Airports
Kuala Terengganu’s Sultan Mahmud Airport offers a limited selection of domestic flights within peninsular Malaysia. Flights head primarily to Kuala Lumpur and Kuantan in Penang. The airport is located nine miles from Kuala Terengganu, and transit to the city centre is relatively simple.
The two major airlines operating at Sultan Mahmud are Malaysia Airlines and the discount carrier AirAsia. Both of these carriers offer daily connections to Kuala Lumpur. Firefly is a subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines that connects Terengganu to its regional hub in Penang.
This single terminal airport sees an annual throughput of roughly half a million passengers. As it is strictly a regional airport, facilities are limited to essentials and include telephones, restrooms, snack vendors and an information desk. Some of the hotels in Kuala Terengganu will arrange to pick passengers up at the airport. Taxi drivers arrive at the airport according to the Arrivals schedule.
Public Transport
It is possible to reach Kuala Terengganu directly by bus from Kuala Lumpur. On the whole, the state capital is well-connected to the rest of peninsular Malaysia. Express buses are the fastest means of getting around, and most of the transport options are centred on road transport. The nearest railway runs through the neighbouring state of Kelantan and doesn’t offer direct access to Terengganu.
Kuala Terengganu serves as the state’s primary transport hub. The East Coast Highway spans Terengganu’s coastline and connects Pahang in the south with Kelantan in the north—ultimately crossing into Thailand. Buses from Kuala Terengganu connect the state with multiple Malaysian destinations and even travel as far as Singapore.
Within the state, transport is efficient and reliable between the coastal cities, where buses connect each of these stop-offs with Kuala Terengganu. For day-to-day activities in Kuala Terengganu, locals use water taxis which depart from the jetty at Pasar Payang market and cross the river estuary. This is a centuries-old form of transport that continues to see heavy traffic.
Traditional forms of transport offer novel ways for tourists to get around the cities. Trishaws are a fun means of touring the compact streets of Kuala Terengganu and are easily hailed in all of the major cities. Most of these bikes are lavishly decorated in the hope of catching your attention. While not as historic, the newly introduced Shutter Bus resembles an old trolley and cruises the streets of the capital.
Transport into the interior is not readily available. Major destinations like Tasik Kenyir are accessible by bus, but it’s best to hire a car and set your own itinerary if you’re bound for any of the smaller villages. In some cases, travel agencies can arrange transport by minibuses to some inland attractions.
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Thursday, June 17, 2010
History And Weather
Terengganu has long been an important trade stopover on routes through the South China Sea, and early records by Chinese merchants indicate that the port was in operation as early as the 6th century. However, detailed historical records don't exist until the 1300s, when Terengganu was incorporated as an Islamic state.
In the centuries leading up to its conversion to Islam, Terengganu's inhabitants practiced a mix of Hinduism and Buddhism. A monument adorned with Arabic carvings indicates that Islam was well practiced at the dawn of the 14th century; and as such, Terengganu was the first of the Malayan states to embrace Islam.
In 1724, Terengganu was formally declared an independent sultanate. Friendly ties with the Sultan of Johor strengthened the new state during the first 100 years of its establishment. In fact, the first Sultan of Terengganu, Tun Zainal Abidin, was the brother of a previous Sultan of Johor.
In the 1800s, Terengganu fell under the control of the Kingdom of Siam (modern day Thailand). The sultan at the time worked hard to keep Siam at bay, and at times the relationship between these two countries seemed little more than a formality. However, an early 20th century agreement between Siam and Great Britain saw a shift in the power scheme—an unpopular move with the local population.
Great Britain incorporated Terengganu into the Unfederated Malay States. An uprising in 1928 prompted action by British military forces. WWII and the subsequent Japanese invasion changed everything, however. After the war, power was handed back to Thailand until 1948, when Terengganu became part of the Federation of Malaya. A decade later, the Federation of Malaya became the independent country of Malaysia and Terengganu became one its member states.
