Teochew style) is equipped with 38 rooms built around five airy courtyards. Decorative trimmings of the mansion include much stained glass, carved moldings and doors and seven elaborate staircases.

The Khoo Kongsi Clan House

Amongst the many heritage buildings of Georgetown, is a magnificent structure, the Khoo Kongsi clan house. This impressive edifice which was built in 1920 after the original structure was destroyed by a fire in 1906, displays distinct Indo-Malay influences. The walls, pillars and roof of the imposing structure are adorned with intricate carvings created by master craftsmen from China. The temple serves as a locale for many Chinese opera performances during the seventh lunar month.

Penang’s Little India

Penang’s historic Little India district is located along Georgetown’s streets like Lebuh Queen, Lebuh Chulia and Jalan Pasar (Market Street). Indian immigrants arrived in Penang during the early 19^th century. They were made up of agricultural laborers, spice traders and money lenders. These immigrants hailed from various Indian communities like, Gujaratis, Punjabis, Malyalees and Tamils.  Penang’s Little India is an exotic, colorful enclave populated by Indian restaurants and  sari and jewelry stores.
The area also  has its midst Penang’s oldest Hindu temple, the Sri Mariamman Temple, built in 1833, by a group of Southern Indians called Chettiars.  Penang’s Chinatown is located close by and is also worth a visit.

Gurney Drive

Gurney Drive known as ‘Persiaran Gurney’ is Penang’s most famous food street.  Located on the city’s waterfront, Gurney Drive is named after Sir Henry Gurney, a Malayan High Commissioner, who was assassinated during the period of Emergency in Malaysia in the early 1950s.

Gurney Drive hosts several restaurants and hawker stalls which serve delicious, native Penang eats like Penang Laksa, Fried Oyster, Wantan Mee, Penang Rojak, ABC( Ais Kacang) which must be sampled on any visit to Penang.

The Penang State Museum and Art Gallery

The Penang State Museum and Art Gallery situated in Georgetown. The museum is hosts several galleries which catalogue the rich history and diverse culture of Penang. The extensive permanent collection at the museum features photographs, paintings, costumes, antiques, maps, historical documents, Chinese furniture, embroidery samples and more. The Penang Art Gallery is located on the first floor of the museum and today hosts the works of local artists which appear alongside older works created by William Daniels and Captain Robert Smith.

The above listed attractions are but a few of the many attractions that this vibrant and vivacious Malaysian destination has to offer and invites you to discover.

 

36 hours in Penang

Penang, popularly referred to as the ‘Pearl of the Orient’ is one of Malaysia’s most popular vacation destinations. World-famous for its numerous street-food delights, pristine beach fronts and various cultural attractions, Penang caters to all ages and tastes. If you are planning to visit Penang sometime soon, our thirty-six hour guide should help you plan your visit to this enchanting city.

Friday

9 am

Start the day Penang-style

Start your day as the residents of Penang do with a hearty breakfast and in Penang, you are really spoiled for choice for several eateries in this foodie destination open as early as 5am to serve breakfast to hungry hordes. Indulge in local breakfast specials like dim sum, kaya toast, Koay Teow Th’ng, Yong Tau Fu, Hokkien Mee or Loh Mee or even in a traditional Indian feast of thosai and idli before your day gets underway.

10 am

Visit the Penang Botanical Gardens

The Penang Botanical Gardens span thirty verdant acres. Also known as the Waterfall Gardens after the stream that tumbles down from Penang Hill, the gardens are a favorite haunt of the city’s morning walkers and joggers. The botanical gardens encompass various attractions like an orchid house, a palm house, a cactus garden, a bromeliad house and many tropical trees, plants and shrubs. Several long-tailed macaque monkeys are resident in the garden and should not be fed as they are known to bite. A path from within the garden leads to the top of Penang Hill.

12 pm

Take in the views from atop Penang Hill

You can attempt to walk up to the summit of Bukit Bendera(Penang Hill) from the Penang Botanic Gardens but this walk can take between two to three hours. An easier way to access this summit is to ride the air-conditioned funicular, which transports you to the summit in five minutes. Once you are at the summit, you are awarded with jaw-dropping views of the city of Georgetown, surrounded by lofty hills and sparkling seas. Once you have savored the views, you could perhaps stop for a cup of tea or a refreshing drink at one of the many cafes located atop Penang hill.

