Kota Bharu

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Koentje3000
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Kota Bharu

  • May 17, 2006
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Koentje3000 from Hamme, Belgium
Kota Bharu

Kota Bharu is probably the most interesting city in the northeast corner of the Malaysian peninsula and the capital city of Kelantan state. It is located right on the Sungai Kelantan river, 5km south of its mouth in the South China Sea. Kota Bharu (sometimes abbreviated as KB) means "new city" in Malaysian, because it was only settled in the end of the 19th century. Nevertheless, it is has been promoted by Tourism Malaysia as one of the three heritage cities together with Georgetown (Penang), and Melaka (Malacca).

The vast majority of the people in Kota Bharu are Kelantanese Malay Muslims, closely related to the Yawi Muslims in southern Thailand. The Kelantanese dialect is a strange mix between Bahasa Malaysia and Thai, and is widespread even with people from other descents. The people are quite conservative, but very hospitable and helpful. It’s best to dress and behave modestly, so no shorts or skimp skirts, and no drunken tourist behaviour please! This is quite easy, as alcohol is forbidden except in Chinese-run businesses and nightlife—which is close to non-existent.

The city centre is located at the square, with the clock tower where Jalan Sultan Ibrahim and Jalan Hospital meet. Here are the fine tourist office and the interesting State Museum (RM2 or 50¢), with arts, crafts and instruments of the Kelantanese people. The most interesting sights, however, are located about 1km north, near Merdeka Square. Right on the square is the fine Islamic Museum (RM1-2), tracing Islamic history in Kelantan. The most beautiful building in town is probably the Istana Jahar, a nice 19th-century wooden palace, now housing a dull museum. The building is beautiful inside as well, so do make a visit to it (RM3). A little further is the State Mosque, which looks more like a government building than a mosque.

A little to the east of Merdeka Square is the covered central market, selling fresh food, utensils, clothes, and even handicrafts. In the evening, food stalls are set up outside that serve the excellent regional food for everybody to taste. Around town are a few Thai Buddhist wats (temples). If you are here on your way to Thailand just give them a miss, because more beautiful wats await you.

Half a km south of the city centre is the Express Bus Station, with long-distance buses to Penang, KL, or Singapore. Local buses, e.g. to Kampung Jambu (with a large reclining Buddha statue) or Pasir Putih (for the Perhentian Islands), congregate in the bus terminal along Jalan Padang Gerong, just south of the central market. The nearest train station is in Wakaf Bharu; 3km westwards, and reachable by local bus or taxi. Here you can take the jungle train towards KL or Singapore. Thailand can be reached by local bus, or taxi to the border town of Rantau Panjang. No public buses cross into Thailand directly here, so you will have to walk across the border into the Thai town of Sungai Kolok where buses and trains leave to other Thai destinations.

From journal The Northeast of the Malaysian Peninsula

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