Kuala Terengganu

Kuala Terengganu, often called KT, is the administrative, economic, and royal city of the state of Terengganu in Malaysia. It is located about 440 kilometres northeast of Kuala Lumpur on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, right where the Terengganu River meets the South China Sea. As a city, it holds a special title, Bandaraya Warisan Pesisir Air, meaning "Waterfront Heritage City," which it received on January 1, 2008.

Even though Kuala Terengganu is the smallest district in area, it has a large population. In 2010, about 406,317 people lived there, but by 2020, the number had fallen to 375,424. The city is very important for the state, serving as a main center for politics, business, and travel.

Kuala Terengganu is also a gateway to many beautiful places in Terengganu. Visitors can see interesting sites such as Kampung Cina, Pasar Besar Kedai Payang, the Terengganu State Museum, and Batu Buruk Beach. Even with new developments, the city still keeps much of its traditional Malay culture mixed with influences from other cultures, thanks to its long history as a busy port.

Etymology

In Malay, the word kuala means "river mouth" or "estuary". So, the name Kuala Terengganu roughly means "the estuary of Terengganu". This name comes from the wide area where the Terengganu River meets the South China Sea.

There are a few ideas about where the name Terengganu came from. One story says it might mean "bright rainbow". Another popular story was told by the ninth Sultan of Terengganu, Baginda Omar. In this story, hunters from Pahang were exploring the area now known as southern Terengganu. They found a large animal fang and weren’t sure which animal it came from, so they called it taring anu, meaning "fang of something". When they returned to Pahang with lots of treasures, people asked where they got them, and they said it was from the land of taring anu. Over time, this name changed to Terengganu.

History

The earliest mentions of Terengganu come from old Chinese records. These records talk about a place named Tan-Tan that sent gifts to China. Later, books from China called the area Teng-ya-nu and Teng-ya-nung.

The area later fell under the influence of big kingdoms like Srivijaya, Majapahit, and the Malacca Sultanate. After the Malacca Sultanate ended, the Sultanate of Johor took control. There were also times when other groups, like the Aceh Sultanate, tried to control the area.

The Sultanate of Terengganu was officially started in 1708. The first Sultan, Sultan Zainal Abidin I, set up his court in different places before finally choosing a spot near Bukit Keledang in Kuala Terengganu. Back then, Kuala Terengganu was a small town with about a thousand houses.

In 1957, Malaya became independent. Later, in 1963, Malaya joined with Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore to form Malaysia. In 2008, Kuala Terengganu became a city.

Governance

The city of Kuala Terengganu is managed by the Kuala Terengganu City Council. This council looks after both the Kuala Terengganu and Kuala Nerus districts. The city is very important because it is where many government offices are located. It is also the royal capital, meaning it is home to important palaces.

Kuala Terengganu became a city in 2008, making it the first city on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia to have this status. The council takes care of many things, like keeping the city clean, planning where new buildings go, and supporting tourism. The main office of the council is in a building called Menara Permint.

Geography

The city of Kuala Terengganu is located in the eastern part of the Terengganu district. This area faces the South China Sea and has sandy beaches along the coast. You can find small bays and flat coastal lands there.

The district is divided into four main areas based on rivers: the Terengganu River, Nerus River, Ibai River, and a few smaller rivers. Some parts along these rivers have swamp forests. The western part of the district has hills that are between 200 and 600 metres high. Most of the district is made up of lowlands that are less than 20 metres above sea level because it is close to the coast. The city itself has a few high points, with Bukit Besar being the highest, followed by Bukit Kecil. Bukit Puteri is located in the center of the city, close to where the Terengganu River meets the sea. These lowlands are good for growing crops like rice, palm oil trees, and rubber trees.

Climate

Kuala Terengganu has a tropical rainforest climate which means the temperature and humidity stay high all year. Days are usually between 28 °C and 30 °C and nights are a bit cooler. The sea helps keep things a little less humid in some places, and the forests and higher ground keep mountain and rural areas cooler.