1pm

Visit the Kek Lok Si Temple of Supreme Bliss

As you make your way down from the summit of Penang Hill, you should stop at the Kek Lok Si Temple of Supreme Bliss. This temple complex is the largest Buddhist temple complex in Malaysia and displays Chinese, Thai and even Burmese influences in its design. Built in 1893, the temple is a must-visit site in Penang, for it features various interesting attractions like gardens, water bodies, multi-hued frescoes along with  a seven-storey Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas and a 30 meter(90 feet) high statue of Kuan Yin(the Goddess of Mercy).

2.30 pm

Stop for lunch at the New World Park Food Court

The New World Park food court is regarded as one of Georgetown’s best food courts. New World Park is actually failed amusement park, which was converted into a food court and it now features various kiosks offering a whole host of Penang specialties, like Mee Rebus, Nasi Kandar, Lok Lok, Cendol, Rojak and many more.

4pm

Visit the Khoo Kongsi Clan House

Amongst the many heritage buildings of Georgetown, is the magnificent structure of the Khoo Kongsi clan house. This imposing edifice which features Indo-Malay influences was built in 1920 after the original was destroyed by a fire in 1906. The walls, pillars and roof of the imposing structure are adorned with intricate carvings created by master craftsmen from China. The temple is the site for many Chinese opera performances during the seventh lunar month.

7pm

Have a rummage at the night market at Batu Ferringhi

Penang’s famous white-sand beach front, Batu Ferringhi is home to a wide variety of resorts and offers much water sporting action as well. However, a prominent attraction on Batu Ferringhi is its night market, which is populated by several vendors who offer a wide range of products like toys, souvenirs, apparel, accessories and more. 

9pm

Dine up a storm at Gurney Drive

Gurney Drive also known as Persiaran Gurney’ is Penang’s world-famous food-street. Located along the gorgeous Penang waterfront, Gurney Drive hosts numerous hawker stalls and restaurants offering  a whole host of famous Penang foods like Char Kuay Teow, Wantan Mee, Rojak, Oyster Omelet and many more.

Saturday

10 am

Explore Fort Cornwallis

Fort Cornwallis is a prominent historical landmark in Georgetown. This fort, which is named after the former governor-general of Bengal, Charles Cornwallis features ten feet tall walls laid out in a star-like formation. Inside the fort are some interesting old-world structures like a chapel, prison cells, a munitions storage area and several bronze cannons. Fort Cornwallis today is a privately managed site, which features an information kiosk, a café, an amphitheater, a history gallery and a souvenir store. Guides are available onsite to offer tours and regale you with historical information about the fort.

12 pm

Take a tour of Penang’s famed Blue Mansion, the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

Take a tour of this gorgeous Chinese mansion, which is also known as the Blue Mansion for its azure color .This restored Chinese mansion was built by a Chinese tycoon Cheong Fatt Tze on Leith Street in Georgetown in the 19^th century. The mansion is now a heritage hotel and is an architectural masterpiece, which has been recognized for its restoration efforts by UNESCO. During the tour you will be able to see its many decorative elements like carved doorways and windows, wrought iron spiral staircases, courtyards adorned with verdant planters and so forth.

2.30pm

Tour Little India and Chinatown

After a morning of much sight-seeing and history, take a break and  indulge in a variety of Indian eats like Paper Thosai, Roti Canai, Nasi Biryani at the many restaurants located within Penang’s Little India. This atmospheric enclave was founded by Indian immigrants, who arrived in Penang in the early 19^th Century as plantation workers, spice traders and even money-lenders. After lunch, you can walk around the area and take in its various sights and sounds like the Sri Mariamman Temple and the  many sari and jewelry shops. You could then carry on and do a tour of Penang’s Chinatown which is located close by.

4pm

Spend some quality family time at the Penang Butterfly Park/ Penang Bird Park/ Penang Toy museum

If you are visiting Penang with your children, then you should perhaps aim to visit at least one if not all these three family-friendly attractions to keep the young ones happy..

http://www.penangbirdpark.com.my/

http://www.timeout.com/penang/attractions/venue/Museums/title/Penang-Toy-Museum

http://www.butterfly-insect.com/

8pm

Dine at Cassis Restaurant

Savor some delectable Italian fare at Cassis, a rising star on Penang’s contemporary dining scene.

