Kota Bharu - Kelantan
The state capital of Kelantan is Kota Bharu (also Kota Bharu or Kota Baru), on the east coast of peninsular Malaysia. Instead simply pass through, spend a few days and have the chance to go to some of the museums, eat some delicious food, look at a unique style of traditional architecture, and get a little bit of the feel of a city that has an interesting cultural identity all its own.
Kota Bharu means 'new City' or 'new castle/fort' in Malay. Situated in the northeastern part of Peninsular Malaysia, Kota Bharu is close to the Thailand border and is home of many mosques, various museums, unique architecture of the old royal palace and former royal buildings in the center of town.
Kota Bharu is known as the Cultural City and it is the center for Malay culture as well as Malay traditional culture, crafts and religion. In 1993, The National Land Agency of Japan awarded Kota Bharu as one of the Best 8 cities in the world based on cultural uniqueness and the best tourist destination. The town of Kota Bharu was built by Sultan Muhammad II in 1844. After 150 years, Kota Bharu still serves as the administrative center of the state, bustling trade, and cultural activities.
Discover Kota Bharu within one of our exciting daily excursion.
Kota Bharu's Highlight's:
Kota Bharu offers many museums near Independence Square (Padang Merdeka). Several of the museums and the nearby Istana Balai Besar (the downtown Royal Palace) were built in a unique kind of elegant architecture that is well worth seeing.
Sultan Ismail Petra Arch A timber arch commemorates the declaration of Kota Bharu as a Cultural City. This vision to preserve the Malay culture was spearheaded by Sultan Ismail Petra, hence the name and faces the main town square, Merdeka Square.
Istana Jahar, which houses the Museum of Royal Traditions and Ceremonies, an unique palace was built in 1887 by the then Sultan of Kelantan.
Market's
- The central market (Pasar Besar) Arguably the most amazing building in the center of town and houses a very colorful and active market every day.
- Night Market (Pasar Malam) A plain square which turns into the local food market in the evenings
- Buluh Kubu Central Market.
Museum's
- Muzium Negeri Kelantan (Kelantan State Museum) history and cultural heritage of Kelantan
- Muzium Kraftangan (Handicrafts Museum)with attached gift shop selling handicrafts
- Handicraft Village and Craft Museum.
- Memorial Peperangan Dunia Ke II (World War II Memoria) small but worth for history buffs
- Muzium DiRaja (Royal Museum) contains photos of the current and previous Sultans
- Muzium Islam (Museum of Islam)
- Muzium Adat Istiadat DiRaja Kelantan (Museum of Royal Kelantanese Traditions)artifacts and exhibits in cultural history
Temple's
- Wat Pothivihan (huge reclining Buddha),
- Wat Mai Suwan Khiri (dragon Boat & standing Buddha),
- Wat Machimarran Varran (sitting Buddha)
- Wat Serova Buddhist Temples (Goddess of Mercy - Kuan Yin)
Waterfall's
- Waterfalls Jeram Pasu Jeram Lenang Lata Beringin
- Jelawang Waterfalls
- Lata Beringin Waterfalls
- Jeram Pasu
others
- Sabak Beach Fishing Village.
- Cultural Show at Culture Center
- River cruise along Sungai Galas down to Dabong (2hours).
- Caves at Gua Ikan,Dabong.
- Stong Waterfall, reputed to be the highest in Southeast Asia, drops from a height of about 990 meters.
- Mount Stong State Park. One of the main attractions at the state park is Gunung
- Mt.Stong (1,422 meters), a dome-shaped granite complex more than 500 million years old.