Penang Road, George Town

Penang Road is a major thoroughfare in the city of George Town in Penang, Malaysia. It runs between Farquhar Street to the north and KOMTAR to the south. The road is a one-way road, with the traffic directed southwards towards KOMTAR.

Penang Road
Native name
Maintained byPenang Island City Council
LocationGeorge Town, Penang
North endFarquhar Street
South endMagazine Circus (next to Komtar)
JALAN PENANG
Penang Rd10000 P. PINANG

TypeCultural
Criteriaii, iii, iv
Designated2008 (32nd session)
Part ofGeorge Town UNESCO Buffer Zone
Reference no.1223
RegionAsia-Pacific

Penang Road is one of the major streets in George Town, as it is heavily used daily by motorists and Rapid Penang public buses heading towards KOMTAR from the UNESCO Site and Gurney Drive. In addition, Penang Road is home to a number of attractions, such as the bars at Upper Penang Road and Chowrasta Market, one of the few wet markets still in operation within George Town. In particular, Chowrasta Market offers a variety of local produce and pastries unique to Penang, such as nutmegs and tau sar pneah biscuits.[1]

A number of hotels also line the Upper Penang Road stretch between Farquhar and Leith Streets.

History
Upper Penang Road, looking south towards Hotel Central

Penang Road was one of the first roads to be built outside the original town area planned by Francis Light. For centuries, Penang Road has served as a retail street, especially along the stretch running in front of Chowrasta Market. The market was built in the 1890s.[2]

The Penang Police Headquarters at Penang Road was the scene of a number of executions by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Japanese Occupation period in World War II.[3]

Landmarks
Odeon cinema
  • Komtar
  • Chowrasta Market
  • Upper Penang Road
  • Penang Police Headquarters

Hotels

The upper-class hotels are located near Upper Penang Road, along the stretch between Farquhar and Leith Streets.[4]

  • Continental Hotel
  • Hotel Malaysia
  • Cititel
  • The Merchant Hotel
  • Towne House Hotel
  • Grand Inn
  • Oriental Hotel
  • Hotel Central

See also
  • Street names of George Town, Penang

References
  1. II, Administrator. "Chowrasta Market". www.visitpenang.gov.my. Retrieved 2017-02-16.
  2. "Retelling Chowrasta Market's history - Community | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
  3. Netto, Anil (2013-10-06). "Old Penang: Suzuki, the 'hippy' executioner (Updated) - anilnetto.com". anilnetto.com. Retrieved 2017-01-19.
  4. "The fast growing Upper Penang Road precinct - Business News | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
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