Penang, known as “Pearl of the Orient” to many people, is one of the famous islands in South-East Asia. It is renowned for its culture, food and heritage. However, this is not all that she has to offer. Minutes away from the busy city center lies another attraction of Penang, her natural beauty.

This turtle shaped island offers miles of idyllic beaches with swaying palm trees, and soothing hill for those who seek refuge from the tropical heat. The capital of Penang, George Town was named after King George of England. Located in the heart of the city is one of South East Asia’s largest collections of Pre-war buildings. Lots of effort and money has been invested by the state government and private investors to preserve the beauty of these structures.

As a reward for the effort, Penang was formally inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 7th July 2008. Take a stroll down the heritage trail to visit the Muslim mosque, Chinese temple, Indian temple and Christian church. One will be surprised that these buildings are just 5 minutes’ walk from each other.

The closeness of the people from different ethnic group is best reflected by their respect for each other’s culture, festivals and traditions. Besides its beauty and history, one should never miss the delicious hawker foods that are offered around the clock during their stay.

Penang offers you great food from prestigious restaurants to hawkers’ carts by the road side. Penang was listed by CNN as one of the “Top 10 Best Asia Cities for Street Food in 2012”. The development of Penang has also turned Penang into a shopping paradise. You will be able to find things like handicraft, jewelry, clothes and many more at attractive prices.