Kota Bharu, capital of the East Coast Malay heartland
Kota Bharu is the capital of Kelantan Darul Naim. It is located on the northeastern part of Peninsular Malaysia. With an estimated 2010 population of about 610,000, it is one of the largest towns in the East Coast.
Being by the banks of the Kelantan river, Kota Bharu is flood prone. Within Kota Bharu town are many heritage sights such as palaces and mosque. Due to Kelantan's proximity to Thailand, there are many big Thai temples close to Kota Bharu, especially in the town of Tumpat. There are about 30 Buhhist temples in Kelantan, which is something of a surprise for a state with an overwhelmingly Malay population.
On my visit - in between breaks in the rain - we visited the famous Siti Khadijah Market, walked around to view the many Kelantan palaces and museums, and took our van to visit the many famous Thai Buddhist wats, including Wat Machimmaran, with its huge sitting Buddha, and Wat Phothivihan, with the largest reclining Buddha in Malaysia. On our way into Kota Bharu, we also stopped at a couple of waterfalls, and visited Masjid Kampung Laut, the oldest mosque in Malaysia.
You can take a flight, a train or a bus to reach Kota Bharu. The Sultan Ismail Petra Airport (KBR) in Pengkalan Chepa is the main airport for Kelantan. It is served by Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia and Firefly.
For a bit of sightseeing, you might consider taking the Jungle Train that runs between Gemas in Negri Sembilan to Tumpat in Kelantan. It offers you a good view of the tropical rainforest.
Finally, Kota Bharu is connected with all major cities in Peninsular Malaysia by bus.
Budget Travel in Kota Bharu
Many of the museums and historical sights in Kota Bharu are within walking distance of the rather compact town.
Further Reading
History of Kelantan Get to know a bit about the history of the state and how it was established.
Places of Interest in Kota Bharu
Bank Kerapu Former bank building now housing the War Memorial Museum.
Bank Pitis Historical building that was formerly the Kelantan state treasury.
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