Penang Overview

Penang, a beautiful tropical island in the northwest of Peninsular Malaysia, also called PINANG, is a leading port of Malaysia. Its sheltered harbour is separated from the west-coast of the Malaysian mainland by a 5 km channel through which international shipping approaches from the north to avoid the many shallows of the southern route.

A well-known holiday destination for millions of visitors from all over the world, the island measures a modest 285 sq.km and is inhabited by 1.2 million people who hail from a diverse mix of cultures and religions.

George Town, at the north-eastern tip of the island is the capital city of Penang and commercial hub of the state. History dictates the island was established as a British trading post in 1786, which plied the trading routes between the east and the west.

After a lapse of over two centuries, Penang still preserves the grandeur of the colonial heritage in architecture and design. Its unique charm of a careful blend of old and new has made it the threshold of attraction to more than 2 million visitors every year.

Known also as the "Pearl of the Orient", Penang is definitely a one-stop holiday destination with rich historic attractions, sight-seeing, entertainment, food, a sprawling stretch of sun-kissed beaches and an excellent selection of hotels and resorts from which to choose.

Climate

Penang enjoys a tropical climate with fairly uniform temperatures throughout the year, ranging from 32 deg.C. during the day to 22 deg. C. at night. Humidity is relatively high. There are no distinct hot or cold seasons and the mean annual rainfall range from 200-250cm. Although rain falls throughout the year, September to November are the wetter months.