Sunday

10 am

Take in some culture at the Penang State Museum and Art Gallery

The Penang State Museum and Gallery hosts several galleries which chronicle Penang’s rich cultural history. The museum’s vast permanent collection features paintings, costumes, antiques, maps, historical documents, photographs and much more. The Penang Art Gallery is located on the first floor of the museum and features works of local artists alongside works of old masters.

2pm

Break for lunch at the famous Tek Sen restaurant

Tek Sen restaurant on Lebuh Carnarvon is a well-established dining institution in Penang. Offering a wide range of Southern Chinese eats, the restaurant is a favorite with tourists and locals alike.

3pm

Visit the Penang Snake Temple (Temple of the Azure Cloud)

The Penang snake temple is located in the small town of Bayan Lepas. This fascinating attraction was built to commemorate the famous Chinese monk, Chor Soo Kong. The legend associated with the temple states that Chor Soo Kong was a great healer who sheltered snakes, which had wandered into his home from the jungle. The Penang snake temple today hosts several deadly pit vipers. These deadly creatures lie coiled up on the alter tables and seem oblivious to the presence of their many human visitors. A common belief sates that the incense burnt at the temple paralyzes these lethal reptiles and they are quite  harmless.

8pm

End your day at China House

China House located in the heart of Georgetown is a multi-use space consisting of three heritage buildings offering various dining, shopping and entertainment options.

Gastronomic Delights in Malaysia

Malaysian cuisine is world-renowned for its unique flavors. Most visitors to Malaysia come back raving about the incredible flavors and tastes of native Malaysian fare. Malaysia is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural society and its national fare is an amalgamation of Indian, Chinese and native Malay cuisines. In fact, Malaysian cuisine provides adequate representation to the country’s rich cultural diversity.
When visiting Malaysia, visitors are told there are some native foods that they simply ‘must try’. Listed below are some of these perennial favorites.

Nasi Lemak

Nasi Lemak, a classic Malaysian breakfast dish is a staple offering at both high end eateries as well as street side stalls. This dish consists of rice cooked in coconut cream and steamed in pandan(screw pine) leaves for enhanced flavor. Nasi Lemak is usually served with various accompaniments like acaar(pickled vegetables), ikan bilis (anchovies), slices of boiled egg, peanuts and a sambal(a chili and garlic paste). Aside from these accompaniments, a dish of Nasi Lemak also features a serving of meat, fish or poultry preparation like the popular Malaysian curry, beef rendang.

Roti Canai

The origins of the dish known as Roti Canai can be traced to Malaysia’s Indian immigrants who were brought by the British to work on palm oil and rubber plantations in the early 20th century. The Malaysian roti seems to have been derived from the Indian bread called ‘paratha’ in fact the Malaysian version is known as ‘pratta’ and is flakier than the original. This roti is usually served with a dipping sauce, which consists of a chicken curry. However, the Malaysians have further modified the roti to meet local tastes, for it is often stuffed with fillings like eggs, sardines and even popular fruits like banana and durian. Roti Canai is a popular as a late night snack as well as a breakfast food for it was originally consumed by plantation workers before they began their work day.

Ikan Bakar

Ikan Bakar is a popular lunch time treat and features fish or seafood which is wrapped in a banana leaf and grilled over a charcoal fire. Ikan Bakar is usually served with a tamarind based dipping sauce called air asam.

Satay

Malaysian satays  feature skewers of barbecued meat (chicken, beef or lamb), which are traditionally served with a peanut based dipping sauce, along with other accompaniments like ketupat (rice dumplings of Indonesian origin),onions and cucumber.

Laksa

Laksa is considered to be the icon of Malaysian cuisine. Born out of the mingling of Malay and Chinese cultures, the Laksa has various interpretations. Every region in Malaysia has its own version of this flavorful noodle soup, though perhaps the most famous version is the spicy, sour, fish- based Asam Laksa which hails from Penang.





Nasi Kandar

Nasi Kandar is rice-based dish features steamed or flavored rice, offered with an assortment of curries like fish head curry, fried fish roe, okra curry and so forth.








Rojak

Rojak is a tangy Malaysian salad, which is a popular lunch or teatime treat. There are various different versions of Rojak to be found all over the country.  For instance a fruit Rojak generally features cubed cucumbers, pineapples, bean sprouts and tofu fritters tossed together with a sauce made with tamarind, chili, sugar and shrimp paste while an Indian or Mamak Rojak features various components dough fritters, cubed potatoes, cucumbers, bean sprouts and more tossed together in a peanut based sauce.

