Things to see and do Northwest

This palace was built in 1933 after the royal palace was destroyed in the floods of 1926. The sultan chose a new location, a little further from the river and therefore less exposed to disasters. It faces the Istana Kenagan, which served as a temporary residence for the royal family. The immense building blends Western and Eastern influences: a rectangular floor plan and large bulbous domes. The palace was extended in 1984. More than a hectare was added to accommodate garages, a banquet hall and a new throne room.

These 62 hectares of gardens were laid out at the end of the last century on the site of an abandoned tin mine. Today, a large lake occupies the center of the park, and pathways wind their way through it. Peaceful during the week, the area comes alive at weekends and is a popular place for strolling. Romantic couples, groups of friends and families enjoy strolling beneath the hundred-year-old trees, jogging or picnicking around the lake. You can cross the lake in a pedal boat. The park is also home to a small zoo, the pride of the town!

This temple is dedicated to Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Goodness. It's Georgetown's oldest Chinese temple, built in 1728. The entrance is through a large granite-paved courtyard, overrun with pigeons that let themselves be fatally fed by devotees. At the center of the courtyard stand two green lions and two enormous cauldrons for the most serious cases. Barren women, or those unfortunate enough to have only daughters, throw incense sticks(joss sticks) into the cauldrons in whole bundles. The first temple, with walls and ceilings blackened by incense smoke, is dedicated to Kuan Yin. On the roof stand the traditional dragons, also carved on the entrance pillars. At the far end, in a glass cage, the goddess appears, crowned and dressed in a red or white gown, depending on the festival. The temple is not very large, and the worshippers, mostly women, must not be disturbed. More rarely mentioned, behind the temple, a building is preceded by a courtyard. Against its wall, a hilarious Buddha holds in his hands the blue bag from which all happiness will flow when he returns to Earth. Two other Kuan Yin statues can also be seen here. In the background, facing the Buddha, Kuan Yu, god of learning and war (Kuan Kong, see "Nin Yong Temple" below), appears surrounded by mandarins who have brilliantly obtained their parchment donkey skins. This god is particularly revered by students. The place is peaceful and the incense smoke more bearable in the open air.

Fort Cornwallis was built in 1786 on the very spot where Captain Francis Light, founder of the Penang colony, set foot on land. Initially built of wood, it was rebuilt in brick between 1804 and 1805. What remains is the enclosure, 3 m wide in places and around 3.50 m high, the cannons and, on the left as you enter, the cells, now renamed the Memorial Gallery. Here you can see photos, engravings and read vague historical explanations. The famous Sri Rambai cannon stands at the corner of the fort, and is easy to recognize: it's the only wheeled bronze cannon on the island. The cannon is famous in Malayan straw huts thanks to the following facts. Its builder, a Dutchman by the name of Jan Burgerhuis, arrived on the island in 1603, and offered it to the Sultan of Johor in 1606 to help him in his fight against Malacca. In 1795, the cannon passed into the hands of the Sultan of Selangor. When an English junk was attacked in the area and sunk, the English retaliated by raiding the island and seizing 29 cannons, which they loaded onto a ship named the Sri Rambai. The cannon was part of the cargo. Deemed useless as it was out of fashion, it was thrown overboard and remained at the bottom of the sea until 1800, when it was solemnly raised in the presence of the Vice-Sultan of Selangor. Since then, it is said that barren women flower it in the hope that this gift will turn the wheel of fertility. You can walk around the enclosure. The chapel in the right-hand corner is not open to visitors.

It was in this village, around 1820, that the Thai armies burned the rice crops. Whether the rice crops were burnt by the locals so that the Thais wouldn't benefit is unclear to local historians. Whatever the case, the Thais razed the island to the ground, leaving only ashes. Since then, every time it rains, burnt rice is said to appear on the surface of this very special field... It's worth coming for the Sunday night market or the batik craft village.

At 881 metres, it is the highest point on the island. The road to the summit is winding, but offers splendid panoramic views over the whole island. If you've rented a car, this can be a pleasant excursion in fine weather. At the top, there's an observation tower (for a fee) offering views of Langkawi's plains and beaches. If the weather is cloudy or misty, forget it. Local agencies also organize treks through the forest to observe the island's flora and fauna: macaques, spectacled langurs and birds.

This theme park has several enclosures with well-defined themes: a water park with a wave pool, a river to float down on large buoys and a beach; an amusement park with rides of all kinds; a tin mine reconstruction; an adventure park with canyoning, zip lines and via ferrata in the estate's karst hills; a zoo housing tarantulas, snakes, rabbits, turtles, marmosets and colorful birds; and finally, an enclosure with Siberian tigers. The park is aimed primarily at young children and their parents.

Built in the heart of Little India over 200 years ago, Sri Maha Mariamman is Penang's oldest Hindu temple. The entrance tower, called a gopuram, is richly carved and decorated with colorful representations of deities and sacred animals. Since pujahs, or prayers, take place in the morning, don't hesitate to come and observe the ceremonies of offerings to the deities performed by the temple's priests. A fascinating and disconcerting experience.