The Malaysian Insight

A COMMON reaction when you ask any Penangite about Penang Hill is that there is nothing to do there. Everyone thinks the Summit Lookout and the short walk around the hilltop are all there is to Penang Hill

However, over the recent years, Penang Hill has been quietly transformed. Many new places and activities including the Habitat, Monkeycup Cafe and the regular nature and heritage walks were added without much publicity and these treasures are hidden in plain sight, even to the locals. 

In an effort to publicise the wonders of Penang Hill and to celebrate its history and natural and cultural heritage, the inaugural Penang Hill Festival 2018 will be held from today to July 29. With the theme See the Nature. Feel the History, the festival will showcase a number of exciting programmes to celebrate all the different aspects of Penang Hill.

Visitors to the hill during the festival can participate in programmes such as a nature photography workshop, nature walks, guided historical tours on the different trails, night exploration, and talks on the local flora and fauna. 

Other activities lined up during the two weekends are a visit to the former Uplands school building also known as The Crag, a Unesco biosphere reserve talk, music recital and watching a lunar eclipse from Bellevue Hotel. – July 21, 2018