Ayer Itam Dam is the first dam to be built on Penang Island. It is located 700 feet above sea level in the water catchment area surrounded by Penang Hill and Paya Terubong. The Ayer Itam Dam was the first major engineering project to be undertaken by the City Council of George Town after the independence of Malaya. It cost M$15 million, and construction took place between 1958 and 1962. 50,000 cubic yards of concrete was used in the construction of the dam. The then Governor of Penang, Raja Tun Uda Al-Haj bin Raja Muhamad officially opened the dam on 8 December 1962.
Ayer Itam Dam is a favorite place for jogging. From the 800-feet crest of the dam, visitors can get a panoramic view of George Town spread out across the horizon below. A spillway allows excess water to be drained out. An indicator at the parking lot provides indication on the water level of the three dams in Penang, the Ayer Itam Dam, Teluk Bahang Dam and the Mengkuang Dam.
As a resident of Penang, I have visited the Ayer Itam Dam only several times in my life, each one separated by a few years. I remember once, when I was still in school, my friends and I did a walk round the dam. At one point, a snake fell from the tree almost on our path. That was the one and only time I walked around the dam.
Getting there
The best way to get to Ayer Itam Dam is by car. Joggers and hikers walk up to it as well. The journey should take roughly 45 minutes to an hour. The route to the dam passes by the car lot to Kek Lok Si as well as the upper road to Kek Lok Si's Kuan Yin Statue, Columbarium and the Temple of 1200 Steps. Rapid Penang Bus nos. U201, U203, U204, U206, T306 all go to Air Itam town.
Finding Accommodation in Penang
If you're going to Penang, you now have the option of finding accommodation in a hotel, or look for one in hostels and guesthouses. To book a room in a star-rated hotel, use the Penang Hotel Guide for Budget Travelers. To find accommodation in a Hostel or Guesthouse, use the Penang Guide to Hostels and Guesthouses. Each link provides detailed listing of the type of accommodation you can expect in Penang. Be aware that you get what you pay for. If you need a certain degree of comfort, then a star-rated hotel may be an ideal option for you. On the other hand, if you are able to forego a bit of creature comfort, then hostels and guesthouses are clean, safe, and incredibly good value for money. For accommodation in other destinations, visit Hotel Guide for Budget Travelers or Hostels & Guesthouses Accommodation Guide.
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