Cendol and Ais Kacang

Malaysia, being a tropical country is hot and humid all year round. Hence Malaysian deserts typically feature a generous amount of ice to help combat the year round stifling heat. Cendol and Ais Kacang, are two popular refreshing Malaysian deserts which feature generous amounts of ice along with various other ingredients like coconut milk, grass jelly, gelatin, palm sugar, palm seed and more.

 

Chinese and Buddhist Temples

Elaborately decorated Chinese temples have long attracted tourists in various parts of South East Asia.  It is no different in Malaysia for a significant portion of the country’s Chinese population follows Buddhism. The Chinese first arrived in Malaysia in the early 13^th century as traders; they continued to arrive in waves down the ages. These Chinese immigrants to Malaya hailed from various regions of China and as they settled in Malaysia and formed communities, they built some magnificent Chinese and Buddhist temples, which stand until today.

Some of the most spectacular Chinese and Buddhist temples in Malaysia currently include:-

Thean Hou Temple, Kuala Lumpur

The six tiered Thean Hou Temple stands in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. This elaborately adorned temple features ornate roofs and sculptured dragons. The temple which is one of the biggest Chinese temples in the country, is dedicated to Thean Hou(the heavenly goddess) though several other popular Chinese deities like Kuan Yin(the Goddess of Mercy) and Shui Wey( Goddess of  the Hokkien fishermen) also feature within the temple. The grounds of the temple feature replicas of the Chinese zodiac signs. Several souvenir shops line the exterior of the temple.

Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen temple, Selangor

This temple, which was established in Jenjarom, Kuala Langat in 1994 is set amongst 16 immaculately landscaped acres. This temple also functions as a monastery and is a center for culture and religious studies.  The main shrine at this temple is a 5.4-meter high statue of Lord Buddha sculpted in bronze. Other idols that adorn the temple include a statue of Kuan Yin (the Goddess of Mercy).

Perak Tong, Ipoh Perak

The Malaysian state of Perak is renowned for its cave temples many of which are located around the capital city of Ipoh. Perak Tong is one such famed temple, which is housed within the huge limestone cave; Gunung Tasek located six kilometers north of Ipoh town. This temple was constructed by Buddhist monks from China in 1926 and features over 40 statues of Lord Buddha, including one, which rises to a height of 12.8 meters. Traditional Chinese paintings illustrating Buddhist folk tales adorn the walls of the temple.

Sam Poh Tong Temple, Ipoh

This temple, which lies five kilometers to the south of Ipoh near Gunung Rapat, houses several statues of Lord Buddha amongst its many limestone formations like spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. It is believed that a Chinese monk discovered this cave and he then went on to use it as a locale for meditation.  The temple also features 246 steps leading to its summit.

Kek Lok Si Temple, Penang

The Kek Lok Si Temple is one of the most visited sites in Penang. Situated on the lower rungs of Penang Hill, this magnificent temple is considered to be one of the finest Buddhist temples in Southeast Asia. The temple is built in tiers and is adorned with a tall Pagoda adorned with ten thousand Buddha statues and a 30-meter (90 feet) tall statue of Kuan Yin (the Goddess of Mercy). The temple is an exponent of Sino-Thai-Burmese styles of architecture and features  several colorful frescoes and water bodies.

Goddess of Mercy Temple  (Kuan Yin Teng)

Early Chinese migrants to Penang built the Kuan Yin Teng temple in 1801. The temple is dedicated to two goddess; Kuan Yin (the goddess of Mercy) and Ma Chor Poh, the patron saint of seafarers. The décor of the temple is quite dramatic as it features a main hall supported by sculpted pillars adorned with dragons.

The Temple of Bright Clouds (Melaka)

Located in the heart of Melaka’s Chinatown, the Temple of Bright Clouds or the Cheng Hoong Teng temple is the oldest temple in Malaysia. The temple, which was constructed entirely of materials imported from Southern China, dates back to 1646. The temple practices the three main doctrines of Chinese religion namely Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism.

Puh Toh Tze Temple, Sabah

The Puh Toh Tze temple situated at a distance of 15km from Kota Kinabalu off Tuaran Road is one of the most well known Buddhist temples in Sabah. The temple, which was built in 1980, bears a distinct Chinese-style structure and roof. The temple features ten large statues including a large statue of goddess Kuan Yin at its main entrance.