Kelantan

Introduction

Located in the north-eastern corner of the peninsula, Kelantan, also known as the "Land of Lightning" is an agrarian state with lush paddy fields, rustic fishing villages and casuarina-lined beaches. Kelantan is not only renowned for its batik cloth production but is a thriving centre of cultural arts like Wayang Kulit, Dikir Barat, Mak Yong and Rebana Ubi. It is also famous for the traditional sports of kite-flying and top-spinning.

Getting There

By Road: There is an excellent network of roads linking major towns in Peninsula Malaysia to Kelantan. There are regular air-conditioned busses operating from
Kuala Lumpur and major towns to Kota Bharu.

By Rail: Train services from Kuala Lumpur to Kelantan terminate at Wakaf Bharu and Tumpat. From these two points, one can get to Kota Bharu either by taxi or bus. Stop over points en-route include Gua Musang, Kulal Krai, Tanah Merah and Pasir Mas.

By Air: Malaysian Airlines operates daily flights to Kota Bharu from Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

Foods
nasi dagang - a mix of white and brown glutinous rice cooked with coconut milk, mild-tasting in itself but served with lots of tasty curries
nasi kerabu - spiced yellow rice akin to the Indonesian nasi kuning, served with a vast assortment of fresh herbs and fried coconut.

Attractions

Padang/Bulatan Merdeka

Independence square is a strip of grass that was established as a memorial after WWI. This Padang was where the body of Tok Janggut, a leader of an uprising of 2000 men in 1915, against British land taxes, was displayed after he was killed. There are a number of museums located in this area.

Bank Kerapu(War Museum)
This building was built by the Mercantile Bank in 1912, becoming the first stone edifice in Kelantan. View a fascinating collection of documents, pictures and military paraphernalia of the Japanese Occupation in the country. During the war, it served as the headquarters of the Japanese Kempetai, the feared secret police.

Muzium Islam
The history of Islam in Kelantan is well documented in the artifacts and inscriptions exhibited here. Highlights include islamic arts and crafts from various parts of the world and a photographic collection of Prophet Muhammad's personal belongings. This building was originally the state's first school for islamic studies.

Istana Jahar (Royal Ceremonies Museum)
The Royal Ceremonies Museum; is a fine old wooden palace dating back to 1887. Now converted into a museum, it highlights Kelantanese traditional ceremonies and customs. Inside, visitors can find an extensive collection of Kelantan's historical documentation, rare artifacts, photographs and even a weapons gallery. The building is a fine example of Kelantan's supreme craftsmanship.

Istana Batu (Royal Museum)
Originally a palace and venue for royal weddings, the building is now a repository for the history of the Kelantan royal family. ) Located close to Istana Jahar, this Royal Museum was constructed in 1939 as a wedding gift from HRH Sultan Ismail to his nephew Sultan Yahya Petra Ibni Almarhum Sultan Ibrahim Petra. View an impressive collection of royal regalia, photographs, furniture as well as beautiful crystals, silverware and palace items of former Sultans.

Kampung Kraftangan & Museum Kraf
Set within a beautiful village setting, the complex houses a craft museum, craft shops, tourism offices and a restaurant. Browse through various traditional tools and handicrafts in its museum. Cultural shows and craft demonstrations are held from time to time.

Muzium Negeri Kelantan(State Museum)
This museum showcase the arts, crafts and musical traditions of Kelantan. On display also are artifacts from local archeological sites such as those found at Nenggiri River.

Gelanggang Seni
Locally knowns as Gelanggang Seni, the Cultural Centre is a veritable showcase of the state's rich cultural heritage. Watch demonstrations of silat(Malay martial arts), giant kite (wau bulan) flying, giant top spinning and listen to the giant drums (rebana ubi). Cultural performances, such as the shadow puppet play (wayang kulit) and traditional Malay music, are held on selected evenings.

Batik/Songket Centre
Songket, aptly dubbed Malaysia's "cloth of gold", is a proud legacy of the Kelantan and Pattani courts.Only 4km north of Kota Bahru at Kampung Penambang is a "songket" weaving factory. Once strictly reserved for royalty, songket is now used for ceremonial occasions and weddings.

Siti Khadijah Market
This bustling market is on of Kelantan's landmark attractions. Visitors can find everything from vegetables, local snacks to fresh tropical fruits. The colourful assemblage of goods and lively atmosphere makes it irresistible to shutterbugs. A unique feature here is that the majority of traders are women.

Masjid Kampung Laut
Masjid Kampung Laut at Nilam Puri, Kota Baru, has left many people wondering if it was a mosque or a museum. This 300 year old mosque is the oldest mosque in Peninsular Malaysia. It was build by Javanese Muslims entirely by wood, without nails, and has some impressive woodcarvings and influences of Thai architecture. It is still being used and entry for non Muslims is forbidden. It first stood at Kampung Laut but moved to its current place in Bachok due to flood worries.

Perkampungan Nelayan
Catch fishermen returning with their catch in the late evenings in their colourful boats is quite a scene. Two places you can do this is at Kampung Kuala Besar and Kampung Sabak

Wat Photivihan Buddhist Temple
It is located at Chabang Empat. This temple houses a 40m long statue of reclining Buddha. It is believed to be the second longest in the world and the longest in Southeast Asia. Other ornate Buddhist temples are Wat Machimmaram, boasting one of Southeast Asia's largest statue of Sitting Buddha and Wat Mai Suvankhiri, featuring a huge dragonboat.

Gunung Stong
This is one of the most popular eco-adventure destinations in Kelantan. Situated within the Stong State Park, Gunung Stong rises majestically at a height of 1,433m. Trek to view a diversity of flora and fauna, including Rafflesia, the world's largest flower. A highlight is the spectacular Jelawang Waterfalls, acclaimed to be the highest in Southeast Asia.

Kuala Koh National Park (Gateway to Taman Negara)
The northern entrance to Taman Negara and serves as the Park Headquarters in Kelantan This dense jungle is a paradise of natural attrations. For bird watching enthusiasts, it is possible to see quite a variety of birds in a couple of days, and for anglers, the pristine rivers offer some excellent sport-fishing.

Duty-Free Shopping
The towns of Rantau Panjang and Pengkalan Kubor are duty-free shopping zones offering a bewidering array of items browse through the rows of stalls well-stocked with clothes, decorative items, handicrafts and souvenirs.

Pantai Cahaya Bulan/Beach of Moonlight
Formerly known as the beach of passionate love, this quiet seaside town is famed for its swaying casuarinas and rustic villages. Other beaches that overlook the South China Sea include Pantai Irama, Pantai Melawi, Pantai Seri Tujuh, Pantai Tok Bali and Pantai Bisikan Bayu.

Perkampungan Nelayan
Catch fishermen returning with their catch in the late evenings in their colourful boats is quite a scene. Two places you can do this is at Kampung Kuala Besar and Kampung Sabak

Jeram Pasu
It is located 35km south of Kota Bahru. It is a very popular waterfall destination for the locals. It has clear waters and a cool and refreshing environment.