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Penang hotels offer the full spectrum of hostelries you would expect from the cosmopolitan metropolis that is famously known as the Pearl of the Orient.

From the 5 star Hotels of Gurney Drive to the Backpackers Hostels of Chulia Street, Penang hotels can accommodate the most fastidious of business & leisure travellers.

 

Exploring the city

The best way to do that is: by feet!! While you're walking, you discover most of everyday life of the Penangites. It's a pleasure to discover the city this way. If you don't want to walk, you can take the bus or taxi. But the most comfortable and easiest way is the trishaw. Sitting lazily in the seat of a trishaw, you can enjoy the colourful city. A trishaw ride in the evening is very special. They all have little lights on their bikes. All those lights glitter in the dark like glow-worms in the forest.

Discovering the island

The most favourite excursions will take you to the Botanical Garden, the Reclining Buddha, the Kek Lok Si, Butterfly farm, Batik factory, the Snake Temple, Fort Cornwallis, Penang Hill and the Tropical Fruit Farm.

In the Thai Wat Chayamangkalaram Temple ( known as: "the temple of the reclining Buddha") you can see a 32 meter long Buddha who is lying down. Behind the statue are  niches where urns, containing the ashes of devotees, are placed. Taking pictures of the Buddha is forbidden, but I guess you can try it. Outside the temple are two giant, angry looking guards waiting for you.  Bright  Naga Serpents form the balustrades along the walkway. Inside the temple you see (beside the Buddha) bald headed monks walking on tiles, with lotus flower on it.

At the other side of the road is a beautiful Burmese temple. Most people forget to visit this temple, because it's not a tourist attraction,  but it's worth a visit. Don't forget it!

Penang Hill (Bukit Penang) rises 830 meter above sea level and is the highest mountain on Penang. A fascinating little cable train lifts you up out of the heat to a fabulous view and a cool breeze. Here you can enjoy the panoramic view of the city and the coastal area.

The train was not made for tourists. In the colonial times Penang hill was the retreat for the British administration. It was an escape from the heat of George Town. Nowadays there are 500 people living on the hill. There are stations where people can get on and off the train and goods are delivered. The train has a special wagon for the goods in front.

Air Itam is about 6 km from George Town. Above Air Itam you see the pagoda of the Kek Lok Si  (Temple of Paradise). It is the largest Buddhist temple in South-East Asia, it is built on an extensive area and it is dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy. Behind the Kek Lok Si rises a bronze statue of this Goddess. Now (2001)they are building  a nice temple for her up there with beautiful carved stones, which are delivered in boxes from China.

At the Kek lok Si there are several buildings, but these are dominated by the pagoda of the ten thousand Buddha's. If you like, you can climb the pagoda.

If you follow the road up the mountains, you'll come to a little lake. It's the reservoir of the water supply company. It's cool and not so hot as in town. In these quiet surroundings you can have a walk and enjoy the beauty of nature. The lake is surrounded by casuarinas trees. You see big fishes in the water and at the shores iguana's. There's a waterfall in the background.

On holidays and in the weekends Penangites come here for jogging and enjoying the nature.