Ulek Mayang Dance

“Hell has no fury like a woman scorned”. In the tale of Ulek Mayang, it was the princess spirit!

 According to legend, during an outing at sea, a Princess Spirit was infatuated with a fisherman and cast him a spell that made him unconscious. A medium was called to revive him and this led to a war of wills between the Princess Spirit and the medium. Having persuaded by the sisters of the Princess, she had to let go albeit with one condition, that the fishermen have to give occasional offerings to appease her.

The Ulek Mayang dance reenacts the legend and includes scenes of the Ulek Mayang ritual. In the past, it was also known to actually “awake the spirits” whenever the dance was performed and this would affect at least one member (usually a woman) of the audience into being “possessed”. Alas, none of this happens nowadays!

Culture

One of the many destinations in Malaysia, Terengganu stands out as having one of the most amazing and beautiful natural attractions. It is also rich in history, arts and culture.

Land of Artisans The state known is known for having many of Malaysia’s leading craftsmen and artisans in songket, batik, brass, wood carving, boat building, and traditional carpentry. In essence Terengganu has contributed and shaped many elements of Malay culture.

Terengganu’s boat building skills, crafted by hand without the use of blueprints and nails, is one of the many impressive accomplishments of Terengganu craftsmen.

And our songket weavers are known for their intricate designs and innovativeness to fuse the old with the new. We have a 300-year old brass industry, one of its kind in the country. Terengganu is also Malaysia’ top batik producer.

Fascinating Cuisine

Many tourists from Malaysia seek out our cuisine too. Some of our notable popular dishes include nasi dagang (regarded as the State dish, made of steamed glutinous and normal rice eaten with a tuna fish curry), sata (a kind of fish paté), keropok lekor (fish sausage), keropok (fish crackers) and a variety of traditional sweets, some with whimsical names.

Setiu Wetlands

Nine Ecosystems in One Destination 

The Setiu Wetlands consists of three river basins converged to form a continuous lagoon 14 km long. It has nine interconnected ecosystems that read like a biodiversity textbook. It is a mixture of sand islands, mudflats, mangroves, peat swamp, riparian forest, seagrass beds and sand beaches, and a lagoon filled with both sea and fresh water. And its diversity extends to it being a breeding ground for scores of mammals, reptiles and marine life. One can also visit a seafood aquaculture centre in the middle of the lagoon. Not many know that this centre also breeds oysters. Combined with beautiful scenery, Setiu Wetlands is heaven for the eco-tourist – an interesting destination for those who love the outdoors and nature.

Lata Tembakah

The Lata Tembakah Recreational Forest, 118 km north of Kuala Terengganu is a tourist destination which holds the promise of a peaceful encounter with nature at its most serene. Lata Tembakah is a 7-tiered thunderous waterfall that flows majestically through the rainforest. 

Visitors could climb to the highest cascading water for a splendid sight. Ample parking spaces, food stalls, wooden walkways, jungle treks, gazebos, chalets and camp grounds are some of the facilities provided.

Lata Belatan

Far from hustle and bustle of the city, Lata Belatan Recreational Forest and Waterfall is located 100 km north of Kuala Terengganu. It’s cool clear streams and the sound of cascading waters are soothing enough to entice visitors to dip in its pools. 

This waterfall is an ideal picnic spot among locals especially during weekends and school holidays. Here, camp grounds, changing rooms, food stalls and ample parking space are available.

La Hot Spring

La Hot Spring is a situated 140 km north of Kuala Terengganu. Its natural hot water pool originates from deep under the ground and seeps through cracks creating a pool with a temperature ranging from 50 – 75 degrees Celsius. 

The therapeutic hot water contains sulphur which is believed to have healing properties for nerve ailments, stroke, high blood pressure, paralysis and skin diseases. Manmade hot water pools for children and elders are built, along with toilets, chalets, food stalls, souvenir stalls, camp grounds and parking areas provided for visitors’ convenience.

Sekayu Waterfall

Sekayu Recreational Forest is only an hour’s drive from Kuala Terengganu and 15 km from Kuala Berang. The Sekayu Waterfall is right at the fringe of highland where the rushing waters create a seven tier waterfall. The pools, the cascading waterfalls and the foliage surroundings create the perfect ambience for visitors to relax and rejuvenate. The surrounding area is also well-equipped with picnic spots, resting huts, camping sites and chalets. 

The latest attraction here is an 85 acre State Agricultural Park, a beautifully landscaped area which offers tropical fruit orchards, restaurant, swimming pool, mini zoo, children playground and camping grounds, among others.

Cemerong Waterfalls

Cemerong Recreational Forest and Waterfall, the highest vertical waterfall in Terengganu, is located 100 km away from Kuala Terengganu and 30 km from Bandar Al-Muktafi Billah Shah in the district of Dungun, it thunders magnificently down a 305 m vertical fall which offers yet untouched and diverse riches of nature and wildlife. 

Take a plunge and enjoy the tranquility of this green wilderness with lush green unspoiled pools. Mountain climbing up Mount Berembun through the dense foliage is an adventure worth experiencing.

Pantai Teluk Mak Nik

This is another turtle conservation centre where turtle eggs are kept before they are hatched and the hatchlings released into the sea as a way of protecting them from poachers and predators. Terengganu takes turtle conservation seriously and should be commended for the effort. Apart from the hatchery, Teluk Mak Nik is quite a beautiful beach for one to hang out and chill with friends and family.

Getting there: Pantai Teluk Mak Nik is in Chukai and is only a 10 minute drive from the town centre.

Ma'Daerah Turtle Sanctuary Centre

A beautiful stretch of beach in Kemaman is home to a turtle sanctuary where turtle eggs are collected and are hatched and the hatchlings safely sent to sea, away from predators and poachers. The Department of Fisheries Malaysia, BP and WWF-Malaysia have developed this sanctuary to be a model turtle conservation centre in Malaysia. 

The Ma’ Daerah turtle hatchery is open to all and is an important resource on turtle conservation and where anyone can come and learn about turtles and their roles in our marine ecosystem. Worth a visit for not only children but also for adults. 

Getting there: 

Take the T3 coastal road from KT and Kuantan and head off to Chukai. Follow the signs to Ma’ Daerah, which lies south of the town.

Rantau Abang Turtle Info Centre

Everywhere you go in Terengganu, you’d probably see a turtle icon somewhere. This is the State’s much loved symbol as it was in Rantau Abang that the almost extinct leatherback turtles came from as far as South America to lay their eggs. However, the overall number of turtles such as the Green Back and Hawksbill species that swim to our shores is affected by rapid development and poaching and efforts are being made to stop their dwindling population. You can learn about the different species of turtles at the Rantau Abang Turtle Information Centre and across the road on the beach, you can make a visit to the turtle hatchlings. And if you’re lucky, you’d get to release baby turtles into the sea! 

Getting there: 

The Info centre is at Rantau Abang and it located to the left side of the main road when you take the coastal road from Kuala Terengganu to Kuantan.