Teluk Bahang, known as Bay of the Glowing Amber is situated at the upper northern tip of our Penang island.
Once a quiet fishing village, now it is as busy as Batu Ferringhi, Tanjung Bungah or even Air Itam in Penang. It lies about 5 kilometers after Batu Feringghi, the prominent tourist's belt of Penang.
To some Teluk Bahang means the Bay of The Glowing Amber probably refers to the warm climate due to the sea breeze coming in shore. Avid photographers must be responsible for its unique name as the sunset taken here by far the most perfect.
Apart from the beach, Teluk Bahang also offers an array of attractions like no other. Come with me to explore these places in Teluk Bahang.
It is worth spending some time in this northern part of the Penang Island. Some places of interest and things you can do:
The Tropical Spice Garden is at the end of Batu Ferringhi and beginning of Teluk Bahang. It is an enchanting rainforest sanctuary with a collection of more than 500 living specimens of tropical spices, herbs, flora and fauna.
Here you can learn about the fascinating properties of the spices that adorn our kitchen shelves.
See first hand the plants that bore these wonderful spices as you follow three undulating trails leading to eleven distinct Garden Rooms, taking in the wonderful colors and smells.
See the Water Garden, Cycad Room, Banana/Heliconia Banks, Spice Terraces, Bamboo Garden, Ginger Walk, Sugar Terrace, Ornamental Valley, Croton Wall, Fern Walk and Jungle Trail.
The unique and intimate garden trails will leave you relaxed as you meander through this little pocket of paradise.
Spice Cafe is located at the heart of the Visitor Centre, within the grounds of Lone Crag Villa, a unique Straits Colonial holiday bungalow that opens to a spectacular panoramic sea view.
I remembered once spending a night up in Lone Crag Villa. It was unforgettable experience being serenaded to sleep by the waves of the ocean.
The villa also houses attractions such as the Spice Museum and Gift Shop. Not far from the Tropical Spice Farm, you can find a unique Indian temple. What is unique about this temple is the festival similar to Thaipusam.
Only thing is this festival is celebrated in the surrounding sea to offer gratitude to the Indian Goddess of the sea. Read more about Floating Chariot Procession here.
Visit one of the first few batik factories in Penang. Get a factory tour and be introduced to Penang Batik. Learn about Batik processing, block or hand drawn printing.
If your eyes are sharp enough, you will know which sides to batik really being printed on the fabric.
Craft Batik has three outlets in Penang. At 669 Teluk Bahang, a full range of well-made hand-drawn and hand-printed Batik cloth, ready made garments, handicraft and souvenirs are available.
For further information, call: . You won't be missing out anything as two more outlets has practically the same stuffs.
For joggers or hikers in Penang Botanical Garden, you can find it at 422, Jalan Kebun Bunga, Georgetown, Pulau Pinang and call 6.
The third outlet can be found at No. 2, Jln Birch, Georgetown, Pulau Pinang, telephone if need be.
Situated in the foothills of Teluk Bahang, the delightful Butterfly Farm is home to more than 120 species of rare and tropical butterflies as well as a hatchery and Preserved Butterflies of the World museum.
Enjoy a relaxing stroll through the lush tropical gardens enjoying the kaleidoscope or color around you. I was surprised to see the farm actually transformed into a very remarkable place.
There is an entrance fee before entering the premises, I was greeted by a large amount of colorful butterflies. There were easily thousands of butterflies in the farm. Most of them belong to the butterfly species which are available in Malaysia.
However, I only saw few Rajah Brooke butterflies in the area. But the entire scene was amazing. The design of the area has also been changed and now looks like a tropical forest.
Imagine yourselves in an area with tropical flowers such as wild orchids, plants and surrounded by countless butterflies. That's the experience I have during my visit there.
The most significant of them all, and my personal favorite, has to be the giant alligator snapper turtle. It's huge!
There are 2 small snapper turtles at the aquarium next to the big one, and those are 7 years old snapper turtles. I think the huge turtle is easily more than 100 years old.
Other than that, you can also find some weird looking insects and reptiles in the exhibition room. There are some lizards, spiders, scorpions, frogs. After this small room, you will see some dried insects on display, detailing their places of origin.
The Penang Butterfly Farm is located at No. 830, Jalan Teluk Bahang, 11050 Penang, Malaysia. Fax:
Days Open
Monday-Friday: 9:00am to 5:30pm (Last Entry at 5:00pm)
Weekend and Public Holidays: 9:00am to 6:00pm (Last Entry at 5:30pm)
PENANG'S third dam, the Teluk Bahang Dam, was completed as scheduled at a cost o f RM135 million. It was launched by the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Dato' Seri Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi on November 26, 1999.
The capacity of the Teluk Bahang Dam, at 19.24 billion liters, is approximately 8 times that of the Air Itam Dam.
The key benefits of the latest dam include increasing in-state water storage capacity, providing strategic storage for emergency use (especially during the dry season ) and the creation of a new green recreational area for the people and tourists in Teluk Bahang.
