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Kelantan is located on the
north eastern corner of Peninsular Malaysia and shares a
common border with Thailand in the north and the major
towns here are Bachok, Pasir Puteh, Tanah Merah, Tumpat
and Gua Musang. Tumpat district is known for its many
temples with Wat Photivihan being the most famous temple
in Kelantan. The state is a
veritable treasure trove of delights such as rustic fishing
villages, palm-fringed beaches, lush rice fields and
traditional pastimes such as kite-flying and
top-spinning. The people here have managed to preserve
their age-old customs and traditions and because of
this, Kelantan is
aptly dubbed the 'Cradle of Malay Culture' and is known
for its traditional tourists attractions.
 Kota Bharu, the bustling
state capital city emanates an old world charm and offers
tourists the opportunity to witness a microcosm of the
unique Kelantanese way of life and also a true Malaysian
traditional lifestyle whereby the residents are known
for their friendliness and generosity. The sights, sounds and
colors that are authentically Kelantan can be captured
at the Central Market, an irresistible treat for
shutterbugs. The colorful and lively atmosphere of the
bazaar, dominated by women traders who sell a wide
variety of vegetables, seafood, cakes, batik,
handicrafts and preserved food is Photo:
Kota Bahru in Kelantan
truly a sight to behold and also one of its many
important places of interest.
 The state is noted for its
traditional cottage industries such as batik-printing, silverware,
wood-carving and songket weaving. The Cultural Centre (Gelanggang
Seni) located in
the heart of the town is popular as it showcases many of Kelantan's rich heritage of cultures and traditions.
Here, visitors can watch skilful demonstrations of
kite-flying involving the giant kite which is known as 'wau', huge
saucer-shaped tops or 'gasing' that can spin non-stop
for hours and enjoy the rich resonance of the 'rebana
ubi', colorfully decorated giant drums. For evening
entertainment, there is traditional Malay music and the
'wayang kulit' which is a puppet show which employs a skilful
combination of light and shadow play as well as silat, a
traditional Malay art of self-defense. Another place
of interest to learn more about batik printing and songket
weaving is the Handicraft Village and Craft World War
Two Memorial Museum
(Kampung Kraftangan). Other well known places of
interest include the Cultural Zone and Bamboo Fort
Bazaar.
Kelantan has some lovely
beaches in the vicinity of Kota Bharu like Pantai Cahaya
Bulan (Moonlight Beach), Pantai Irama (Beach of
Melody), Pantai Bisikan Bayu (Beach of
Whispering Breeze) and Pantai Seri Tujuh (Beach of Seven
Lagoons). These beaches are as alluring as their names
sound and it is important to note that the best time to
visit is from April to October, which is the off-monsoon
season. Kuala Besar and Sabak Beach are also popular
fishing villages. Kelantan is also known for its many
interesting museums such as the Islamic Museum, Royal Museum,
State Museum, the Museum of Royal Traditions and Customs
and War Museum.
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