Kota Bharu

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Kota Bharu (also Kota Bahru or Kota Baru) is the state capital of Kelantan, on the east coast of peninsular Malaysia. Many travellers simply pass through on their way to the Perhentian Islands, but those who spend a few days in KB have the chance to go to some of the museums mentioned below, eat some delicious food, look at a unique style of traditional architecture, and get a little bit of the feel of a city that has an interesting cultural identity all its own.

[edit] Understand

Kota Bharu is a very socially conservative city in a state ruled by the Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS). Be respectful of the cultural and religious sensibilities of its primarily Muslim inhabitants. There is no need for non-Muslim women to wear a tudung (kerchief over the hair), but both men and women should consider wearing clothing which covers their legs and torso completely, and if you are a woman, also consider covering your arms. Tourists dressed in shorts and skimpy shirts seem out of place on the East Coast of Malaysia. Also, be prepared for breaks to be taken in many places, including the Pasar Malam (Night Market) during Islamic prayer times.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Kota Bharu's small but new and efficient Sultan Ismail Petra Airport (KBR) in Pengkalan Chepa currently receives flights from Kuala Lumpur provided by Malaysia Airlines [1] and budget carrier AirAsia [2]. Advance bookings especially for AirAsia can be very cheap. Firefly [3], a subsidiary of Malaysia Airline which calls itself the country's first "community airline", flies Fokkers daily between Kota Bharu and Penang. Flights leave Kota Bharu at 12:45 and from Penang at 11:35. Flights take just under an hour and can cost from as low as RM29.99 before tax and surcharges.

Getting to/away: The airport is 15 minutes from the city centre by taxi. You can also catch an SKMK bus from the local bus station in the city centre.

  • Malaysia Airlines: Mezzanine Floor, Kompleks Yakin, Jalan Gajah Mati, 15050 Kota Bharu. Tel: +60-9-7483477 (ticketing), +60-9-7448066 (general)

[edit] By train

The nearest railway station to Kota Bharu is at Wakaf Bharu, some 5 kilometers away from the city center. You can catch a public bus there or arrange for a transfer service from hotels at RM30.00/per taxi (Call: +60-17-9517538 for reservation).

Trains run on the Jungle Railway to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. One attraction is the Jungle Train which stops at almost every station between Tumpat and Gemas, allowing you ro enjoy the jungle as the train travels through the heart of Peninsular Malaysia. Officially the Mail Train 91, it leaves at 05:21 from Wakaf Bharu station and reaches Gemas at 20:00, travelling via Jerantut (for Taman Negara National Park). Gemas is located on the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore trunk line and you can catch connecting trains there.

Other trains are:

  • To Kuala Lumpur: The Ekspres Wau departs at 18:40 daily.
  • To Singapore: The new Ekspres Lambaian Timur departs at 06:20 daily. This train allows you to see the jungles of Kelantan and Pahang as it covers that stretch during the day. The Express Timuran departs at 20:30 daily (around RM70 for an air-con 2nd-class sleeper).
  • To Thailand: There are no train services directly into Thailand. You will have to catch a bus to Rantau Panjang and cross the border into Sungai Kolok and proceed from there.

[edit] By bus

Long-distance buses connect Kota Bharu to a variety of Malaysian towns. Most long distance buses leave from the southern Langgar terminal, while local and regional services converge on the Central terminal. The trip from Hentian Putra, Kuala Lumpur costs around RM 33 (prices vary by operator) and take around 9-10 hours. From Penang you can take bus (Transnasional, Mutiara or Etika) straight to Kota Bharu from either the new bus terminal in Sungai Nibong or Butterworth bus terminal. The journey would take 6-7 hours and costs around RM 27 or RM 24 from Butterworth.

[edit][add listing] See

Kota Bharu itself offers many museums near Independence Square (Padang Merdeka). The most amazing building however is the central market. It is an octagonal building in the centre of town and houses a very colourful and active market every day. Nearby is a plain square which turns into the local food market in the evenings.

Great temples to visits in the nearby Kota Bharu Town: Wat Pothivihan (huge reclining Buddha), Wat Mai Suwan Khiri (dragon Boat & standing Buddha), Wat Machimarran Varran (sitting Buddha), and Wat Serova Buddhist Temples (Goddess of Mercy - Kuan Yin).

  • Cultural Show at Culture Centre 3 times a week @Saturday 3.00pm-4.45pm & 8.00pm-11.30pm, @Monday 3.00pm-4.45pm, @Wednesday 3.00pm-4.45pm & 8.80-12.00pm.
  • River cruise along Sungai Galas down to Dabong (2hours).
  • Explore the caves at Gua Ikan,Dabong.
  • Stong Waterfall, reputed to be the highest in Southeast Asia, drops from a height of about 990 metres.
  • Mount Stong State Park. One of the main attractions at the state park is Gunung Stong@Mt.Stong (1,422 meters), a dome-shaped granite complex more than 500 million years old.
  • Nenggiri Rafting Adventure - The selected leg of the journey covers approximatedly about 50 km, departing from Kuala Betis / Gua Cha and ends up at Kampung Star.

