Also known as ‘Balai Getam Guri’, the museum is located in the heart of Kota Bharu’s cultural zone and is walking distance from the Istana Balai Besar an the Buluh Kubu Bazaar. The Craft Museum houses many fine examples of Kelantanese craftsmanship.

The museum features a selection of Kelantan handicraft in traditional embroidery, songket weaving, batik printing, silversmithing and matting. On the ground floor of the building, there is a restaurant called ‘Balai Sulur Gadung’, where visitors can savour some of Kelantan’s famous refreshments.

The adjacent Handicraft Village provides visitors the chance to see just how these crafts are made. Demonstrations of traditional embroidery, songket weaving, batik printing, silver work and wood carving are carried out by skilled artisans. Their products are also on sale at the centre.

Key Tips

If you are thinking of buying any local handicrafts as souvenirs, why not buy from the artisans who work here?

How To Get There

By Road
Located in the heart of Kota Bharu’s cultural zone, the Handicraft Village is a walking distance from the Istana Balai Besar and the Buluh Kubu Bazaar. It is easily accessible from Jalan Sultan and Jalan Hilir Kota.

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A good way to get to know a Malaysian town is to visit its markets, the economic centre of the community. Siti Khadijah Market is named after Prophet Muhammad’s entrepreneurial wife. A fitting name for a market mostly run by women.

This market has something for everyone, from fresh produce to traditional crafts and cakes. It is also a slice of life in Kelantan, abuzz with colour, scents and sounds of the local community.

Key Tips

By all means, take photos, but if you want to take close-ups of the sellers with their vibrantly coloured wares, it’s a good idea to ask for permission first.

How To Get There

By Foot or Taxi
The Siti Khadijah Market (Central Market) is on Jalan Hulu.

Pantai Bisikan Bayu – also known as Pantai Dalam Rhu – is just a scenic 50km drive south of Kota Bharu, Kelantan’s capital. Around the village of Semerak, gentle breezes rustle the casuarina trees lining the beach producing a hushed sound that, locals say, sounds like a soothing whisper.

Surfing is good at certain times of the year, and wind surfers will find great conditions here during the North-East Monsoon from November to April.

But nothing beats resting in the shade of the tall casuarina trees, staring out to sea, listening to the whispering wind and sipping on a cool coconut. Perfect R & R…

Key Tips

The beach is fabulous and popular with locals and visitors alike all year long, but you may want to be more careful during the monsoon season as the currents and waves can be strong.

Beginning at the town of Kuala Krai, the River Cruise winds its way upriver through virgin rainforests to the town of Dabong. As you pass through timeless tropical forests and a number of riverine communities, the secrets of the jungle will slowly reveal themselves to you.

You may catch a glimpse of shy jungle wildlife. Kingfishers, eagles and hornbills are everywhere, along with various species of monkeys. Elephants are known to inhabit this area as well… – source: tourism malaysia.

Kuala Krai-Dabong River Cruise

One of the northernmost states in Peninsular Malaysia, Kelantan Darul Naim borders Thailand in the north, Perak in the west, Terengganu in the south-east, the South China Sea to the east and Pahang in the south.

As the state shares a border with Thailand, and, indeed, was once under Thai rule, it’s not surprising to find a strong Thai influence here in the local cuisine, architecture, and, of course, among the local population. The capital, Kota Bharu, is a good place to sample this culture and cuisine, and also makes a good base to explore the surrounding countryside. Kelantan is a unique travel destination because of its splendid beaches, rich cultural heritage, ornate handicrafts and wood carvings.

Women have always played a major part in the economy of the state. The handicrafts they produce, from Kelantan silver to baskets and cloth, are are some of the best in Peninsular Malaysia and are much sought after by both foreigners and Malaysians themselves. The Kelantanese seem to favour huge items and everything is big from the kites to the tops and the drums known as Rebana Ubi. – source: tourism malaysia