…… Seeking and ‘Peak’ing some adventures at Penang

 

 

Talk about vantage point, talk about Penang hill! The ever charming peak of Bukit Bendera or Penang Hill offers a bird’s eye view of the city. Nestled in Air Itam, it is about six kilometres from George Town. It offers a plethora of activities, while boasting of an enthralling view and colourful flora comprising of insectivorous plants, coniferous trees, oaks, ferns, orchids and a variety of birds, animals and forest inhabitants.

 

 

Interesting facts:

• Dating back to 1700’s, it is believed to be the oldest British hill stations in the whole of Southeast Asia
• The hill has its highest peak at 833 metres above sea level
• Its funicular train runs on the steepest tunnel track in the world
• Average temperature: 21ᵒc
• It offers a panoramic view of the mainland as well as the island

 

 

Things to do by day:

There’s a lot to do by day. Try most of these and you will have the time of your life!

 

Buggy ride: Take a buggy ride through the lanes and roads of the hill across heritage bungalows and understand the history of Penang and the hill better. A buggy ride costs RM 30 for 4 people on a single ride and takes about 20-25 minutes for the entire tour.

 

 

Monkey Cup garden: Stop by this place, hop off to the restaurant/café amidst street art and take a sneak peek into the brick-laden framework that showcases monkey cups and other rare insectivorous plants.

 

 

Owl Museum: The cutest and most adorable part of the hill, that houses owl artefacts made of different materials, shapes and sizes from various parts of the world. Step into the amazing world of owls and hoot away to some fun facts, flaunt Harry Potter’s hood and click away to the 3D pieces and engaging forms of owl-work.

 

 

Food court: A food court serving Penang delights is right at the end of the ground, just above the Owl Museum. From local street food to pizzas and iced desserts, you have it all under one roof.

 

 

 

 

Things to do at night:

• Enjoy the view
• Stroll along every alley and pause at every viewing deck you can see
• It’s all about the breeze and weather amidst twinkling lights
• Head to the bar to enjoy a sandwich over drinks overlooking the mainland and island
• Make sure you board the last tram on time

 

 

The day and night offer such different views that it’s difficult to point out which one’s better!!! Do what I did – go there twice – once by day and the other at night! Get the best of both worlds 🙂

 

How to get there:

• Hike it up: for the adventurous and hiking enthusiasts. Keep at least 4 hours in hand. Stop at various spots and imbibe the view and freshness of your surroundings.

• Tram it up: the funicular train takes you right up in ten minutes. Sit back and enjoy the ride. Though the first one started in 1923, the current one is the fourth generation tram system.

 

 

Penang Hill at a glance:

There is so much to do at the hill. It’s always lively and bustling with people and activities.

• Mosque
• Temple
• Hotel
• Monkey cup garden
• Owl Museum
• Clinic
• Police station
• Food court
• Playground
• 2^nd generation train
• Cannon
• Viewing deck
• Jeep track
• Beautifully illuminated pathways

 

 

 

Do not missssssssssssssssss….

• Clicking at the monkey cups, next to the grounds
• Heritage post boxes along buggy trails
• Street art at Monkey Cup ground
• The cannon at the entrance to the playground and temple
• Love locks just above the food court

 

 

The happenings:

A lot keeps happening atop! Stay tuned and updated with the latest. See some examples below:

• Zumba classes every Sunday, 07:30 – 08:30 hours
• Cycling adventures during the adventure month at Penang Hill (October)
• The Light festival (November)
• Penang Hill Festival (December)

 

 

Timings and tips:

• 06:30 – 23:00 hours daily
• Ticket counter at the bottom station closes at: 22:30
• Take the ‘fast/express lane’ to skip the queue and enjoy air conditioned waiting lounges especially during the holiday season (double/triple the price)
• Check out the latest promos and festivals before heading there

Pssttt!!!!! Funicular maintenance is scheduled from 11^th – 20^th Jan, 2016. Plan your trips accordingly.

 

 

Address:

422, Jalan Bukit Bendera,

11500 Air Itam, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

 

 

 

This post originally appeared on Lyf&Spice

Linking it to #MondayEscapes