Kota Bharu is the state capital of Kelantan, Malaysia. Located on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia and lying near the mouth of the Kelantan River, the city is close to the Thailand border, within driving distance to the Thai town of Sungai Kolok. Its name is the Malay translation for “new city” or “new castle” or “new fort”.

Kota Bharu and Kelantan are rather isolated from the rest of Peninsular Malaysia throughout its history, thus resulting in a rather completely different Kelantanese culture with the rural lifestyle being compounded and influences from Thailand.

This is reflected in the cuisine, arts and the unique Kelantanese Malay language, which is ever more evident in the state capital, Kota Bharu. Upon coming here, you can look forward to getting immersed in the culture and being able to experience the history and the many attractions found in the city.

For domestic travellers, Kota Bharu can be accessed by direct flights as well as by car, train or bus if your first point of entry into Malaysia is the Kuala Lumpur International Airport or Kuala Lumpur city or Klang Valley in general.

Suppose you are coming by car from Kuala Lumpur. In that case, you can opt to be coming in via Kuala Lumpur – Gua Musang Highway/Route 8. Be prepared to be charged to pay for toll and fuel when coming into town.

If you are coming by bus, you can either come from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bharu or opt to take buses from any other major city, come to Kuala Lumpur, then take another different bus trip to Kota Bharu. That said, typically, other major cities like Johor Bahru and Penang would also have direct trips to Kota Bharu as well. Typically the fares are charged at MYR 35 to MYR 50.

As for the trains, be prepared to pay around MYR 30 to MYR 55 for a train ride from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bharu. Nevertheless, it would be best if you always kept in mind to be careful during the COVID-19 pandemic, as there could be travel restrictions being imposed and specific guidelines to adhere to, which can change from time to time.

There is only one main airport in Kota Bharu that typically serves both local and international travellers coming from Kuala Lumpur and other places within Malaysia: Sultan Ismail Petra Airport. If you are travelling from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the best destination airport is typically the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport.

Among the handful of airlines operating at this airport include AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and Malindo Air. Some of these airlines may offer nonstop or direct flights to Kota Bharu, but this should not be an issue if you are coming from within Malaysia since most flights should be nonstop and within an hour or two of flying.

Typically, the one-way ticket price from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bharu would cost anywhere from MYR 100 to MYR 200 if you choose to book at the Traveloka Lifestyle Superapp for airlines such as AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines.

These would typically come with cabin baggage about 7-10 kilograms for Economy Class. The pricier fare in the same class would also include allowances for 25 kilograms of baggage and a free meal and in-flight entertainment.

Given the setup of the city as the state capital and royal seat, married with its rich history, Kota Bharu has a handful of its own to offer to tourists. Without a doubt, there are quite a few things to do in the city regardless of whether you are coming as a solo traveller, a family, or a dynamic duo.

Located at the heart of Kota Bharu cultural zone, which is just about 10 minutes away if you are driving from the city centre, the Craft Museum And Handicraft Centre or also known as Balai Guri among the locals is a place to showcase the local handicraft industry in Kelantan which is fully supported by the state government.

The museum keeps in place some of the best of Kelantanese craftsmanship, including traditional embroidery, batik, silverware, and matting. In addition to having these being exhibited to the public, visitors also have the chance to be a witness and join in the fun with the skilful artists to learn the process of making those crafts. There are demonstrations of traditional embroidery, songket weaving, and batik drawing, which can be found here.

Also known as Masjid Besar Kota Bharu locally, this mosque acts as a state mosque and is one of the oldest of its kind in the state, which can be found in the city of Kota Bharu. It was built in 1867 during the rule of then Sultan Muhammad II.

It was originally built completely in wood before the current stone building evolved much later in the year 1922. It was then officiated as the Muhammadi Mosque by Sultan Ismail Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Muhammad IV on 31st July 1931. It can be accessed via Jalan Sultanah Zainab, which is about less than five minutes away by driving and is easily accessible even by walking.

The design has strong colonial influence from the British, which relates to the British rule in the state as Kelantan became part of the Confederated Malay States which is especially evident with the extensive use of marble on the prayer hall. Nonetheless, there are strong Islamic elements, such as the sculpture of Quranic verses on the walls of the mosque. In addition to that, the mosque also has its own clock tower.

The mosque has an area of 10,600 square feet that is able to accommodate about 2,400 congregants at its maximum capacity, especially during the Friday and Eid prayers. Throughout history, the mosque has been famed for its spread of Islam and the quality of its Islamic education in which many of the major state preachers of Kelantan had taught here.

The mosque is open daily to visitors, albeit with some restrictions with the current pandemic ongoing. Entrance is free for all walks of life.

Located 10 kilometres away from the Kota Bharu city centre, which is accessible within 20 minutes away or less by driving, Pantai Cahaya Bulan is a renowned local beach which is believed to have been named as such from a lovelorn British soldier on station here during the World War II.

The beach is really nice and warm, with clean sandy areas that are perfect for strolling with friends and family or simply just relaxing around. It is suitable to come over in the afternoon for a picnic or even during the evening to stroll along the beach. One can definitely look forward to flying kites here due to the windy setup and also enjoy the sunrise and sunset views.

There are also a lot of dining places serving seafood-based meals that are surely mouth-watering and are guaranteed fresh as they are being caught from the nearby fishing villages. In addition to that, there are also a few shops selling local products such as batik and songket.

Found at Jalan Buluh Kubu, which is within the vicinity of the town of Kota Bharu, the Siti Khadijah Market has been in operation since 1985, having been established originally as Buluh Kubu Market.

It is found in a four-story building that is octagonally shaped. On the bottom floor, there are wet items. Level one is for dry food items, whereas the second and third floors are where the non-food items are typically being sold.

Siti Khadijah Market is undoubtedly a wet market that is well-recognised locally that is named after the wife of Prophet Muhammad which is remembered for her exceptional entrepreneurial skills.

Fresh goodies such as seafood, vegetables, and fruits are common here. However, you can also look forward to trying more local food like ayam percik, nasi ulam, and many more, which is unique to the state of Kelantan.

Situated on Jalan Kuala Krai, which is about 5 kilometres south of the Kota Bharu city, Wakaf Che Yeh is yet another market you can check out when you are in town. The main difference here is that it is a night market.

While MCO may have hampered the usual operations, the recent opening up has now allowed them to operate as usual again, so do not miss out on paying a visit here when you are in Kota Bharu.

Historically Wakaf Che Yeh was built for travellers walking a long way to reach the city to serve as a resting place. These days it is a really interesting market that sells clothing, vegetables, fruits, and other souvenirs you may think of bringing back home as a memento of Kota Bharu.

Then there are also food stalls selling more local food. If you are in town, more local food means more local goodness, and there are abundant mee celup, nasi kerabu, and somtam places, among others you can find to stuff your stomach if you take a moment to go around here.

What an awesome experience awaits you right in our own backyard, don’t you think?

As of now, the COVID-19 travel requirements to Kota Bharu are pretty standard as it is in Malaysia. The standard health rules set by the Malaysian Government can be seen below:

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