"Penang's Convent Light Street is the oldest girl's school in the country and is steeped in history and traditions."
Introduction At the end of Light Street (Lebuh Light) is Convent Light Street - or also known as the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus - a girls' school established by a French Sisters' Mission in 1852. The Convent is an impressive complex of buildings which once served a wholly different purpose before they were turned into the Convent proper. Within the walled complex of the comvent is one of the oldest buildings in Georgetown - a bungalow once owned by Francis Light which dates back to 1793. Though and old structure, Convent Light Street still has plenty of charms. The chapel of the convent is adorned with stained glass windows imported from France.
Today, Convent Light Street is the oldest girls' school complex in the country, having remained on this site for nearly one and a half century.
History The Convent Light Street complex used to serve as the seat of the Penang Government in the early 19th century, when it was referred to as the 'Government House'. Stamford Raffles, founder of Singapore, worked here from 1805 to 1810 as Deputy Secretary to the Governor of Penang. The Convent which took over the site in 1859, added a chapel, cloisters for the Sisters, an orphanage, a boarding house for student boarders and several classrooms. During World War II, the Convent was turned into a base for the invading Japanese Army who also held captured prisoners within the Convent grounds.
For more information, please contact: Penang Tourist Centre Penang Port Commission Building (Ground Floor Arcade) Pesara King Edward 10300 Pulau Pinang Tel: +604-2616663
Opening Hours: Mondays through Thursdays, from 8.30am to 4.30pm (Lunch break from 1pm to 2pm). Fridays from 8.30am to 4.30pm (Lunch from 12.30pm to 2.30pm)
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Penang Tourism Action Council 56th Floor, KOMTAR 10000 Penang Tel : +604-262 0202 Fax : +604-263 1020 Email : enquiry@tourismpenang.gov.my
Last viewed - May 23, 2008
Getting there
By Bus
Express buses ply the route from Penang to / from Kuala Lumpur and major cities in the country. Please visit (http://www.plusliner.com/) for more info. The main bus terminal in Penang is located next to the Ferry Terminal.
By Taxi
To get to Penang Island, long distance taxi service can be hired at Weld Quay, Penang. Tel: +604-2625721.
By Plane
Daily flights via Malaysia Airlines (www.malaysiaairlines.com, tel:1 300 88 3000 ) and AirAsia (www.airasia.com, tel: 1-300-88 9933) to / from Penang to major cities in Malaysia. Penang's Bayan lepas International Airport is roughly 20km (45-minnute drive) from the Georgetown city centre.
By Rail
You can take the train from Kuala Lumpur to Penang, where it stops at the Penang Railway Station, close to the ferry terminal. For more information, visit www.ktmb.com.my or call their call centre at +603-22671200.
By Boat
Ferries can be boarded at Butterworth, in the mainland portion of Penang. Among Ferry Services available are:
Langkawi Ferry Services (Tel: +604-2643088
Ekspress Bahagia (Tel: +604-2636255)
From the Ferry Terminal you can easily get a taxi ride into Georgetown city centre.
To drive to Penang, from Kuala Lumpur, get onto the North-South Expressway heading north. Get onto the Penang Bridge (Tol is RM7 for cars), then head for Georgetown.
To get to Convent Light Street, from Fort Cornwallis, take a walk along Lebuh Light. Convent Light Street is just right after the Court Buildings.
User recommendation
"Convent Light Street is full of history.... If you have not visit and look at the places, you better do it now so that you would not regret in the future.. The environment that provided by Convent Light Street is excellent-there's not many school in Malaysia is beside the sea side..... " by shireen
"CONVENT LIGHT STREET is the best ever best!!!!" by jess
