Rumah Persatuan Sejarah Malaysia Cawangan Terengganu: A Heritage Building Not to be Missed

There is a unique building, located at Jalan Tok Lam, Kuala Terengganu, which houses Malaysia Historical Society Terengganu Branch office. The 2-storey building is a heritage building  recognised by Malaysia's Department of Heritage. The first floor is all timber. The column or pillar is concrete. The building is over 100 years old.

Historically, this building was privately owned. Then in 1937-1979 it was used as a Town Board office. When the Town Board was elevated to Municipal council status in 1979 (Local Government Act 1976), it shifted to another place. This building was vacated and in 1986, the building was handed over to the Historical Society.

The front of the building.

The public may not know why this building is special. It is special because of its age and  the special carvings on the concrete pillars, door, window and the staircases. The Department of Heritage did some renovation work to this building. During the renovation work recently, they found a buried old well at the basement. The well was then  revived to its original position.

The wall motif is beautiful and artistic.

The timber window with louvres, and the rich wood carving at the balcony.

The old well was restored.

The building now looks beautiful, blending the concrete building and the timber building side by side. It is yet to be open to the public. I was told the building has space for office, display area, and some shops on the ground floor. They have to make this building function like a museum or gallery including introduce some activities with the public.

If you are interested to visit, just walk to Jalan Tok Lam. It is about 100 metres from Shahbandar Square. Happy travelling.

Heritage Hills of Kuala Terengganu

I think not many visitors or the locals realise that Kuala Terengganu has at least 8 hills. These hills are natural hills and are being used for different purposes. In the 1950's, these hill have tigers. Now, tigers cannot survive here.

The hills are Bukit Besar, Bukit Kecil, Bukit Pak Apil, Bukit Kledang, Bukit Istana, Bukit Jambol, Bukit Losong and Bukit Puteri.

Bukit Besar being the biggest and highest of all is located at Jalan Sultan Muhammad. There are many telecommunication towers at its top. You can go up by vehicles but the slope is quite steep. So, most joggers walk up the hill, parked their vehicles at the foothill. You need to have stamina to go up otherwise you  cannot proceed. This hill is special because it also functions as a guide or compass to the fisherman as it can been seen from the sea. Now it is being lighted up with strong red lights with words "Allah Selamatkan Terengganu " (translation God, Please Helps Save Terengganu). You can view this while driving along Sultan Mahmud bridge.

Bukit Besar, a view from Jalan Sultan Muhammad. Note the white wording..Allah Peliharakanlah..dan the communication towers on the right. At night these words will be lighted with red lights.

Bukit Kecil is a smaller hill compare to Bukit Besar, located at Jalan Bukit Kecil, in front of  Bukit Besar. This hill was once connected to Bukit Pak Apil, but due to development it was cut to give way for school, offices and road. Now what is only left (remnants) is at the water reservoir off Jalan Kemajuan. This hill has a history by itself. There is a canon where the authority will lit the canon to tell the folks the fasting time (start and breakfast), proclaiming Hari Raya etc. It can be heard by the people of Kuala Terengganu. The sound of the canon can vibrates your wooden house especially if your house is near to this hill. To me this is a heritage as new generation may not know.

Bukit Besar viewed from north-east.

Bukit Pak Apil is an elongated ridge like hill, similar in height as other hills (except Bukit Besar). It has two access roads from Jalan Cherong Lanjut. It was once link with Bukit Kecil but due to road construction in 1986 (Jalan Kemajuan), it was detached. This hill has Radio Television Malaysia office and Motel Desa at one end (still exist until today) and State secretariat office at the other end. The secretariat office was constructed in 1962 and was in used until secretariat office shifted to Wisma Darul Iman in 1980's. Now the site has been converted as hill park for the public. There is no road connected this park to RTM building on the other end. This means it has a dedicated road by itself.

Bukit Istana and Bukit Jambol are close to each other. These hills formed an elongated ridge until it reaced Bukit Kledang. But the roads had  separated them. Jalan Syed Zain had separated Bukit Jambul and Bukit Istana. While Jalan Bukit Kledang had separated Bukit Kledang with Bukit Istana. Bukit Jambol has a few private buildings. Bukit Istana has a small palace and an office of Kajicuaca. While Bukit Kledang has a special graveyard. These hills are strategic hills in those days.

Bukit Losong is an isolated hill, located in Losong. The construction of Terengganu Museum has taken part of this hill and what is now left is the hill with reservoir on it.

The entrance to Bukit Puteri  and Tourist Information Centre(TIC), located next to the General Post Office.

The staircases leading to Bukit Puteri.

The last hill is Bukit Puteri located near the river mouth facing the South China Sea. It once had a light house to help ship to navigate into the river mouth of Kuala Terengganu. It has been written in many tourism brochure. Bukit Puteri has been conserved and become part of tourist itinerary. You can climb the staircases to this hill. It is located near the jetty, post office and Tourist Information Centre of Kuala Terengganu. Happy Travelling.