Oil and natural gas were recently discovered offshore in Terengganu and what was once Malaysia’s poorest state has seen an enormous economic boom. The petroleum industry has quickly overtaken fishing and agriculture, and revenue has been invested in establishing tourism infrastructure.
Tourists head to the capital city of Kuala Terengganu and spend most of their time along the coastline. To this day, Islam remains central to the culture and lifestyle of Terengganu's citizens, and the social climate remains strongly conservative outside of the touristy areas.
Weather
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In the centuries leading up to its conversion to Islam, Terengganu's inhabitants practiced a mix of Hinduism and Buddhism. A monument adorned with Arabic carvings indicates that Islam was well practiced at the dawn of the 14th century; and as such, Terengganu was the first of the Malayan states to embrace Islam.
In 1724, Terengganu was formally declared an independent sultanate. Friendly ties with the Sultan of Johor strengthened the new state during the first 100 years of its establishment. In fact, the first Sultan of Terengganu, Tun Zainal Abidin, was the brother of a previous Sultan of Johor.
In the 1800s, Terengganu fell under the control of the Kingdom of Siam (modern day Thailand). The sultan at the time worked hard to keep Siam at bay, and at times the relationship between these two countries seemed little more than a formality. However, an early 20th century agreement between Siam and Great Britain saw a shift in the power scheme—an unpopular move with the local population.
Great Britain incorporated Terengganu into the Unfederated Malay States. An uprising in 1928 prompted action by British military forces. WWII and the subsequent Japanese invasion changed everything, however. After the war, power was handed back to Thailand until 1948, when Terengganu became part of the Federation of Malaya. A decade later, the Federation of Malaya became the independent country of Malaysia and Terengganu became one its member states.
Oil and natural gas were recently discovered offshore in Terengganu and what was once Malaysia’s poorest state has seen an enormous economic boom. The petroleum industry has quickly overtaken fishing and agriculture, and revenue has been invested in establishing tourism infrastructure.
Tourists head to the capital city of Kuala Terengganu and spend most of their time along the coastline. To this day, Islam remains central to the culture and lifestyle of Terengganu's citizens, and the social climate remains strongly conservative outside of the touristy areas.
Weather
Malaysia’s climate is characterised by year-round heat and humidity. Temperatures remain high throughout the year, with lows dipping to 21°C and highs rising into the low 30s (°C). There are two distinct seasons—dry and monsoon—and annual humidity levels remain at 90 per cent regardless of the season.
The monsoon season begins in November and continues until February. During this time, it’s not uncommon for the coastal resorts and other accommodation to close down for lack of tourists. When planning a trip to Terengganu, it is best to schedule a visit during the drier months of March to October, when all resorts are open.
Visitors who intend to spend time on the beach will be pleased to find that the dry season enjoys a great deal of sunshine, making this an ideal time for swimming and water sports. If your visit falls during the monsoon season, you’ll find that the west coast of peninsular Malaysia sees less rain and most of the accommodation remains open.
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Sunday, June 13, 2010
Contact Us
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Tourism, Cultural, Arts And Heritage Division Terengganu State Secretariat
9th Floor, Wisma Darul Iman, 20503, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu Darul Iman Telephone No: 609-623 1553 Fax No: 609-622 1957 Email: ppp@terengganu.gov.my
Tourist Information Centre
TIC Bukit Puteri Jalan Sultan Zainal Abidin, 20000 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu Darul Iman Malaysia Telephone No: 609-622 1553 Fax No: 609-622 1957
TIC Tasik Kenyir Pengkalan Gawi Hulu Terengganu Terengganu Darul Iman Malaysia Telephone : 609-626 7788/666 8498 Fax : 609-666 7657/666 8979
TIC Geliga 24000 Kemaman Terengganu Darul Iman Malaysia Telephone : 609-868 7600 Fax : 609-622 1957
TIC Kuala Besut 22200, Besut, Terengganu Darul Iman
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Saturday, June 12, 2010
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