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Terengganu Terengganu is one of the Malaysian states which is endowed with a wealth of charming and refreshing natural landscape. She has beaches, exotic islands, lush virgon tropical jungle, quaint fishing villages, dazzling waterfalls and many, many more. Her miles and miles of white, sandy beaches and crstye clear water stretches throughout its 225 km coastline, extending from Besut in the north to Kemaman in the south. Her islands are among the most picturesque and fascinating in the country. From its myriad of colourful pastimes which include batik printing and songket weaving to the rapturous celebration of its many generations of cultural and traditional heritage, Terengnau is indeed a very blessed state. Terengganu’s population which stands at approximately 1 million people, consists of 90% Malays, with the rest being made up of Chinese and Indians. The pace of life in Kuala Terengganu, its state capital, and all the towns and villages in Terengganu is unhurried and unaffected by the hustle and bustle of a big city. Terengganu’s history goes back to as far as the 1st century and has long been an important area of Malay settlement. Throught the time up to the present day, Terengganu has been ruled by 16 sultans. Places of Interest In and Around Kuala Terengganu Visitors to the Waterfront of Kuala Terengganu will be in awe of and fascinated by the hustle and bustle of activities taking place there. Stroll down the waterfront and watch fishmongers haggling for the price of fish and other seafood, or take a boat ride to one of the many beautiful surrounding islands. Another appelang alternative is to take passenger boat to Seberang Takir, where the most incredible view of the South Chine Sea can be seen. The Terengganu State Museum Complex consists of Main Museum, a Maritime Museum, a Fisheries Museum, 4 traditional houses and botanic and herbs gardens. The Main Museum is built on 16 stills, in accordance with the traditional architecture of Terengganu. Its fours blocks are adjoined, to represent a big family. There are then galleries showcasing textiles, crafts, historical, royal, nature, art, petroleum, Islamic, new generation and contemporary arts. Istana Maziah is believed to have been constructed during the reign of Sultan Zainal Abidin III. It was built in 1897 to replace the Istana Hijua which was burned down during World War II, weddings, conferment of tittle and receptions for local and foreign dignitaries. A product of the blend between splendid modern and traditional architecture, it is also well-known as one of Malaysia’s cultural attractions. The Central Market, or locally known as Pasar Payang which is located by the Terenganu River is one of the most popular tourist spots in Kuala Terengganu. Housed in a modern building complete with a shopping arcade and a car park, it offers visitors a variety of traditional handicrafts such as batik, silk, songket, brocade and brassware, other fresh produce such a s fruits, vegetables and Kerepok Lekor which is a special local delicacy made from a mixture of fish and sago. Visitors to this market will have a delightful experience shopping in local fares at reasonable prices. Desa Craft, formerly known as Usaha Desa, is an interesting handicraft centre which showcases songket, brassware, batik, souvenir items and also fashion wear of current batik designs. This centre was developed by Terengganu State Economy Development Corporations (SEDC) as part of its effort to promote Kuala Terengganu as a popular tourist destination.
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