[edit][add listing] Do

  • Go to the day and night markets. Have Nasi Kerabu for lunch at the day market and Ayam Percik at the night market, or get whatever else strikes your fancy.
  • Walk around the downtown area.
  • Bicycle around Pengkalan Chepa area (airport), see old WW2 British pillboxes near beach at Pantai Sabak. For history buffs only but no beach anymore due to erosion.
  • Go to the beach, either PCB Beach or Bachok Beach. PCB Beach has batik shop, best is Citra Batik about 500m from the beach. Also eat fried seafood at PCB Beach with coconut water.

[edit][add listing] Buy

  • Batik - hand printed clothes, buy from Citra Batik at PCB Beach or at the KB Mall in town (higher prices but mor econvenient). By own designer.
  • Silverware - at the touristy museum in Kota Bharu town.

[edit][add listing] Eat

Kota Bharu is full of delicious Kelantanese food, a unique cuisine influenced by Thai and Indian styles, among others. Lots of goodies are to be found in the pasars and in coffee shops throughout the city.

Among the local specialties are :

  • Ayam Percik, chicken which is roasted over a wood fire and combined with coconut/peanut sauce and delicious local herbs and greens. Yati Ayam Percik (847, Jalan Long Yunus)[4] has got to be the best around;
  • Nasi Ulam (locally called Nasi Kerabu), rice with fragrant, fresh-picked leaves and shoots, traditionally dipped into budu (fish sauce), sambal belacan (shrimp paste with hot pepper, et al.) or/and tempoyak (fermented durian sauce);
  • Murtabak, savory or sweet crêpes; and a wide variety of Kuih (little cakes). Murtabak Raja is the famous one on Jalan Bayam.
  • If you visit around Hari Raya time, don't miss the chance to try Tapai, which is sweet fermented cassava or rice, wrapped in tapioca leaves. If you like tea, wash everything down with Teh O (tea with sugar) or Teh Susu (tea with sweetened condensed milk).
  • Keropok Lekor Losong (the local version is Keropok Gote), originally from Losong village and considered by Kelantanese to be the benchmark of all fish paste sausages. Comes fried or boiled. Kelantan Keropok Gote is not like Terengganu Kerepok Lekor Losong; it is thicker, about 4cm.
  • Durian puffs (locally called Lepok Durian or Gelembung Buaya, they are in 3 colors: red, yellow, and green), at Kubang Pasu wet market in the mornings - for durian lovers with strong stomachs only. These delicious pastries are sold at wet market surrounded by fish. Buy from the lady at the corner, not in the middle of wet market.
  • Morning Satay, same lady, but not so delicious. Just for the experience. It also can be found in various restaurants in town. There are a few famous Satay sellers like Satay Baung, Satay Suria, etc.

[edit][add listing] Drink

  • Coconut water from the fruit, then scrape and eat the flesh

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

Hostels can be found in the area near the Central Market.

  • KB Backpackers Lodge, 1872-D (above Azam Photo), Jalan Padang Garong, 012-988-5068. Rates RM8-35.
  • Lee Guesthouse, 263 Jalan KK1/9 (off Jalan Pasir Puteh) +60 9-747-9663, +6017-980-6638 .Free usage of internet broad band facilities (WIFI) & Satellite Television in the living room [6]. Rack rates from RM65.
  • Minora Lodge is a 20min walk from the night market. Clean, variety of rooms from dorm to doubles with air-con, RM20-60.
  • Safar Inn, Jalan Hilir Kota +60 9-747-8000. Rates from RM78.

[edit] Mid-range

  • Dynasty Inn, 2865-D&E, Jalan Sultanah Zainab, +60 9-747-3000, dynasty@tm.net.my, [7]. Rack rates from RM100.
  • Grand Riverview Hotel, Section 9, Jalan Post Office Lama, +60 9-743-9988 sales@grh.com.my, [8]. RM150 onward.

[edit] Splurge

  • Renaissance Kota Bahru Hotel, Kota Sri Mutiara, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, +60 9-746-2233, [12]. 5 star, RM380 onward.

[edit] Get out

Malaysia:

From the airport, train station and city you can take a taxi to Kuala Besut for ferry connections to the Perhentian Islands (45-60 min; theoretically only RM25 but good luck paying much less than RM50). If you want to stick to public transport, there is also a direct bus service to Kuala Besut.

Thailand:

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!

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