Georgetown - Penang Island (Malaysia) > Reviews > Penang:Places of Interest

Author's product rating:   

Value for Money
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around
Family Friendly

Advantages:	Great sites .  Exotic .  Friendly people .  Pro British
Disadvantages:	Can get crowded

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

there is a lot to see and do in Penang and I would recommend visits to these major attractions,as well as soaking up the sun and lazing on the beach at Batu Ferringhi and going on a shopping orgy in Georgetown
First head for the Penang Botanical Gardens which is located just off Jalan Waterfall. They occupy some 30 hectares and the gardens have a really good collection of Malaysian fauna and flora. There are hundreds of trees and flowering plants and dozens of nurseries ,plant houses,fern gardens and lily ponds. The place is also well known for its friendly Rheses Monkeys.
At Teluk Bahang there is a huge Butterfly Farm with more than 3,000 living specimens of over 50 species. The farm itself occupies a one hectare site and there is a garden enclosure,breeding area,labs,souvenir shop and exhibition area.
Also at Teluk Bahang is the 100 hectares Forest Recreation Park which also serves as a centre of research for botany and zoology. A Museum houses exhibits of tropical timber and there are also freshwater pools,foothpaths,rest huts and a kiddies playground.
Make a visit to the Kek Lok Si-the largest Buddhist Temple Complex in Malaysia. The temple is dominated by the seven-tier Ban Po Thar pagoda which rises some 30 metres. The remple is at Air Itam.
Finally set aside some time for a trip up Penang Hill,which at 830 metres high,is a pleasant 3 or 4 degrees C cooler than the lowlands. Journey to the top in the funicular railway-the views from the peak over Georgetown are magnificent.!