Heritage TrailHeritage Trail in Penang was identified as part of a pilot project to qualify under UNESCO's historic cities program. The trail started from Penang Heritage Center, following the curve of Armenian Street just behind it and covers a few streets parallel and perpendicular to the waterfront.
It can be done on foot within a few hours. Normally, tour buses will drop their passengers at the corner at Pitt Street after Kapitan Keling Mosque whereby a specially made bus stop in very tasteful design was built. One hardly needs a tour guide to fully appreciate the historic trails as each designated building or monument is clearly marked with a big signboard and also some description about its significance. For added fun, you may opt to do it on a trishaw at a very reasonable rate considering the novelty of the experience. You will see that old buildings are interspersed with new ones. Some of the old buildings have been successfully restored to their former glory. One of them is Syed Al-Atas' mansion which used to be the headquarters of Penang Heritage Center. Now, however, the mansion is Penang's Islamic Museum. If you read the story of this particular building, it was interesting to know that at one point, this glorious mansion was used as a scrap yard!
Visitors can enter daily except on Tuesdays when it is closed. The admittance fee is a very modest RM3.00 (about USD0.90). It is easy to get lost in this grand mansion. One of the wings was formerly used as a stable or servants' quarters. At its heyday, the mansion was used as a gathering place for prominent traders in Penang, regardless their races or religions. From what we know, the motif of "fanlight" which graces the wooden shutters of this house gave the inspiration to Penang Heritage Center to use it as their logo. It was also interesting trying to identify the actual landmarks with the scale model miniatures that are on display at Penang Heritage Center. It was also truly admirable that the models are lifelike, especially the intricate designs, minarets and motifs found on those temples and mosques. The models were of course built by Freddie Lim, the art director of ZF Mirage Venture.
How can you get excited by looking at a couple of old buildings? Surely some of you think they are so boring! Alas, the beauty lies to the eyes of the beholders.
Further, come to think of it, a lot of modern things are created in such a short time and they do not last as long as these buildings. The Penang Heritage Trail has served its purpose well that on 7th July 2008, the status of Penang as an historic city was approved by UNESCO's World Heritage Program.
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