There are two main monsoon seasons. The southwest monsoon starts late in May or early June and lasts until September. The winds during this time come from the southwest and are usually gentle. The northeast monsoon starts in early November and goes until March. During this time, winds come from the east or northeast and can be stronger. Sometimes, cold air from the north can make these winds even stronger. The area gets about 2,911 millimetres of rain each year. During the northeast monsoon, Kuala Terengganu gets a lot of rain because it is close to the sea. It is best to avoid visiting islands or doing activities on the sea during this time because the water can get very rough. Even during the monsoon season, some days can be clear and sunny with cool winds.

Demographics

Kuala Terengganu has a rich mix of people and cultures. In the past, it was home to many Malays, some Chinese, and a few Arabs. Today, the city has around 406,000 people. Most are Malays, with smaller groups of Chinese, Indians, and people from other places.

People in Kuala Terengganu speak many languages. The most common is Terengganu Malay. Some also speak Kelantanese, Hokkien, Teochew, Mandarin, Tamil, and Standard Malay. English is also understood by many.

Economy

Kuala Terengganu used to be a big fishing port and an important place for trading in Malaya. Important goods traded there included coffee, gambier, gold, ivory, pepper, and tin. These were traded for things like rice, tobacco, cotton goods, and other items.

Today, the economy of Kuala Terengganu includes many small factories making things like traditional clothes, local food, arts and crafts, and farming. There are also bigger factories in areas like Chendering and Gong Badak. Tourism is also important because many visitors come to see the city and its surroundings.

The view of Kuala Terengganu from the top of Bukit Puteri.

Public facilities and infrastructure

Transportation

Transport in Kuala Terengganu includes taxis and a local bus terminal with services to major cities and towns in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. There is also a special local bus called Bas Bandar, with a unique roof design that shows the state’s culture. These buses travel three routes in and out of the city, and a token fare of MYR1 is needed for each ride.

The BAS.MY initiative, started in February 2025, offers reliable and affordable bus services. Operated by the Land Public Transport Agency and funded by the Malaysian Ministry of Transport, it covers key routes with buses leaving every hour from 6:00 AM to 7:30 PM. The buses are pink and offer free rides for students aged 7–17, seniors 60+, and people with disabilities, plus a monthly pass for RM50 for unlimited rides.

There are also trishaw services, though they are becoming less common and are mostly for tourists now. The city’s only taxi rank is near the bus terminal.

The East Coast Rail Link project will soon connect Kuala Terengganu to other cities like Tumpat, Kota Bharu, Kuantan, and Gombak in Kuala Lumpur by 2026.

Kuala Terengganu is the first city on the East Coast to have a public bicycle-sharing system, provided by the Singaporean company oBike. The bikes can be left anywhere after use, and users hire them through a smartphone app.

The Sultan Mahmud Bridge, a three-kilometre bridge over the Terengganu River, connects the two sides of the river and Duyong Island. Other bridges include Manir Bridge and Pulau Sekati Bridge. A new bridge called Kuala Terengganu Drawbridge, completed in mid-2019, connects the city centre with Seberang Takir.

The city is easy to drive around, with good roads linking to other towns. The East Coast Expressway makes it easier to travel from the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It takes about four hours to drive from Kuala Lumpur. Visitors can also use Federal Route 3 for a scenic coastal drive, or East-West Highway and Second East–West Highway from the north.

The nearest airport is Sultan Mahmud Airport, serving domestic and international flights. Airlines like Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, AirAsia, and Malindo Air operate there. The airport handles many passengers and is designed for up to two million each year.

Water transport includes boats on the Terengganu River, known as bot penambang, which carry passengers between different parts of the city. There are also ferry services to islands like Redang, docking at Syahbandar Jetty near the General Post Office.

