Colonial Penang

Written by Viator, August 2010

RECOMMENDATION Keywords:
Cultural Experience, Tip - What to See & Do, UNESCO Heritage Site

Colonial Georgetown is a topsy-turvy collection of shophouses, trishaws, laneway shops and grand buildings. Portuguese traders from Goa in India first visited here in the 16th century, when Penang was part of the Malay sultanate of Kedah.

The British East India Company took control in 1786, when the island was handed over to colonial Penang’s founder, Captain Francis Light, as the first British possession in Southeast Asia. Georgetown was named for the British King George III. Declared a free port, Penang attracted Chinese traders and joined Britain’s Straits Settlements administered from India.

Inner-city Georgetown is so special, it’s been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its colonial-era warehouses and go-downs, wharfs and jetties, commercial center and banking precinct are considered unique, comparable only to Malacca. The focus of business was Beach Street, still lined with shophouses and the impressive straits architecture of buildings constructed for long-gone emporiums and trading firms.

One of the most visible remnants of the colonial period is Fort Cornwallis and its rusty cannons pointing out to sea to defend the island. Streets like Light Street and Pitt Street were first mapped in the early colonial days and they still remain today, along with street names with multicultural flavor like Burma Road and Armenian Street.

A cluster of ornate colonial-era municipal buildings lie near the fort, on the other side of the padang playing fields. Look for the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower, and visit the cemetery where the movers and shakers of colonial Penang lie buried, including Captain Light who died of malaria in 1794.

For panoramic views of Georgetown, do as the colonial settlers did and visit the hill station atop Penang Hill, reached by funicular railway.

Latest Replies

Add review or reply

All Colonial Penang Reviews

Reply by Viator, February 2012
Doing what: Penang City Tour

Good introductory tour of Penang.

Report problem

Reply by Viator, August 2010
Doing what: Penang City Tour

A good way to see the main sites and get a feel for the city after arrival

Report problem

Reply by Viator, July 2010
Doing what: Penang City Tour

We would highly recommend however having paid and receiving confirmation of our booking for a particular day we were advised on the morning of the scheduled tour that they "don't do this tour on Saturday or Sunday" and we were going the next day. Very disappointing in view of the fact that we had made other arrangements and had received confirmation. We then had to re-arrange all our other plans. I'm still a bit mystified as to why, all of a sudden, they don't do Saturday or Sunday.

Report problem