Home Geography of Penang

           
   




Penang comprises Penang Island and Seberang Perai (also called Province Wellesley) on the mainland. The central part of Penang Island is hilly. The capital, George Town, rolls out from the northeast tip of Penang Island and spreads across the lowlying areas like a concrete carpet. The tourist belt of Batu Ferringhi and Tanjung Bungah are located on the hilly northern side of Penang Island. Over here, whatever land there is for development hugs the hillside, required much leveling and cutting before anything can be built there.

Penang Hill, located at the centre of the island, prevents the city from marching westward, forcing it to develop southward through Gelugor all the way to Batu Maung to the south. The demand for housing has resulted in new development taking place in Teluk Kumbar, Gertak Sanggul as well as Balik Pulau. Balik Pulau, a town whose name translates roughly as "hindside of the island", was pretty much a sleepy backwater until recently. Today Balik Pulau is undergoing rapid development. Nevertheless, the town is still popular among Penangites for its orchards, particularly of durians and nutmeg.

Seberang Perai is relatively flat, save for Bukit Mertajam, the name of a hillock as well as the town at its foot. The snooty urban folks of Penang Island seldom venture into Seberang Perai - regarding it as a far-away countryside - until the pressing need for cheap housing forced some of them to live there. Now towns in Seberang Perai such as Juru, Jawi, Sungai Bakap and Nibong Tebal, once regarded as the agricultural hinterland as late as a decade ago, have experience rapid development, in terms of industrialization and the sprouting of new housing estates. These towns are expected to benefit from the construction of the second Penang Bridge.

The Penang Bridge carries a dual-lane carriageway, the E36, across the channel connecting Penang Island and the mainland. Linked to the Penang Bridge is Route 1331, comprising Jelutong Expressway and Bayan Lepas Expressway. This is the main motorway on the east side of Penang Island, connecting Batu Maung in the south to Weld Quay in George Town.

On the mainland side, the Penang Bridge connects to the North-South Expressway, E1, the main motorway running along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The E1 connects to the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway, E15, and the Butterworth Outer Ring Road, E17. With the exception of the Jelutong and Bayan Lepas Expressways, all the motorways mentioned are tolled.

George Town, the capital, is located on the northeast tip of Penang Island. It is where most of the sights of historical significance and tourist attractions are located. It is also where most visitors to Penang will be staying.


The road on the north coast of Penang island is characterised by sharp bends.


Penang Hill, foreground, prevents George Town from further developing westward.


Pulau Betong, on the southwest of Penang island





Hello and thanks for visiting! I'm Timothy Tye, aka Tim the Traveler! Penang Travel Tips is one of some seventy websites I've written to describe the whole world. I created it to tell you about Penang. In this website you can find everything you'd want to know, from essential arrival information to bus routes, tourist attractions, places of worship, businesses, residential properties, street history, street art, famous food, Nyonya culture, history and even learn Penang Hokkien!




  1. Please follow me in Penang Street Art and Penang Travel Tips. If you enjoy local cooking, follow Masa Masak!
  2. Rapid Penang Bus Routes: This very useful page provides you all the information to take the public bus to visit any place in Penang.
  3. Arriving by plane: Essential information for independent travelers (those not following a tour package) on taking the bus or taxi upon arrival at Penang International Airport.
  4. Taking the Taxi: Taxi stands can be found at all major shopping malls. You can also call a taxi by phone. Get the details here.
  5. Personal Guided Tours of Penang: If you like a licensed tour guide to show you around, get in touch with me and I'll arrange it for you. The fee is RM90 per hour. Payment for the first two hours collected upon booking.
  6. Hospitals in Penang: Penang is a major regional medical tourism destination. If you are planning to come here for therapy or treatment, find out about the various hospitals available.
  7. Penang Island Residential Property Guide: If you ever consider buying a residential property on Penang Island, read this guide before taking any action.
  8. Penang Visitor FAQ: Frequently asked questions of visitors planning their trip to Penang.
  9. Shopping malls of Penang: Penang has plenty of malls. Visitors often find that prices in Penang are often lower than back home. Get to know the malls in Penang.
  10. Ernest Zacharevic George Town Murals: The murals by a young Lithuanian artist, created for the 2012 George Town Festivals, has become the biggest tourist attraction in Penang. Get information and a full list of the murals that everybody loves to photograph!
  11. My World Travel Guides: List of all the countries I have described.
  1. Auditor General's Report on the performance of the Penang State Government
  2. Plight of the working class in Penang
  3. Do not forget the working class in Penang
  4. Concerned over opposition to Undersea Tunnel and Expressways





Next, you will want to exchange money for your trip. The currency used in Penang is the Malaysian Ringgit. The following are the latest rates in the last 24 hours.




Save the hassle - now you can book your long-distance bus tickets online using the booking console below!

Lastly, as part of your homework to know more about Penang, here's a selection of books on Penang which you can get directly from Amazon.


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