8 best places to visit in Penang – For journeys that entice and enthral

For breathtaking panoramas of Penang Island, few can rival the thrills and spills associated with a trip to beautiful Penang Hill. Accessible via the popular funicular train ride or a hiking expedition, herein lies the perfect opportunity to spend time at the highest point on Penang Island. Showcasing colonial era architecture, this attraction boasts both a mosque and a Hindu temple at its summit. Get up close and personal with a wide spectrum of flora and fauna with the help of the Habitat, which is complete with raised pathways and a slew of trails that cut through dense forests. Finish off at the Curtin Crest Treetop Walk where you can pose for pictures and immerse yourself in sweeping views of Penang Island.

Should you yearn for a quiet meander, then look no further than the Esplanade. On top of the outstanding facilities to relax, you will be well placed to check out various historical and cultural landmarks as well. The Cenotaph, built to honour those who laid down their lives in WWI will be hard to miss, while the clock tower, City Hall and Fort Cornwallis follow closely on the heels of the former as must visit destinations.

Nestled in the capital of George Town is the immaculately restored heritage site of Pinang Peranakan Mansion. A fascinating example of Peranakan culture and the lavish lifestyles of yesteryear, Pinang Peranakan Mansion mirrors that of a traditional English manor and once belonged to a 19th century merchant named Chung Keng Quee. Upon close inspection, the Mansion’s doors, walls and archways will appear expertly carved and gilded and its airy rooms replete with wooden furniture and inlaid with mother of pearl. Browse a catalogue of black and white photographs of the owners attired in Chinese dresses but not before admiring the numerous antiques on display. For those seeking a Penang resort hotel from where to call by Pinang Peranakan Mansion, then look at booking a stay with PARKROYAL Penang Resort.

Though constructed as a stronghold to ward off invasions in 1786, Fort Cornwallis, known as the largest standing Malaysian fort soon became an administrative centre, as opposed to a defence mechanism. The work of Captain Francis Light, Fort Cornwallis stands at a height of 10 feet and features cannons, a lighthouse, a chapel and a statuette of the great man himself.

Hugging Penang’s northern shoreline is Batu Ferringhi Beach, a much-loved paradise that will allow you to let loose and holiday as you please. Work on that tan, go swimming or pick and choose from the various rental services that will in turn, set the stage for a riveting experience of jet skiing, parasailing, paragliding or banana boat riding.

An ideal haven for jungle hikes and beach outings, Penang National Park will help you get away from the city. Bring your thirst for adventure and love for nature en route to stumbling upon a host of sights and sounds. In fact, devote time for Kerachut Beach, which houses a turtle conservation centre and an unique lake where both freshwater and seawater meet.

Found at 828 Jalan Teluk Bahang, ESCAPE Penang sure does pull out all the stops in affording visitors a truly memorable experience. With well over 35 attractions to come into contact with including the 150-metre-long zipline titled Flying Lemur and AK Academy, which is a series of water obstacle courses to navigate; here is your opening to beat the heat and stay cool.

Home to one of the world’s longest reclining Buddha statues, which measures 32 meters, Wat Chayamangkalaram can be accessed daily from 6.00 am to 5.30 pm. Besides the gold-plated Buddha statue, patrons calling by the Temple Hall will witness a number of mythical elements, which add weight to the shrine’s Burmese, Chinese and Thai architecture.