Teluk Bahang is a a quiet fishing village at the tail-end of the coastal road on the northern side of Penang Island. The name Teluk Bahang means the "Bay of Heat Wave", probably pointing to the high temperature of the sea breeze coming in to shore. Until the Penang Mutiara Beach Resort opened, the only purpose of going to Teluk Bahang was to enjoy the seafood at the End of the World Restaurant. Sadly, the restaurant was utterly destroyed by the tsunami of 26 December. Other than that, scouts would remember the Jamboree Camp at Teluk Bahang.
The fishermen pier of Teluk Bahang, Penang.
Teluk Bahang is the home of the Penang Butterfly Farm and the Teluk Bahang Recreational Forest. It has a couple of batik factories and small scale orchid farms targetting the tourist market. Further inland is the Chin Fruit Farm. Completed in 1999, the Teluk Bahang Dam offers splendid views all the way to the sea. With a storage capacity of 19.24 billion litres, it is the biggest dam on Penang Island, and doubles as a regular venue for water sports. It also holds the distinction of being the only dam in Malaysia built within a few kilometres from the sea.
There are many jungle treks in the hills to the northwest of Teluk Bahang. One leads to Muka Head, with a left fork to Pantai Kerachut. The sea off Teluk Bahang is not suitable for swimming, due to presence of jellyfish on account of the sewage discharged by the establishments and habitations along the coast.
The Tsunami Aftermath
Teluk Bahang was one of the places affected by the tsunami of 26 December 2004. The wave arrived around 12:50pm that afternoon, causing extensive damage and some loss of lives, albeit not as severe as other countries around the Indian Ocean. When the area was surveyed on 15 January 2005, we found the village has bounced back to the best of its ability. Broken piers were mended, or at least material is already on hand for reconstruction.
Finding Accommodation in Penang
If you're going to Penang, you now have the option of finding accommodation in a hotel, or look for one in hostels and guesthouses. To book a room in a star-rated hotel, use the Penang Hotel Guide for Budget Travelers. To find accommodation in a Hostel or Guesthouse, use the Penang Guide to Hostels and Guesthouses. Each link provides detailed listing of the type of accommodation you can expect in Penang. Be aware that you get what you pay for. If you need a certain degree of comfort, then a star-rated hotel may be an ideal option for you. On the other hand, if you are able to forego a bit of creature comfort, then hostels and guesthouses are clean, safe, and incredibly good value for money. For accommodation in other destinations, visit Hotel Guide for Budget Travelers or Hostels & Guesthouses Accommodation Guide.
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