Penang Hill

Cool hill resort reached by Asia's oldest funicular railway, with views over the island

Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera) rises 833 metres above sea level from the city's edge, accessible by the Penang Hill Railway — Asia's oldest funicular, opened in 1923 and recently upgraded with Swiss-built cars. The journey takes about 5 minutes and deposits you in a different world: significantly cooler air, forest sounds instead of traffic, and a panoramic view that takes in George Town, the Penang Bridge, and the Kedah mainland on clear days.

The hilltop has colonial-era bungalows, a mosque, Hindu shrine, and a restaurant with the view. The area around the upper station has been developed into a more touristy precinct with photo spots, but walk five minutes in any direction and the development thins out quickly into walking trails through the montane forest. The Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve covers the bulk of the island's central highlands. The railway departs from Ayer Itam station; expect queues in the mornings and on weekends.

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A story
The funicular railway opened in 1923, replacing a series of earlier railway attempts that kept failing on the steeper upper sections. The British colonial administration desperately wanted a reliable escape from the sweltering coast; the hill is reliably ten degrees cooler than the city below. At the summit, a small community of bungalows, hotels, and government rest houses grew up — some still standing, giving the hilltop an oddly tranquil, Edwardian quality.