Terengganu, Darul Iman

Gateaway at Dataran Shah Bandar, Kuala Terengganu

Terengganu is one of the Malaysian state which is endowed with a wealth of charming and refreshing natural landscapes. She has beaches, exotic islands, lush virgin tropical jungle, quaint fishing villages, dazzling waterfalls and many, many more. Her miles and miles of white, sandy beaches and crystal clear water stretches throughout its 225 km coastline, extending from Besut in the north to Kemaman in the South. Her islands are among the most picturesque and fascinating in the country. From its myriad of colourful pastimes which include batik printing and songket weaving to the rapturous celebration of its many generations of cultural and traditional heritage, Terengganu is indeed a very blessed state.

Kuala Terengganu

This city is located at the Terengganu River and is the capitol of the State Terengganu. The city is located a mere 20 minutes drive away from the airport, but when you arrive by car it will be your second stop at the East coast.

In front of Kuala Terengganu, right in the South China Sea are the islands Pulau Kapas and Pulau Rendang. The islands are renowned for its clear waters, sandy white beaches and swaying palms. Home to an infinite variety of hard and soft corals, the waters around the islands are abound with sea-shells, fish and turtles. The islands laid back atmosphere is ideal for relaxation but the more adventurous will find it is also a haven for swimming, snorkelling, windsurfing, kayaking, boating and fishing.

Worth visiting in Kuala Terengganu:

• Terengganu State Museum Complex. consists of a Main Museum, a Maritime Museum, a Fisheries Museum, 4 traditional houses and botanic and herbs gardens. The Main Museum is built on 16 stilts, in accordance with the traditional architecture of Terengganu. Its 4 blocks are adjoined, to represent a big family. There are ten galleries showcasing textiles, crafts, historical, royal, nature, art, petroleum, Islamic, new generation and contemporary arts.
  

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Acclaimed as the largest museum in South East Asia, the Terengganu State Museum Complex houses century old artefacts and artworks of rich and colourful heritage

• Sutera Semai Centre is at Chendering (6km south of Kuala Terengganu). It is Malaysia's pioneer silk weaving center, where visitors can witness different stages of silk manufacturing. There, witness the painting of batik designs onto the fabrics, resulting in beautiful batik shirts, kaftans, scarves, handkerchiefs, etc.

• Bukit Puteri, is a 200 m high historical hill, situated next to Istana Maziah. It was used as a fortress between the years of 1831 to 1876 to defend the state from enemy attacks. Some of the historical remains which can be seen on Bukit Puteri are cannons, a flagpole, a large bell and a fort. Today, as it is the highest point in Kuala Terengganu, visitors standing on top of Bukit Puteri can witness the magnificent view of the areas sur-rounding it.

Bazaar Warisan at Bukit Puteri entrance

• Istana Maziah. is believed to have been constructed during the reign of Sultan Zainal Abidin III. It was built in 1897 and it is the venue for royal birthdays, weddings, conferment of titles and receptions for local and foreign dignitaries. A product of the blend between splendid modern and traditional architecture, it is also well-known as one of Malaysia's cultural attractions.

Outside Istana Maziah

• Masjid Tengku Tengah Zaharah, located outside Kuala Terengganu is just 4.5km away. This is not an ordinary mosque but said to be the only one of its kind in Malaysia. Combining modern and traditional architectural designs, the mosque creates an illusion of itself as floating on water

• Central Market or locally known as Pasar Payang which is located by the Terengganu River is one of the most popular tourist spots in Kuala Terengganu. Housed in a modern building complete with a shopping arcade and a car park, it offers visitors a variety of traditional handicrafts such as batik, silk, songket, brocade and brassware, other fresh produce such as fruits, vegetables and 'Keropok Lekor', which is a special local delicacy made from a mixture of fish and sago. Visitors to this market will have a delightful experi-ence shopping in local fares at reasonable prices.

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• Outside Central Market or Psar Payang
  

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Beautiful Fabric such as Batik Sutera or Batik Silk, Batik Sarong, Batik Kaftan, Sampin Songket, brassware, fresh produce and much more..don't worry...you can get reasonable price here

• Crystal Mosque or Masjid Kristal is a mosque in Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia. The mosque is located at Islamic Heritage Park on the island of Wan Man. The mosque was constructed between 2006 and 2008. It was officially opened on 8 February 2008 by 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu.

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A view from Crystal Mosque

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• Dataran Shahbandar or square is another waterfront area of Kuala Terengganu. Located at the river mouth and facing the South China Sea, it has advantages of being viewed as one of the beautiful spots in Malaysia.
  
  It is a recreational area with trees, grass, fountains, rolling man-made topography, parking, toilet and food stalls nearby.
  

Article Source : www.malaysiasite.nl, beautifulmosques.com, http://whassan.blogspot.com,