Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Batu Ferringhi

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Country
  
Website
  
www.mbpp.gov.my

Local time
  
Tuesday 8:38 PM

State
  
Postal code
  
11100

Batu Ferringhi wwwmalaysiatravelmediaImagesTourism20Malay

District
  
Northeast Penang Island

Time zone
  
Malaysian Standard Time (UTC+8)

Weather
  
29°C, Wind N at 8 km/h, 80% Humidity

University
  
Malaysia Baptist Theological Seminary

Points of interest
  
Penang Hill, Batu Feringghi, Adventure Zone, Batu Ferringhi Waterfall

Batu ferringhi beach penang malaysia 2016


Batu Ferringhi is a suburb of George Town in Penang, Malaysia. Located along the northern coast of Penang Island, it is the prime beach destination in Penang among locals and tourists. To cater to the influx of tourists, several major high-rise hotels have been established along the 4km stretch of beaches, including the Hard Rock Hotel.

Contents

Map of 11050 Batu Feringghi, Penang, Malaysia

The beach resorts along Batu Ferringhi also offer various water sport activities, such as parasailing. On a clear day, one could get a picturesque view of the Andaman Sea and Mount Jerai, which is located within the neighbouring state of Kedah. In addition, Batu Ferringhi is famous for its night market that offers a wide variety of merchandise and street food.

There had been human activity within Batu Ferringhi as early as 1592, when an Englishman, Sir James Lancaster, arrived and began pillaging other vessels around Penang Island. However, for much of its recent history, Batu Ferringhi was a quiet village, until the urbanisation of the area beginning in the 1970s.

Due to its location along the northern coast of Penang Island, Batu Ferringhi was hard hit by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.

Malaysia 2016 batu ferringhi penang


Etymology

The word Ferringhi is originally a Malay term for a person of Portuguese descent, but eventually came to denote all Westerners. It is, in turn, derived from Arabic ferringi, which was also used in the Middle East and Africa to mean a foreigner from the West.

Batu Ferringhi, therefore, would mean the place where Westerners had come ashore, with the Malay word batu (meaning rock) referring to the rocky shoreline of this particular area.

History

Batu Ferringhi was first explored in 1592, when Sir James Lancaster, an English privateer, came ashore at this particular area. This made Lancaster the first European to reach Penang Island. Having come ashore aboard the Edward Bonaventure, Lancaster and his crew proceeded to pillage every vessel they encountered for the next four months.

The urbanisation of Batu Ferringhi only began in the 1970s. This involved the construction of several hotels along the beaches, attracting locals and tourists alike. Condominiums soon followed, offering gorgeous views of the sea overlooking the Malay Peninsula. However, these developments did not come without problems, such as the deteriorating seawater quality that has led to the infestation of jellyfish around Batu Ferringhi.

Batu Ferringhi was one of the hardest hit areas during the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami that ultimately claimed a total of 52 lives in Penang.

In 2009, Hard Rock Hotel opened its Penang branch at Batu Ferringhi, adding to the list of major hotels already within the area.

Landmarks

  • Miami Beach
  • Lovers' Isle
  • Batu Ferringhi Night Market
  • Hard Rock Hotel Penang
  • References

    Batu Ferringhi Wikipedia