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.
Located at Lebuh Armenian in the heart of Georgetown City, this mansion is easily accessible from Lebuh Carnavron, Lebuh Acheh and Lebuh Cannon. You can take a bus here from KOMTAR or a trishaw ride.
Syed Alatas Mansion
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This mansion was once the residence of Syed Mohamed Alatas, a prominent figure in Penang during its early years of straits settlement. The straits eclectic architecture of the building draws many visitors here."
Introduction
The Syed Mohamed Alatas Mansion is one of the many heritage landmarks in George Town. This historical mansion still stands today at the junction of Lebuh Armenian and the historical Lebuh Acheh. Believed to have been built around the 1860's, the mansion is considered by many as one of the best examples of upper class muslim bungalow architecture still surviving in Penang.
This masonry two-storey building is an early straits eclectic style bungalow, which features details that reflects Indian, Malay, Chinese and European architecture and design. Today, the Syed Mohamed Alatas Mansion houses the Penang Islamic Museum. The different rooms within the mansion houses galleries dedicated to 'Islam & Culture', 'Islamic Personalities', 'Architecture & Styling Decoration', and so on. Opening hours are 9.30am to 6pm daily, except Tuesdays.
History
Syed Mohamed Alatas was one of the most prominent and wealthiest figures in Penang. Alatas was an Acehnese trader of Arab descent who traded between Penang and Acheh.
An interesting historical figure, Alatas was instrumental in the freedom fight in Acheh against the invading Dutch forces in the 1870's. During this period, Alatas enabled arms to be delivered to the Achenese army to defend their land against occupation of the much stronger and more advanced Dutch forces in the 'Acheh War' (ca. 1873).
Syed Mohamed Alatas was a pious Muslim and a generous philanthropist. He lived with his first wife, a Tengku (of Malay aristocratic descent) in the mansion. Alatas remained one of the most respected man by the people of Penang, regardless their ethnic background. The mansion served not only as a residence for Syed Al Atas and his family, but was also the centre of meetings and and operation base for the Achenese leaders of the time.
After several years of neglect, the Syed Mohamed Alatas mansion underwent preservation works. Prior to that, the building was occupied by Indian chettiar scrap dealers and was used as a collection yard.
For more information, please contact: Penang Tourism Action Council
56th Floor, KOMTAR
10000 Penang
Tel : +604-262 0202
Fax : +604-2631020
Email : enquiry@tourismPenang.gov.my
Or contact the Penang Tourist Centre at Tel: +60 4 261 6663.
"The building is still strong and well-preserved. Yet, all the furnitures here belong to Syed Alatas that are still in a well condition. Nobody is staying here, of course. Just for tourist exhibition." by fuza
"I like the architecture of that house. Although it is old, the beauty and the construction is still mantained. " by scalia
