One of the northernmost states in Peninsular Malaysia, Kelantan Darul Naim (the state's official name) has an area of 14,920sq.km. It borders Thailand in the north, Perak in the west, Terengganu in the east and Pahang in the south. Kota Bharu is the capital of Kelantan and the main towns are Bachok, Pasir Puteh, Tanah Merah, Tumpat and Gua Musang.
Reputed to be the cradle of Malay culture, Kelantan offers a delightful profusion of colourful traditions, charm and scenic beauty to the visitor. Located in the north-eastern corner of the peninsula, Kelantan is an agrarian state with lush padi fields, rustic fishing villages and casuarina-lined beaches. With a population of around 1.5 million, Kelantan is primarily a state dominated by Malays, although around 7% of the population is of Thai, Indian or Chinese ancestry.
The Kelantanese have carefully preserved their customs, traditions and craft skills over time. Visitors may be pleasantly surprised to see adults indulging in traditional pastimes such as flying giant kites or spinning giant tops. Renowned for their warmth and hospitality, the Kelantanese display an old world charm that captivates visitors.
Women have always played a major part in the economy of the state and the handicrafts they produce, from Kelantan silver to baskets and cloth, are some of the best in Peninsular Malaysia. The Kelantanese seem to favor huge items and everything is big from the kites to the tops and the drums known as Rebana Ubi.
History
Kelantan was known for many centuries as a seat of successive powerful kingdoms which established trading links with the Chinese Empire. Early Chinese records indicate the existence of trade links with China, which referred to Kelantan as Ho-Lo-Tan.
Kelantan has at various times in the past been a vassal state of Siam. In the 18th century, a Kelantanese Prince, Long Yunus, ascended to the throne and the present-day royal family is descended from him.
Kelantan, along with the other states of the Malay Peninsula, formed the Federation of Malaya, which gained its independence on 31st August 1957.
Economy
The economy of Kelantan is based on agriculture with rice, rubber, tobacco and fruits being the main cash crops. Fishing, fish and livestock rearing are also important economic activities. Timber harvesting provides a substantial revenue to the state, and gold is still mined in small quantities.
A thriving cottage industry produces extremely fine batik material and paintings, exquisite gold and silverware, intricate wood carvings and beautiful 'kain songket' (cloth woven from gold and silver threads). Leather working and mat weaving from pandanus leaves are also local trades.
Tourism is growing in importance as the state has a wealth of attractions such as homestay programmes, a growing selection of resorts, a rich heritage of culture and traditions, eco-tourism packages and fine powdery beaches.
Getting there
By Road
There is an excellent network of roads linking major towns in Peninsular Malaysia to Kelantan. From Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's capital, the overland route takes visitors eastward along the Karak Highway to Kuantan in Pahang, a journey of about 3 hours.
The rest of the journey from Kuantan to Kota Bharu takes about 4 hours. The route heads northwards along the coast, passing through picturesque villages providing scenic vistas of the palm-fringed beaches overlooking the azure waters of the South China Sea.
The inland route to Kota Bharu turns off from Karak Highway at Bentong and proceeds northwards to Raub and then to Gua Musang, before reaching Kota Bharu.
An alternative route exits the Karak Highway at Temerloh and passes through Jerantut, Benta and Gua Musang en-route to Kota Bharu. From Penang, visitors can get to Grik via Sungai Petani in Kedah and then travel along the scenic East-West Highway to Jeli in Kelantan before continuing the journey to Kota Bharu. There are regular air-conditioned express bus services operating from Kuala Lumpur and major towns to Kota Bharu.
By Rail
Train services from Kuala Lumpur to Kelantan terminate at Wakaf Bharu and Tumpat. From these two points, visitors can get to Kota Bharu either by taxi or bus. Stop-over points en route include Gua Musang, Kuala Krai, Tanah Merah and Pasir Mas.
Once you are in Kota Bharu, it is relatively easy to get to nearby districts as regular bus and taxi services are available from the main bus terminal. For those who plan to visit places of interest in the interior of Kelantan, it is advisable to enquire with the Kelantan State Tourists Information Centre or any registered travel agent in Malaysia.
By Air
Malaysia Airlines operates daily flights to Kota Bharu from Kuala Lumpur and Penang. Air Asia also flies daily to Kota Bharu from Kuala Lumpur.
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