Beautiful Tourist Places to Visit in Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia
George Town is the capital city of Penang in Malaysia which was named after Britain King George III which is located towards the north east part of the country covering a total area of 121 sq kms and lying at an elevation of 13.1 feet above the sea level. George Town is known for shopping, reputed education centers, sports, entertainments, media, culture and festivals coordinating with 5.25’ degree North Latitude and 100.19’ degree East Longitude.
Georgetown History:
George Town was established in the year 1786 by Captain Francis Light who later built a fort by name Fort Cornwallis in the north eastern part of the island. Gradually by the mid 80’s the town grew by its population and many industrial warehouses and godowns came into being which further led to development of trade and commerce.
Places of interest in George Town:
Tourists coming to George Town can visit some of the magnificent places of attractions which they will cherish for a long time. Some of the attractions are as follows:
- Pinang Peranakan Museum
- Dharmikarama Burmese Temple
- Kek Lok Si – Monastery on Crane Hill
- Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
- Wat Chayamangkalaram known for religious sites and temples.
- Old Protestant Cemetery
- Ben’s Vintage Toy Museum Penang
- Penang Hill
- Queen Street
- Kapitan Keling Mosque
- Han Jiang Ancestral Temple
- Penang Botanical Gardens
- Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple
- Sri Mariamman Temple
- Sun Yat Sen Museum
- Fort Cornwallis
- Chew Thean Yang Aquarium
- One East Museum
- Jubilee Clock Tower
- Cathedral of the Assumption
- Ibox Glass Museum
- The Owl Museum
- Penang Bridge
Shopping, Festivals and Cuisines in George Town:
George Town is famous for its shopping plazas and malls where the tourists can purchase items ranging from antiques, boutiques, souvenirs and the list goes on. It is a shopper’s paradise and the tourists will have a wonderful experience while they shop in George Town. George Town is also well known for many festivals celebrated by many religions like Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Chinese and Buddhist. Some of the major festivals hosted in George Town are Ramadan, Nuzul Quran, Muharram, Christmas, Chinese New Year, Pongal, Thaipusam, Navaratri, Deepavali, Lantern Festival and Dragon Boat Festival. George Town is also well known for local cuisines and menus which include fresh sea foods like sushi, rohu, tofu, squids, lobsters, prawn curries, octopus dumplings and oysters dipped in soy sauce.
Connectivity to George Town in Malaysia:
George Town is well connected by road and rail modes of transport. Jelutong Expressway connects George Town to Bayan Lepas and Penang. Local public transport is operated and maintained by Rapid Penang which operates bus schedules to many destinations in and near George Town. Some buses also provide 24 hour services to Genting Highlands and Kualalampur on daily basis. George Town is also well connected by ferry services to major ports in Malaysia and also offers services to neighboring countries like Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore. The nearest airport is the Penang Airport which operates many direct flights to many international destinations.
Hotels in George Town:
George Town has some of the best hotels in town providing best services and amenities. Hotels vary from 1 star to 5 star and the rates differ from hotel to hotel. Apart from providing excellent hotel accommodation, they also serve exquisite cuisines and recipes. List of hotels located in George Town are:
- Hotel Seven Terraces
- Yeng Keng Hotel
- Eastern & Oriental Hotel
- Hotel Macalister Mansion
- Hotel Penaga
- Museum Hotel
- Traders Hotel Penang
- Chulia Heritage Hotel
- Hotel Cititel Penang
- Bayview Hotel Georgetown Penang
- Hotel Sentral Georgetown
- Hotel Sunway
- Hotel Northam All Suite