The Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Clocktower is a landmark in Penang. It doesn't matter that there is more than one clock tower in Penang - it is such an icon in Penang that when you say The Clocktower, Penang people know which one. The other famous clock tower of Penang is simply referred to as, well, The Other Clocktower. This Clocktower was built to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria by one of those distinguished Chinese millionaires eager to flaunt their wealth in the eyes of their British administrators.
Queen Victoria Clocktower, Penang.
The Victoria Memorial Clocktower at King Edward Place, Penang, was built by local Penang millionaire Cheah Chen Eok in 1897 to commemorate the sixtieth year of the Queen's reign. The tower was sixty feet tall, with each foot for each year of the Queen's reign. Unfortunately, she never visited Penang, nor did she ever live long enough to see her clocktower completed. By the time it was completed in 1902, the Queen had died.
Do you realise that the clocktower leans to one side? That's the legacy of all the bombs dropped around it during the Second World War that destroyed the Government Building nearby. In my photographs, I try to make it look as if it is straight.
In addition to the clocktower, the other legacy of Cheah Chen Eok is the Moon Gate on the way to the Penang Botanical Gardens.
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.
There are many heritage sites in Penang - indeed it has one of the densiest concentration of sites in Malaysia. Explore these many sites with AsiaExplorers.
AsiaExplorers is researched and written by Timothy Tye. Reasonable care is taken to check and verify the accuracy of the content. AsiaExplorers disclaims responsibility for any inconvenience, mishap, injury or death resulting from following the tips and advice provided directly or indirectly by this website. All pages may be printed out for your own personal, non-commercial use. Photographs not credited to a third party belong to Timothy Tye and may not be reused in any form unless you are first given permission. Write in to inquire if interested. Third party photographs are governed by their respective licenses. The author is a Christian. Click here if you are interested to know more about his Christian beliefs. To contact AsiaExplorers, use the following email address:
