Penang Hill

Penang Hill has been a retreat from the heat since bungalows were built on it in the nineteenth century, and it is still several degrees cooler at the top than the city below. The funicular from Air Itam climbs the ridge in a few minutes on a track steep enough that the carriages are built at an angle; the current system replaced a much slower one in 2011. At the top there is a viewpoint over George Town and the channel, a mosque and a Hindu temple standing side by side, old bungalows in varying states of repair, food outlets, and The Habitat, a separately ticketed forest park with a canopy walkway and a circular treetop platform. Walking trails run back down to the Botanic Gardens.

History

Captain Francis Light, founder of the Penang colony, plotted a horse track from the Botanic Gardens waterfall to the top of the hill in 1788 and cleared ground to grow strawberries, so it became known as Strawberry Hill; the highest point, Western Hill, stands at 833 m (Wikipedia, Penang Hill).

What's there

• The funicular - a steep rail climb up the ridge in angled carriages.
• The George Town view - the city, the channel and the bridges from the top station.
• The Habitat canopy walk - a treetop walkway and circular platform in the hill forest.
• The Jeep track down - the old service road walked back to the Botanic Gardens.

When to go

Weekday mornings have the shortest queues and the clearest air, since haze and afternoon cloud both cut the view. Weekends and public holidays can mean an hour or more in line, and the fast-lane ticket costs several times the standard fare. Sunset is popular and the last trains down fill quickly.

Good to know

Queues for the funicular are the main complaint, and the premium ticket that skips them feels like a tax. The top is developed and busy, with food outlets and paid attractions, so it is not a quiet hill walk. Views depend entirely on haze, which can be heavy for days. The Habitat is well run but its ticket costs more than the train.

Nearby

Kek Lok Si temple sits below at Air Itam; the Penang Botanic Gardens are at the foot of the hill.