The Teluk Bahang Dam is not open to the public except during the International Dragon boat race two days. It is not a tourist site. Nevertheless you can view it from the roadside and the kaleidoscope of the various hills surrounding the Dam.
It really offers us a splendid views all the way from the entrance to the Dam as you drive the long and windy road around Teluk Bahang to Balik Pulau.
On the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, the Penang Dragon Boat Race is held here every year since 1974. The dragon boat race was one of Penang's signature events in sports tourism.
The reservoir at the Teluk Bahang Dam has served as the Dragon Boat Festival's venue since 2002, as it provides a safer, more controlled environment than the seafront venue used from the beginning of the race.
The view, too, is top-notch, as punters get to see the race against the green hills of the Penang countryside.
The Penang State Forest Museum is part of the forest park which has a total area of more than 240 acres. The museum itself covers at least 700 square meters.
The museum was conceptualized in 1976 and after seven years, the museum was finally opened to the public as one of the many Penang attractions.
Within the forest park are pools where visitors can take a dip to refresh themselves. Picnic areas are also available, as are camping ground and hostels.
One of the things to do in Penang State Museum is actually shopping for furniture and other wood related products. Inside the museum you'll be able to see some of the actual products that were made with the things that were found inside the forest.
In fact, the museum itself was built using the products and the woods that were found in the forest. Among the attractions in the forest is the 11-meter high tree trunk.
It has a circumference of 261 meters. Experts estimate that the tree trunk is actually more than 80 years old. Tourists who want to know more about the forest and visit the important places in the park can get in touch with the museum for assistance.
Tucked in the northwest corner of Penang Island is the world's smallest national park.
Formerly gazetted as the Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve in 1928 and managed by the Penang Forestry Department, it was re-gazetted as the Penang National Park (Taman Negara Pulau Pinang) on 10 April 2003 under the management of Department of wildlife and National Parks.
The 1,213-hectare metropolitan national park may be tiny but it packs a punch hosting a wealth of flora and fauna within its hilly coastal-forested area.
An ungazetted virgin jungle reserve is also nestled within its depths, which is managed by the Forestry Department. The national park is gloriously beautiful at dusk, earning its nickname as the Bay of Glowing Amber.
Penang National Park is the only nature reserve in Malaysia with 5 types of habitats, namely the only confirmed Meromictic lake in Peninsular Malaysia, lowland dipterocarp forest, montane/hill dipterocarp forest, mangroves and sandy beaches.
I have listed some most popular places of interest in Penang National Park. I wrote an extensive page on the National Park here.
Only to a keen eye like theirs, one can enjoy the beautiful natural forest in Penang. Book a nature guide for the trip here.
We were lucky to observed prawn fishing in the quiet mangrove and most definitely a trip I would recommend you do not missed.
The Kuala Sungai Pinang Mangrove Forest provides a rich ecosystems for the wild l ife of migratory birds, animals alike. And without the mangrove, there will be no sea life.
The tranquility, the absolute quietness can be appreciated as we saw huge monitor lizards crawling inwards to the mud land. Migratory birds was such a pleasing sight.
Our boat ride was made memorable and unforgettable seeing how traps were laid for the crabs. Boat the boat trip here.
You can read more of our trip by boat around the bays here.
There is no permanent accommodation in the beaches or parks of Teluk Bahang. Daytrips are encouraged and overnight camping are kept to a minimum.
But if you are interested, organized camping can be arranged by the park mostly for educational purposes.
En Aziz Teluk Bahang Homestay is available for booking. He accommodates individuals and group package and read more here what else he does.
Near the jetty and village, budget chalets are available and if your needs are inclined towards 3 to 5 stars hotel, you can booked in hotels along the Tanjung Bungah or Batu Ferringhi Beaches.
Mutiara Hotel Resort used to be so popular but today, it stood empty, waiting for its new owner to make it livable again.
Or choose Pn Liza who owns the Balinese concept kampong house not far away from the jetty could be your choice too. Book your trips with Iskandar here.
Easy, drive to the north end of Penang following Tanjung Tokong Expressway, or Vale of Tempe. A long and winding road which has a great view.
It used to be an adventurous road for the cyclist. But now, it has become far too busy and dangerous for the cyclist to enjoy the uphill and downhill ride.
Or if you are coming from the south of Penang, drive through Bayan Lepas and circle over passing nutmeg and durian estate in Titi Kerawang through Balik Pulau to reach Penang National Park or Teluk Bahang fishing jetty.
No car, take a bus. Fantastic, Rapid Penang 101 or KGN (blue bus) starts from Penang ferry terminal or Komtar. Pick one and enjoy a leisurely ride for 1.5 to 2 hrs drive through the coastal road of Penang.
We promise you, Teluk Bahang, Sungai Tukun, Pantai Kerachut or Monkey Beach is one place you must not miss while on holiday or vacation in Penang. Share your stories if you have been to Teluk Bahang and its surroundings.
Going for holidays?
Cheap flights are very demanding in the peak season. Indian airlines offers a great family packages same like northwest airline do. Whether it is a cheap airline or an expensive there are few airline restrictions which everyone have to follow.
My friend Tim has a page too. Read more from here.
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