Penang heritage trail | Historic George Town
Penang heritage trail | Historic George Town | ||||
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Penang, Pulau Pinang, Isle of the Betel-Nut, Pearl of the Orient. Its capital city, George Town, has an extensive heritage environment of shop houses and villas. Its special attraction is that it has retained its historic communities and living traditions. The historic core of George Town can he surveyed on foot or by trishaw. Such leisurely exploration is the best way to appreciate the old world charm of the old shops and coffee shops. The cultural diversity of the place is expressed in the minute details of architecture and lifestyle, which normally escape those who only see the city from the tour bus. While Fort Cornwallis and the religious monuments along Jalan Mesiid Kapitan Keling are included in most packaged city tours, highlighted on this walkabout trail are several other interesting locations, especially those in the Lebuh Armenian and Lebuh Acheh area, to give you further insight into the multicultural history of Penang. 200 Years of Multicultural HistoryPenang was part of the sultanate of Kedah until Captain Francis Light established the British trading post for the East India Company on the island. Light first landed at the site of Fort Cornwallis to take possession of the island in 1786. He supposedly encouraged the local inhabitants to clear the ironwood trees by firing coins out of the cannon into the forested swamp. It was Light who laid the grid of the commercial town, bounded by Light Street (now Lebuh Light), Beach Street (Lebuh Pantai), Pitt Street (Jalan Mesjid Kapitan Keling) and Chulia Street (Lebuh Chulia). Beach Street then ran along the beach and Pitt Street was reserved for places of worship. A handful of military and civilian Europeans settled along Light Street. The Eurasians from Kuala Kedah and Phuket settled along Bishop Street (Lebuh Bishop) and Church Street (Lebuh Gereja). The Straits Chinese traders from Kedah and Malacca settled along China Street (Lebuh China). The various ethnic groups mingled at Market Street (Lebuh Pasar). The early Indian traders, of whom the majority were Tamil Muslims, settled along Chulia Street. By the early 1800s, the town was extended by two more streets -Armenian Street for the Armenians and Acheen Street for the local community comprising Achehnese, other Sumatrans and Malays. Each ethnic group was allotted its own street with a section of the waterfront along Beach Street. However Penang was established without the formal segregation that characterised the foundation of other colonial towns like Singapore, Hong Kong or Yokohama. Traders and settlers come from Europe, the Arab world, India and China to the port of Penang. They also come from other parts of the Malay archipelago, Thailand and Burma. For almost all of the first hundred years of Penang's history, the most important items of regional trade were pepper from the Achehnese ports, spices such as clove and nutmeg from the local plantations, and textiles from India. Tin gained importance later on and then rubber. Penang enjoyed great fame as a tourist destination. The former British Straits Settlement was known to have the most delicious food, the poshest residences, the best schools and sporting grounds, and the most pleasant recreational spots in the region. You will find Penang a joy to get to know. The city is full of little surprises. Daily life spills out onto the five-footways and into the streets. The local people are friendly and English is widely spoken. The historic communities in the city still keep alive their dialects, occupations, religious traditions and street festivals. For 200 years, the influences of various ethnic groups have intermingled and this has resulted in its beautifully eclectic architecture, a colourful and varied lifestyle, and last but not least, the hybrid street foods that make Penang world famous as a hawker's paradise. | ||||