Courts of law and legal enforcement

Kuala Terengganu has all types of courts located on Jalan Sultan Mohamad. The High Court, Sessions Court, and Magistrate Court are in one building, while the Syariah Court is nearby. The police headquarters for Terengganu and Kuala Terengganu are on Jalan Sultan Omar, with smaller stations around the city. The main fire station is on Jalan Kemajuan, with another near Pasar Payang. The civil defence headquarters is near the Terengganu Sports Complex, and there is an army camp undergoing upgrades.

Healthcare

Kuala Terengganu has fewer hospitals than other big cities. The main hospital is Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital, the largest in the state with 821 beds. It has served the area since the 1920s. There is also a private hospital called Kuala Terengganu Specialist Hospital, opened in 2006, and another private hospital named SALAM Specialist Hospital. Various clinics, including health and village clinics, operate in the district.

Religious institutions

Kuala Terengganu has many mosques, including Abidin Mosque and Tengku Tengah Zaharah Mosque, known as the 'floating mosque'. There are also Chinese temples like Ho Ann Kiong Temple and Tian Hou Gong Temple, Presbyterian and Anglican churches, a Catholic mission, and a Hindu temple.

Education

Kuala Terengganu is an important place for higher education in the state, with three public universities: Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, and Universiti Teknologi MARA. Other education institutions include Insitut Teknologi Petronas and Kuala Terengganu Community College.

The city has many schools, including 81 primary schools and 34 secondary schools. Examples of secondary schools include KOSPINT, SMJK Chung Hwa Wei Sin, and Sekolah Menengah Sains Sultan Mahmud.

The Terengganu State Library, located near Sultan Mahmud Bridge, is the largest library in the state and serves people of all ages. Smaller libraries can be found in schools, colleges, universities, and villages like Seberang Takir and Mengabang Telipot.

Tourism and culture

Attractions and recreation spots

Historical

The Terengganu State Museum is in Kampung Losong. It is one of the largest museum complexes in Malaysia and South East Asia, covering 27 hectares. The museum’s design is based on traditional Terengganu Malay houses. It has eight galleries and outdoor exhibits, including the Petronas Gallery, Maritime Gallery, Islam Gallery, and traditional Terengganuese houses. The museum is home to the Terengganu Inscription Stone, the oldest artefact with Jawi writing in the country.

Near the museum is the Islamic Heritage Park. This park shows replicas of famous mosques from around the world, such as Al-Masjid al-Haram, Qol Sharif Mosque, and Masjid Negara. The Crystal Mosque is also here. Visitors can take boat cruises along the Terengganu River.

A small hill called Bukit Puteri is near Pasar Payang. The hill was used as a fort by local sultans. On top, you can find old artefacts, a graveyard, and monuments. During Ramadan, a century-old brass bell rings to mark the end of fasting.

Cultural

The Chinatown of Kuala Terengganu is the centre of the Peranakan Chinese community. This area has two rows of old shophouses, some dating back to the 1700s. Most houses are two stories high, made of bricks or concrete, with wooden floors upstairs. Some still have beautiful wooden windows and doors. Today, these buildings house shops, coffee houses, offices, restaurants, and more. There are two Chinese temples: Ho Ann Kiong and Tien Hou Kong, built in 1801 and 1896. Another landmark is the Low Tiey water well from 1875, which still provides clean water. The back alleys of Chinatown have thematic lanes with information, decorations, and murals.

Pasar Besar Kedai Payang, or Central Market (Pasar Payang), is the main market. This double-storey building sells fresh produce, poultry, sea products, traditional foods, clothes, and handicrafts like batik, songket, and brass ware. Pulau Duyong is a river island known for traditional boat making. It has a historical monument called Kota Lama Duyong (Duyong Old Fort), a traditional Malay house with local and European styles. Rumah Warisan Haji Su (Haji Su Heritage House) is a complex of two traditional Malay houses in Losong, another historical attraction.

