Located northwest of Peninsular Malaysia about 112km south of Pulau Langkawi, Penang has been known as the "Pearl of the Orient". The island derived its name from the betel nut trees ("Pinang" in the Malay language) growing in abundance here long before the British set their feet on the island. Captain Francis Light discovered Penang in 1786 and it had since become the first British trading post in the Far East. Numerous historic buildings dating back from the colonial age can still be seen intact on the island today.

The Pearl of the Orient

BACKGROUND
Lying off the northwestern coast of Peninsular Malaysia, the state of the Penang comprises Penang island with an area of 285 sq km and a narrow strip of land approximately 760 sq km on the mainland known as Seberang Perai.

Aptly called the Pearl of the Orient, Penang is one of the prime destinations in the country. State capital Georgetown is a bustling town known for its fascinating collection of fine old buildings. Much of Penang's charm lies in its fabulous beaches as well as rich cultural potpourri.

HISTORY
1786, Englishman Francis Light landed on the island at what is known as the Esplanade today. He later managed to persuade the Sultan of Kedah to cede the island to the British East India Company.

The island was renamed Prince of Wales Island and the major town on the island was name Georgetown after King George III.

In 1800, the Sultan of Kedah further ceded a strip of land on the mainland across the channel which Light named Province Wellesley, after the then Governor of India.

Penang later became part of the Straits Settlement, along with Malacca and Singapore, and flourished to become a major trading port.

It remained under the British colonial rule until 1957 when it became part of the independent Federation of Malaya.

GETTING THERE
Penang boasts convenient direct air links to major cities in the region, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Nagoya, Medan, Xiamen and Madras. The national carrier Malaysia Airlines provides frequent daily flights between Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

Tourists can also arrive by road via the 13.5 km Penang Bridge while regular ferries transport passengers as well as vehicles from Butterworth to Georgetown.