Noor Arfa Craft Complex

Shop Till You Drop

Noor Arfah has the reputation of being the largest batik producer in Malaysia. Throughout its more than 30 years experience in the batik industry, it has produced innovative designs and supplies to many big corporations as well as directly to consumers. Visitors can visit its batik making and retail complex in Cendering, where demonstrations of batik painting by hand are held and where you can even have a hands-on experience of making your own piece. The showrooms display batik designs of different creative styles and visitors will learn how the design of batik pieces have evolved over time, from using the old technique of using metal blocks (batik terap) to the hand drawn techniques using the canting.

Marang River Estuary

Exotic Harbour Of The South China Sea

The Marang river estuary is a picturesque site and one in which many would consider as a very typical scene of rural Terengganu at its most rustic. Head south on the Kuala Terengganu Kuantan trunk road and find a spot to park once you reach the town of Marang. Walk towards the Marang River bridge, and facing the river estuary, you may see fishing boats of all shapes and sizes anchored in the middle of the river. You will also see kampong homes on the right bank giving quite a scenic panorama of rural Terengganu. And looking across to the right in the distance you’d catch a partial view of Pulau Kapas across the sea.

After you’re done, make your way past the shop houses and follow the curve of the road and you’d see a lookout tower and not far from there, you’d come to a narrow bridge that takes you across to the beach. This is Pulau Kekabu and is known for its picturesque scene of the Marang harbour. There are plenty of photo taking opportunities.

Kota Lama Duyong, Pulau Duyong

Showcase Of Old Terengganu Architecture

The Kota Lama Duyong house is described as a “fort” or kota in Malay simply because it was surrounded by sturdy high brick walls that surround it. This residence belonged to one of Pulau Duyong’s proud son by the name of Dato Biji Sura, a senior officer working with the Terengganu state government. He was the great grandson of Tok Sheikh Duyong, a Muslim scholar who was born in Champa, in southern Cambodia who lived there in the 1800s. He was a well respected teacher and his teachings were sought after by both the palace as much as the ordinary folks. His scholarly pursuits had even earned Pulau Duyong the moniker “the tongue of Terengganu”.

Floating Mosque

Mosque On A Scenic Lagoon

The floating mosque or Masjid Tengku Tengah Zaharah in Kuala Ibai is one of the most photographed mosque in Terengganu. Its simple Middle Eastern design and fully painted in white stands as a beautiful monument illuminating its radiance in a picturesque setting. The mosque was built by the late Sultan Mahmud (1979 – 1997) and was so named in tribute to His Highness’ mother. However, it is commonly known as the floating mosque due to its locality above a lagoon.

The mosque may not be able to boast about its size nor any lavish interior design, but its beauty stems from its place at the edge of the Ibai River surrounded by water that makes it so enduring to visit.

Maziah Palace

The Historical Seat Of The Sultanate

Once the seat of the Sultanate, today Istana Maziah is used for royal celebrations and ceremonies only. And there are plans to turn into a museum in the future. The Istana sits strategically near the river, the Syahbandar Square and below the famous Bukit Puteri and this gives it accessibility to the locals and visitors alike. In front of the Istana is the Royal Arch, which was built to commemorate the installation of the present Sultan’s father, Sultan Mahmud Al Muktafi-billah Shah in 1980. The arch is made of marble and and steel and the top is a sculpture of the Royal Emblem coated in gold colours. Beyond that is the old original arch with a viewing tower at the top and marks the entrance to the Istana.

Istana Maziah, built in the late 19th Century, is one of the oldest palaces still in use in Kuala Terengganu, It was built after a fire destroyed the original palace on this site, called Istana Hijau, which was built by Sultan Omar in 1870. After the fire, Sultan Zainal Abidin III commissioned a new palace to be built in 1897, but its construction was slow due to lack of funds until it was finally ready in 1903.

The Istana Maziah complex in the days of Sultan Omar and Zainal Abidin III was linked at the back by a set of rumah tele or mini palaces that were used for the extended Royal Family. The “rumah tele” were all linked by overhead bridges as a safety measure, which saved the ladies of the house from venturing to ground level and being seen by the public.

Today, the rumah tele are no more (except for one, which now stands at the State Museum outdoor display section) but there are still some remnants left of the original palace complex now known as “Dalam Kota”. Istana Maziah had seen some renovations since it was first built and during the reign of Sultan Sulaiman until the present Sultan, it was used solely for royal ceremonies such as installations of a new Sultan and birthday investiture ceremonies. Today it lies empty with occasional royal events taking place. There are plans to turn it into a Royal Museum to be opened to the public in the future.

The architecture of Istana Maziah drew inspiration from French and European designs with local wood carvings used for its interiors and placed above the doors and windows for not only its aesthetics but also as natural ventilation. The foundation of the Istana was built from a mixture of chalk, clay, sand salts, egg whites, lime and honey and remains strong to this day.

Bukit Puteri

The Fort That Secured The Realm

A legend tells the story of a kind hearted princess who lived on the hill who was generous enough to lend her dining and cooking utensils to those who sought her help for their celebrations. Unfortunately, these utensils were never returned to her and disappointed with the attitude of the folks who lived at the foot of the hill, she left the Bukit Puteri and never returned.

The hill had already been documented in the annals of Terengganu history since the 16th Century and it was during the reign of Sultans Mansur, Muhamad and Omar in the early to late 19th Century that Bukit Puteri was better known and became significant as a stronghold to defend the sultanate during the civil war that occurred at the time.

Today, visitors will find an old relic in the shape of a bell or genta which was used to mark special occasions or when an unfortunate event happened. During the month of Ramadhan, the genta was sounded for the breaking of the fast. There is also a set of cannons (meriam beranak) left from whence there were once aplenty and a lighthouse that was used as a beacon for maritime travellers to find their way into Kuala Terengganu. From the top of the hill, you will get a panoramic view of the Terengganu River and its surroundings and the Istana Maziah beneath below.

Chinatown

300 Year Old Settlement With Trendy Cafes

Dating back to about 300 years ago, Kampung Cina where it now stands, was settled by seafaring traders from South China. Kuala Terengganu was once a busy maritime trading centre that attracted merchants from across the region and of course, China. The descendants of these traders, known as peranakans, still make their homes here although changes are taking place where the old shop houses, seeing potential as a tourist draw, are now being gradually converted into trendy restaurants, cafes and guest houses.

Kampung Cina’s main street is a stretch of quaint old shop houses¬¬ where the peranakan heritage is celebrated and preserved. Stretching from Pasar Besar Kedai Payang, the one-way narrow street of Jalan Bandar ends at the welcome dragon arch at the Seri Malaysia hotel junction. Take a leisurely stroll and discover amongst the nooks and crannies, interesting alleyways with modern street art, new cafes and old abandoned homes. You can feel the history of a glorious past and seeing how it is slowly coming up again to be a centre of tourism and commerce.

Every year, the community of Kampung Cina celeberate their heritage in a Pesta Peranakan Terengganu where there are cultural shows, photo exhibition, street art exhibition and food demos, and night markets. This is also the time where the meks or women (men are referred to as awang) proudly adorn their sarong kebayas, a dress which have cultural influences of the Malays. Most Terengganu Chinese speak fluent Malay in the Terengganu dialect and some of their food is also adapted and fused with Terengganu traditional ingredients and recipes such as budu, a shrimp paste. You will find unique peranakan recipes not found anywhere else in the country such as steamed kerepok lekor with its own unique chili sauce, ceranang (a kind of salad eaten with peanut sauce) and rojak betik, a young papaya salad, julienned with sliced carrots, and eaten with a sweet and sour fish dressing and keropok. You will find that some of the recipes of the Peranakans here are not found in other peranakan communities in the country.

