Escape to the East: What to Do And See in Kelantan

Shop and Eat at Local Markets

Crowned by a grand glass dome and famous for its chiefly women traders, the Siti Khadijah market is a full-scale Kelantanese bazaar spanning four floors offering everything from local produce, dried foods, sweet desserts to handicrafts and textiles like batik and songket. There are also many food stalls offering Kelantanese favourites such as ayam percik, nasi kerabu, laksam dan somtam.

Similar dishes plus fresh seafood can also be found at the Floating Market Pengkalan Datu, a marketplace on the river. While there, you can also go on a river cruise in a Perahu Kolek Kelatan, a traditional wooden boat once commonly used by Kelantan’s fisherfolk and noted for its vibrant colours and intricately painted designs.

See the Magnificent Buddha Statues

A taxi or bus ride from Kota Bharu to Tumpat, which borders Thailand and is home to Kelantan’s minority Thai community, is where two of Kelantan’s famous Buddhist temples are. Attracting thousands of pilgrims and visitors every year, Wat Machimmaram is known for having one of the tallest sitting Buddhas in Southeast Asia, at 30m high, while Wat Photivihan has one of the longest sleeping Buddhas at 40m in length.

See also: Stunning Buddhist Temples In Malaysia

Ride the Jungle Railway

This charming rail journey from Tumpat all the way to Gua Musang (with several stops along the way), rolls through scenic views of rice fields and small villages, the Kelantan river, forests, hills and limestone cliffs. At Kusial, the train passes through the Guillemard Bridge, which is the longest railway bridge in Malaysia, built by the British in 1925. During World War II, the British destroyed the bridge to hold back the Japanese Imperial Army, which landed in Kelantan to invade Malaya, from advancing further into the country. It was reconstructed in 1948 and is now one of Kelantan’s famous historic sights.

See also: Luxury Train and Yacht Experiences to Add to Your Bucket List

Go on a Dabong River Cruise

An exciting experience for eco tourists, this two-hour cruise along the Dabong river that meanders through thick jungle, may also offer a sighting of wildlife roaming near the edge of the forest. There are also little villages along the bank, where the boat docks for a few hours so visitors can take a stroll around the settlement, just to see the local way of life.

Hiking and Caving at Gunung Stong State Park

After the river cruise, head to Jelawang where a short jungle trek will bring you to the Jelawang waterfall. At 305m high, it is one of the tallest waterfalls in Southeast Asia. Adventurers can hike up to the top of the waterfall and camp overnight. From there, you can climb up Gunung Stong, known for its rich flora and fauna including the biggest flower in the world, the Rafflesia, and you may even catch a glimpse of wild animals.

Also near the park is Gua Ikan, known for the stream that flows inside the cave, which is said to house fishes. The 150-million-year-old limestone cave is only one of four caves in the area to explore with various degrees of complexity. A favourite for cavers is Gua Keris, which is known for the God’s light phenomena where the sun streams into the cave at certain times, creating an ethereal spotlight for that perfect shot.

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