Chendering-Craft Village of Terengganu

Terengganu is unique with its crafts evolving over hundreds of year. Its crafts are valued and has been passing down from one generation to generation. Simple crafts like batik and songket are made by villagers as their pastimes. But now, it becomes a full-time job by itself. The government through many agencies wish to keep these craft alive and started many programs to train entrepreneurs to sustain this craft and culture.

In Kuala Terengganu, there is a "Craft Village" which is located in the Chendering Industrial Area,10km south from the town centre. It started with government agencies like Kraftangan Malaysia, which involves in regenerating this craft. Kraftangan has gallery of songket, batik, weaving etc. Behind this complex, there is Sutera Semai which manufactures silk batik. Sutera Semai is a subsidiary company of Terengganu State Economic Development Corporation (Permint). Next to this building, there is another agency which is taking care of brassware. SIRIM  Terengganu is involved in making research in brass ware. Its gallery has many brass ware products of Terengganu. Next to this Sutera Semai and SIRIM is Nor Arfa Craft Complex, a private entity popularising and promoting Terengganu crafts. Of late, Terengganu has another body which involves in craft reseach and training i.e. Terengganu Institute of Design Excellence(TiDE). It is  located at Galeri Seni Warisan Terengganu in Ladang, near Batu Bersurat roundabout.

So if you want to look, learn and appreciate Terengganu crafts which was in existence for many hundred of years, this village is a must visit and you must write in your itinerary. Take town bus Cas Ligas to Chendering and stop at Kraftangan Malaysia. From there, you just walk to the other establishments. Happy learning.