Kota Bharu Cultural Tour

Breakfast at Pengkalan Datu Floating Market
Run by women entrepreneurs cooking and selling an assortment of scrumptious food on boats in the riverbank of Kelantan River, that’s Pengkalan Datu for you. It’s a market so unique in its concept that it’s a simple food paradise that people can afford to taste and gobble down some of Kelantan’s tasty food while soaking in the town’s scenic atmosphere. The food choices, though simple, are worth every penny and patience. Among the few things you have to try are nasi kerabu, laksam, and nasi tumpang.

Top Spinning Show (Gasing Uri)
In Kelantan, the traditional pastime of gasing – or top-spinning — is still in evidence, but the art of producing the gasing is one that is mastered by an increasingly small number of people. These top spinning shows are a big deal here where players train long and hard to defend the reputation of their village. Witness it for yourself, a top spinning show that showcases the passion of the players. The aim of gasing uri is to keep one’s top spinning for the longest period of time, and the last one to falter or keep spinning till the end, emerges victorious.

Dikir Barat Show
Enjoy the Dikir Barat Show, a unique musical art form which involves the combination of singing, carolling, poetry reciting, synchronised dancing, and music. It remains one of the nation’s most unique artistic expressions as the songs and poems within the performances cover a range of subjects, from religion to politics, to every day topics that provide a glimpse into the lives of everyday Malaysians.

Kolek River Cruise (RM5.00 / person for 15 minutes)
Experience a river cruise on a beautiful painted boat called the perahu kolek. This traditional Kelantanese boat, hand-painted by the local fishermen, is a beauty to marvel at. When looked upon closely, the intricate and vibrant designs seen on these boats aren’t only for show, but tell the stories of local Malay myths and legends. These beautiful boats are like floating works of art while you soak in the view of the river.

Nami Island in Kelantan
Enjoy an amazing view of ‘Nami Island’ at Pantai Senok, Kota Bharu, the very first Nami Island in Kelantan. As expected, Kelantan’s very own Nami Island does not look like a place you’d find in Malaysia. It’s stunningly unique — so much so that a lot of people go here for their wedding photoshoots. After all, a trip to Kelantan is a lot cheaper than a trip to Korea.

Lunch at Nasi Kukus Pantai Sabak or Restoran Kak Ros
Pantai Sabak is a beach that locals frequent, and it’s also where the Japanese army first entered Malaya. The beach line is made of rocks and white sand. Settle down here and have a taste of the local cuisines from Nasi Kukus Pantai Sabak or Restoran Kak Ros. While you’re on the beach, don’t miss out on the seafood — fish, squid, cockles, and prawn fried in flour, eaten with spicy local chili sauce.

Artistic Fisherman Boats
At the Pulau Gajah Fishermen Village (Kampung Nelayan Pulau Gajah), be amazed by the vibrantly-painted boats docked at the jetty looking like they are set to sail for a magnificent sea carnival. The Kampung Pulau Gajah is the only fishing village in Kelantan, and probably among the few in the country, where its fishing community practices the tradition of painting their boats. The fishermen boats are painted in bright shades of red, blue, yellow and green and its bow decorated with intricate, and equally colourful, carvings of figures such as the dragon, eagle or fish. The view of the colourful boats is absolutely beautiful and its reflection on the surface of the water, even stunning.

Masjid Ar Rahman Pulau Gajah
The unique architecture and design of Ar-Rahman Mosque in Kampung Pulau Gajah, Sabak reels in people for its charm. Covering an area of 5,000sq ft and surrounded by a man-made river, the Masjid Ar Rahman Pulau Gajah was built to cater to the increasing number of haj pilgrims in Mukim Pulau Gajah. Its interior decor is a wonderful mix. Its main door is imported from Yemen, the two green pillars and pulpit are from Morocco, the drum set is from Indonesia, the chandelier from India while the water faucets for ablution are imported from Turkey.