Leisure

Kuala Terengganu has many places for fun. Batu Buruk Beach is close to the city centre. Visitors can enjoy activities like horse riding, horse carriage rides, and kite flying, but it’s not recommended to swim due to strong waves. Taman Shahbandar is a park by the Terengganu River estuary, near Pasar Payang, Bukit Puteri, and Istana Maziah. Other spots include:

• Kuala Terengganu Waterfront, south of Pulau Warisan by the Terengganu River, offering views of Pulau Duyong and Sultan Mahmud Bridge.
• Taman Awam Lagun Kuala Ibai, a park 4 kilometres from the city centre, home to the Tengku Tengah Zaharah Mosque.
• Taman Awam Pantai Teluk Ketapang, a beach and public park near Sultan Mahmud Airport.

Other sights

The Abidin Mosque is Kuala Terengganu’s old royal mosque, built by Sultan Zainal Abidin II between 1793 and 1808. It is known as Masjid Putih (White Mosque) and is the location of the Royal Mausoleum. Seberang Takir is a fishing village on the northern bank of the Terengganu River estuary. Visitors can see local industries like making keropok lekor, batik printing, and shrimp paste.

A giant replica of the Terengganu Inscription Stone stands on a roundabout on Jalan Sultan Ismail.

Food

Keropok lekor (especially from Losong), a local fish snack, and other traditional dishes like nasi dagang, laksam, laksa Terengganu, otak-otak, sata, pulut lepa, ketupat sotong, and roti paun can be found in the city. In Kampung Cina, you can try Peranakan Chinese cuisine, which mixes Malay and Chinese styles, along with other traditional Chinese dishes.

Media

Television and radio

Kuala Terengganu receives almost all Malaysian television channels, including TV1, TV2, TV3, NTV7, TV9, and TV Alhijrah. Most radio stations in Malaysia are available here. The state’s radio station, Terengganu FM, and private stations like Hot FM Teganu and Manis FM are also based in the city.

Newspapers

Major Malaysian newspapers available in Kuala Terengganu include:

• English dailies such as The Star and New Straits Times.
• Malay dailies such as Berita Harian, Utusan Malaysia, Harian Metro and Kosmo!.
• Chinese dailies such as Sin Chew Daily, China Press, Kwong Wah Yit Poh, Guang Ming Daily and Nanyang Siang Pau.
• Tamil dailies such as Malaysia Nanban, Tamir Malar and Makkal Osai.

Local newspapers like Sinar Harian provide regional and local news.

Sports

There are two main stadiums: Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium in the city centre, and Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium at Terengganu Sports Complex in Gong Badak. Both are home to the state’s football teams, Terengganu FC and T-Team FC.

The sports complex was built for the 2008 Malaysian Games (SUKMA). It includes an Indoor Stadium, football fields, a rugby field, a lawn bowls field, a hockey pitch, and bowling lanes. A sports school is being built there to develop new athletes. Other sports venues in Kuala Terengganu include the Kuala Terengganu Aquatic Centre, Hockey Stadium, Tennis Courts, and Lawn Bowls Fields. There are three golf courses: Royal Terengganu Golf Club in Batu Buruk, Ibai Golf & Country Resort in Kuala Ibai, and Kuala Terengganu Golf Resort in Tok Jembal.

Kuala Terengganu has hosted events like the 2008 Malaysian Games, the Annual Sultan Mahmud Bridge International Run, The Monsoon Cup, the International Beach Sports Carnival, National Badminton Circuit Competition finals, and stages of the Tour de Langkawi cycling race. The city also hosted the 2017 AFC Beach Soccer Championship at Batu Buruk Beach and the 2017 ITF Terengganu International Junior Championship at Padang Hiliran Tennis Stadium.

International relations

Kuala Terengganu has an honorary consulate from Kazakhstan.

Sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Malaysia

Kuala Terengganu's sister city is:

• Makassar, Indonesia