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Penang Hill – Penang Malaysia

March 28, 2009 By James Clark Leave a Comment

Penang Hill is one the most popular attractions on the island of Penang, Malaysia. The peak is reached by a funicular railway and it is a great place to escape the heat of the island.

The Penang Hill Railway terminus is in Air Itam, which is easily reached by a local bus from George Town, the main tourist district of Penang. The railway is very popular so when buying a ticket for the train you will be given a departure time. When it is busy you may have to wait 2-3 hours.

Rather than waiting around in the tramway terminal, spend your time by visiting the nearby Kek lok Si Temple, the largest Buddhist Temple in malaysia. Being the biggest of something means there is also a big souvenier area and food market.

Kek Lok Si Temple
[Kek Lok Si Temple]

When your train is ready the funicular journey takes half an hour over two stages (4 MYR/ $1.10 USD Return).

Penang Hill Railway
[Penang Hill Railway]

The summit is over 800 metres above sea level and is noticeably cooler. Apart from the best views of the Island of Penang there is also a bird sanctuary, a canopy walk, food stalls and an Indian Temple and Mosque.

Penang Hill view: Penang Hill
[Penang Hill view]

Filed Under: Travel Blog Tagged With: malaysia, penang, railway

About James Clark

James Clark is the founder of Nomadic Notes. He has been a digital nomad since 2003, and Nomadic Notes features trip reports, train travel articles, and where to stay guides. He writes about transport and urban development at Future Southeast Asia. Subscribe to the weekly travel newsletter.

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Hi, I’m James Clark, and I've been travelling the world since 2003 while running a location independent travel business. Nomadic Notes is a travel blog featuring travel guides and notes from my travels.

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