About 260km eastwards from Kuala Lumpur is
Kuantan, the administrative centre and capital of
the state of Pahang. Facing the South China Sea in
the direction of the Philippines and the
wide expanse of
Pacific Ocean beyond, Kuantan is where the
hundreds of miles of fine beaches and exhilarating
beach retreats spread out to the north and south
of the Peninsula's east coast.
The town itself is located at the mouth of the
Kuantan River - spreading progressively along the
northern coastline for about 55 kilometres to
the edge of Kemaman town, which is the
southern-most town of the neighbouring state of
Terengganu. Similarly, this bustling town and
district is steadily creeping into the interior
with its fast expanding urban borders.
Progressive but attractive if one cares to
peer beneath the often-described bland and
nondescript surface by the unadventurous few,
Kuantan still retains vestiges of the old and
quaint both in its architecture, lifestyle and
colour.
The heavy industry zones
of Gebeng, Peramu and Kertih in southern Terengganu
are all within 1½ hour's drive from Kuantan. The
town has excellent connectivity with the East
Coast Highway, Kuantan airport and the Kuantan
port. A dedicated 50km railway line has been laid out
between Kuantan port and the Kertih Petrochemical
Complex in Terengganu. There are plans to further
connect the line to Kuala Lumpur or Mentakab
in central Pahang.
Kuantan is destined to be a major
population centre in the near future, as the
forecast
in the growth of industries, tourism and trade
chalks positive. This is also in line with the
blueprint mapped out under the National Physical
Plan 2005 that has identified four cities (Kuala
Lumpur,
Georgetown, Johore Bahru and Kuantan) as future growth hubs.
Life in Kuantan is pleasantly sedate although the
occasional traffic congestion may reason
otherwise. Such traffic gridlocks occur not so
much because of the pace of life, but due to the
old road system that mostly follow the layout of
the old town and new development. There are excellent beaches,
riverside and parks to hang out. Notwithstanding all the years of development,
the small town pace of life still allows you make
your own time and catch your breath at your
convenience.
Jalan Mahkota
This is the oldest street in Kuantan. It is still
mostly lined with the original pre-war shop houses
built in the 1920s. The
one-way street
continues its bustle daily with the old and new
making up the soul of the town.

Jalan Besar
The road used to be known as 'Jalan Ikan
Kering' (salt fish street) due to the numerous
shops selling dried sea products. Today, most of the
traders have moved out to the town's outskirts
where ample land space allow better options for
expansion.
Sultan
Ahmad Shah I Mosque
Also known as the 'Masjid Negeri' (state
mosque), this beautiful landmark is right
at the heart of town and is not easily missed. As
is usual with most of the bigger mosques that
allow non-Muslim visitors, a dress code must be
observed. If necessary,
visitors are required to put on hooded cloaks. The
interior of the mosque is cool and pleasant with
the exterior in blue, white and green. Blue and
yellow stained-glass windows cast beautiful
coloured patterns when the morning and afternoon
sun blazes at certain angles.
Pasar Besar
This serves as an annexe to the main Kuantan
wet market. The place comes to life from early
morning and again in the afternoons following the late catch from the seas.
Plentiful and diverse, the plus factor is the
freshness of the catch unlike the iced varieties
that make their way to the other urban centres in
the peninsular.
Kuantan River Esplanade:
The
Kuantan Esplanade is a makeover of the old
riverside public hangout that has held on to its
popularity since the 1960s. Clean and airy, it is
a great place to chill out in the afternoons or
evenings. There
are cafes and food stalls to cater for visitors.
For the fishing enthusiast, the 1.3km-long
esplanade offers some good spots. During weekend
evenings do make a point to come early as the best
locations are usually taken up.
Taman Gelora
This sprawling green park is located along the
road to Teluk Chempedak. Locals love the place for recreational
purpose, especially in the evenings when the place
is crowded with joggers and visitors. It is one of
the most serene places in Kuantan for hanging out,
with many man-made lakes, shaded areas and its own
beachfront amidst the verdant landscape.
Tanjung Tongkang
North of Taman Gelora is
Tanjung Tongkang, which separates Taman Gelora and
Teluk Chempedak. The place is mostly occupied by
the Kuantan Tembeling Resort comprising five
blocks of condominiums that offer a great view of
Kuantan town and the sea.
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Getting
There: |
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By Air : The airport is only about 20km from town.
Malaysia Airlines operates 3 flights daily to
and from Kuala Lumpur's KLIA to Kuantan. Flight
time from KL to Kuantan is approximately 40
minutes.
Firefly Community Airline
also connects
Penang to Kuantan with two daily flights in
the morning and evening.
Bus &
Taxi : Bus connections with all other east coast
destinations as well as most cities and
towns in Peninsular Malaysia are readily available
from the main bus terminal at the town centre.
Long distance taxis also operate from Kuantan to
all key destinations.
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Getting
About: |
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The town itself is not large. The original old
quarter, which is the key precinct, can be
explored easily on foot.
Town buses provide regular services to the
beach destinations and resorts. Taxis also
available but make sure you know the fare
before you hire one. |
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