Crystal Mosque

Shining Jewel On The River 

Created out of steel and glass, Terengganu’s Crystal Mosque is unlike any other. Having distinct traits of Moorish and Gothic elements and being strategically located above the water and facing the river mouth, it commands a majesty of place where any maritime traveller’s first impression when making his way into Kuala Terengganu would be of awe and admiration.

Islamic Civilization Park

The Islamic World’s Famous Monuments

One of the most popular attractions in Kuala Terengganu is the Taman Tamadun Islam or TTI (Islamic Civilization Park) situated on Pulau Wan Man not far from the estuary of the Terengganu River. TTI is an Edutainment Park spread across ten hectares filled with replicas or monuments of 22 exquisite and most famous mosques around the world. From the Taj Mahal, the Grand Mosque of Mecca to the Grand Mosque in Niger, replicas of the Islamic world’s famous mosques and monuments are displayed. Visitors can also enjoy the audio visual and interactive features of the park which aim to educate visitors on the various aspects of Islamic history and civilization around the world.

TTI has a convention centre that can cater to weddings and banquets. The Crystal Mosque is part of TTI and is open for prayers. Not far from it is a guest house for visitors who’d want accommodation during their visit to Terengganu.

Another service provided by TTI is a river cruise that brings tourists on a tour of the Terengganu River. You will be able to see kampongs and boat yards, which basically gives a glimpse of how the locals live along the river. Night cruises are also available where dinner is served on board.

Soon, new attractions will be added. These include an amphibian bus, that goes on both land and water, and a Light and Sound spectacle. Look out for the announcements of when they are available to the public.

TTI also contains souvenir shops, restaurants, a recreational lake, a commercial area and a convention centre.

STATE MUSEUM

Window To Our Glorious Past

With bragging rights as the largest of its kind in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, it too can be considered be one of the most beautiful buildings in terms of architecture. Based on old Terengganu palaces, with its distinctive peleleh or sloping roof, the many design elements derived from the past make this building an attraction in itself.

The Museum has a floor area of over 75,000 square metres spread over four interconnected buildings. The whole museum compound covers an area of 27 hectares that also includes outdoor displays of old maritime vessels and old palace buildings, such as the rumah tele and reconstructed old homes depicting traditional Malay architecture.

The famous Terengganu inscription stone or Batu Bersurat is displayed here. It was by discovered by Syed Hussein Ghulam Al Bukhari in 1902 at Kampung Buloh, Hulu Terengganu,. The ‘Batu Bersurat’, stone depicts jawi writing, which is considered the earliest evidence of the coming of Islam to the Peninsula, vene predating the founding of the the Malacca Sultanate.

The museum houses a diverse range of century old artifacts and artworks which include textiles, historical artifacts, crafts, royal regalia, Islamic arts and contemporary arts, and weapons. The story of old and new Terengganu also includes modern day exploration of petroleum. An interesting facet of the museum is its huge outdoor display area that doubles up as a peaceful and quiet landscaped garden in which visitors can stroll at their leisure. 

Here you will see the maritime history such as Terengganu’s sea faring trade, marine galleries and real century old homes and palaces, such as rumah tele, one of which King Mongkut of Thailand had once stayed on his visit to the State in 1908.

PASAR BESAR KEDAI PAYANG

100-Year Old Pulse Of The City

Explore the many alleys and amongst the labyrinth of exotic looking herbs and food products, you will find our signature food condiment in the form of fermented shrimp paste called “budu”. Those who are less culinary adventurous, stay away; but one thing’s for sure, budu is what makes Terengganu folks “tick”! 

Smell, taste and feel the essence of Terengganu at Kedai Payang. There’s a saying, if you can’t find what you want at the shops, you’ll find it at Kedai Payang. It has been with us for more than a hundred years, it is a part of Kuala Terengganu’s cultural icon and identity.