Kota Bharu

Kota Bharu is a significant town located in northeastern Peninsular Malaysia. It serves as the state capital and the royal seat of Kelantan. The town is positioned near the mouth of the Kelantan River. Its name is derived from the Malay words meaning "new city" or "new castle/fort."

Because of its strategic location beside the river, the town has historically acted as an entrepot. An entrepot is a port or town where goods are imported and exported.

The history of the town began in the late 19th century. Before it was known as Kota Bharu, the area was called Kuala Kelantan. In 1844, Sultan Muhammad II established a royal palace there. He intended for this site to become the new state capital. Before this change, the Kelantanese capital was divided between two locations. These were Kota Kubang Labu and Kota Pengkalan Datu. During the 19th century, Kelantan was a prosperous state. It had a population between 30,000 and 50,000 people. This population included approximately one thousand Chinese residents.

World War II brought major changes to the region. On 8 December 1941, Japanese invasion forces landed at Pantai Sabak. This event began the Battle of Kota Bharu. This was the first battle of the Malayan campaign. Japanese forces captured the city during this time. They went on to engage British forces in jungle warfare. Eventually, they also captured Singapore. This period is a major part of the local history.

In recent decades, the town has gained specific cultural titles. On 25 July 1991, Sultan Ismail Petra declared Kota Bharu a "Cultural City." This was based on its history and unique local arts. Later, on 1 October 2005, the state government rebranded it as an "Islamic City." This was done through a policy called "Developing With Islam." The announcement happened at the Sultan Mohammed IV Stadium. Thousands of people watched the inauguration on screens. The event included fireworks and traditional performances. These included poetry, dikir barat, nasyid, and singing. The local authority was then renamed the Islamic City of Kota Bharu Municipal Council.

The demographics of the town are quite distinct. The vast majority of the population is ethnically Kelantanese Malay. Most residents speak the Kelantan Malay dialect. There is also a large Chinese population. Regarding religion, 93% of the population is Muslim. The remaining residents are Buddhists, Hindus, or Christians. The urban Chinese community mostly practices Buddhism. The town contains many religious buildings. These include the Muhammadi Mosque and the An-Naim Mosque. There are also churches like St. Martin’s Anglican Church and the Church of Our Lady of Fatima.

Kota Bharu has a tropical monsoon climate. It borders a tropical rainforest climate. There is no true dry season in the city. However, rainfall is much heavier from August through January. Temperatures are slightly cooler between December and February. For transportation, the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport is the busiest in the east coast. The Wakaf Bharu Terminal Station is located 6 km away across the river. Highway 8 is the main road to Kuala Lumpur. Highway 3 connects the town to the Thailand border and other southern cities.

Tourism and commerce are important to the local economy. The Siti Khadijah Market is a very famous shopping destination. Most of the sellers in this market are women. Other large shopping centres include the Kota Bharu Trade Centre and AEON Mall. For nature lovers, Pantai Cahaya Bulan is a well-known beach. However, strong surf causes substantial erosion on local beaches. Communities use wave breakers made of massive boulders to protect the coast. Divers can also visit the wreck of the IJN Awazisan Maru. This Japanese transport ship was the first vessel to sink in the Pacific War. It is located a 30-minute boat journey from a nearby jetty.