PENANGbottom right
Khoo Kongsi is one of the grandest
clan temples in the countryleft
The Penang War Museum exhibits
the damages of wartop right
There are more than just murals
to Penang’s heritage sitesthe history and character from the country’s
colonial past.
In the suburb of Pulau Tikus, the popular
belief is that a sadhu (holy man) picked a spot
close to the Penang Botanic Gardens Waterfall
to build a shrine for Lord Murugan, a Hindu
deity. The site of this shrine would become
the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple,
one of the largest temples dedicated to Lord
Murugan outside India. Originally the temple
was at the base of the waterfall but it was
shifted out in 1915 following construction of
the Waterfall Reservoir. The main tower of the
temple is seven-storeys high and it takes 513
steps to reach the top, so put those calves to
the test. As many as 700,000 devotees may
gather here during Thaipusam, making it
second only to Batu Caves as a focal point for
Hinduism in Malaysia.
These are just some of the sacred sites
of worship within the George Town area.
Being historically a Chinese-majority state,
it is no surprise that other notable Chinese
temples can be found here. Khoo Kongsi is
a clan temple and one of the grandest in the
country while the Snake Temple is a place
of great curiosity, attracting pit vipers to take
sanctuary there. The stunning idols of Sri
Mahamariamman Hindu Temple also pull in a
large amount of visitors yearly.A DARK MODERN HISTORY
As stated earlier, Penang was unfortunately
in the thick of the action when World War II
came to this side of the world. In remembrance
of this chapter of the state, the Penang War
Museum was set up at a British-built fort in
Batu Maung to showcase the weaponries
used and their prowess for destruction. The
fort itself was meant to resist an anticipated
Japanese attack from sea, but instead, theysurprised the Brits from inland. The Japanese
invaders then turned the fort into a prison
and torture site, casting an even darker cloud
above the area. Various escape tunnels, military
bunkers, barracks, and other structures are
accessible for visitors, creating a truly haunting
experience and an uncomfortable yet important
vision of past conflict.
Due to all the cruelties committed here
during Japanese occupation, the fort and
the surrounding hills are said to be haunted.
Thrill-seekers and daredevils have the option
of taking a night tour for a chance to witness
paranormal activities. With the history attached
to this area, you’ll never know what you might
witness.