Enchanting Malaysia

Enchanting Malaysia
 

PENANG

 

 

Batu Ferringhi, Penang

 

I received an opportunity from Tourism Malaysia to visit Penang last year. It was a 45-minute flight journey from KLIA to Penang lying in Peninsular Malaysia, known as the “Pearl of the Orient”. We had an hour-long bus ride to reach Batu Ferringhi Island, the land of endearing beauty overlooking the Straits of Malacca with sun-soaked beaches, swaying palms, casuarina trees and golden sands and the land would certainly leave you asking for more. George Town, the capital of Penang, listed as UNESCO’s World Heritage city in 2008 derived its name from King George III when Malaysia was under the influence of Colonial rule. We had set off to explore George Town.

FORT CORNWALLIS:

 

Fort Cornwallis

Francis Light

 

Nestling on the Street of Harmony, Fort Cornwallis- the single-storied fort is the best preserved one in Peninsular Malaysia. Built way back in 1786 by Captain Francis Light, the fort was made of nipa palm (of South-East Asian origin) and was rebuilt by the Governor-General of India in 1810. It was erected with a stock of thorny palm trunks known as nibong palm and was later replaced by a brick fort. 
The monument stands at a place where Captain Francis Light had landed in 1786 to take possession of Penang. The bronze statue of Francis Light is at the entrance.

MAHAMARIAMMAN TEMPLE

 

Mahamariamman Temple

 

The earliest and the highly revered shrine in George Town, the temple on Queen Street was set up in 1833 and has been declared as a World Heritage Site. Renovated in 1933, the shrine has a prominent dome and its entrance has a gopuram symbolizing Dravidian architecture that bears 38 carved, colourful statues of Hindu pantheons. During Thaipusam festival, the procession of kavadi-carriers takes off from the shrine.

St. GEORGE’S CHURCH

 

St George's Church

 

Built in memory of St. George, the martyr in 1818, the church is the most ancient Anglican religious shrine in South-East Asia. Listed in national heritage site, the church was severely destroyed during Second World War. The memorial of Francis Light stands on the grounds of the church.