INTRODUCTION

ABOUT PULAU PANGKOR Pulau Pangkor is an island off the coast of Perak in north-west peninsular Malaysia, reached by ferry from Lumut (a small coastal town that links to Ipoh, or from Sitiawan). Buses from many parts of the country arrive frequently in Lumut at the bus station which is opposite of the Lumut Jetty. Cars must be left on the mainland, there are a number of car parks in Lumut. There are no bridges connecting the island to the mainland because there exist a policy to control the number of vehicles on the island partly due to no real necessity and partly due to space constraints. This has brought about much positive effects in preserving a natural environment free from toxic fumes, dust, noise, congestion and traffic hazards. All these have contributed to the preservation of wildlife in the tropical rain forest where many rare species still exist, including hornbills and monitor lizards. Pulau Pangkor land area of only 8 square kilometers, and a population of approximately 25,000 islanders. Pulau Pangkor villagers totally Malay, Chinese & Indian. It is heavily promoted as a low-key tourist destination by the Malaysian Government, but fishing and fish products remain major industries.
Pulau Pangkor lies a cluster of fabulous islands with unquestionably some of the best coves and beaches on the western coast of peninsular Malaysia. These can be visited via the road running around the island. The jungle-clad hills of the interior, though, are virtually untouched. Pulau Pangkor is facing of our Malaysia Navy Dockyard and Teluk Batik. Pulau Pangkor was a bit-player in the battle to control trade in the Selat Melaka (Strait of Melaka). In earlier times, the island was a favourite refuge of fishermen, sailors, merchants and pirates. In the 17th century, the Dutch built a fort here in their bid to monopolise the Perak tin trade, but were driven out by a local ruler before returning briefly some 50 years later. In 1874 a contender to the Perak throne sought British backing and the Pulau Pangkor treaty was signed. As a result, British Resident James WW Birch was installed in Perak and the colonial era on the peninsular began.


Pulau Pangkor villagers live in scattered fishing settlements along the coast especially on the eastern side, and their catch comprises mainly cuttlefish and anchovy. Fishing and dried fish products are still a major industry for the island, particularly on the east coast, with most tourist development confined to the west coast. The modern facilities make it an ideal gateway.


Pangkor Town History


Largely inhabited by fisher-folk who live in fishing settlements scattered along the coast, Pulau Pangkor - in stark contrast to Malaysia's fast-paced progress - remains a haven for those seeking to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Here, visitors can bask in the sun on her golden beaches and catch sights of fishing boats rocking gently on calm blue waters.

Situated 7 km from historic Lumut town across the Straits of Malacca, it has for centuries enthralled visitors with her charming beauty, idyllic bays, pristine beaches, and vibrant tropical forests. Hence it comes as no surprise that she has been a welcome stopover for the sea weary, pirates, and adventurers in the old days. In fact, it was at one time ruled by European conquerors such as the Dutch and British yet her natural wonders have remained unscarred and her environment as tranquil and harmonious as ever.

Without defining the size of population to qualify a township, in Pulau Pangkor there are 3 distinct townships and 4 settlement areas. These small settlements here are referred as villages in local language "Kampung". With the exception of Kampung Teluk Nipah that is located on the west coast, 6 of them were on the island's eastern side facing the calmer waters of the channel. The town with most activities will the first arrival point, Kampung Sungai Pinang Kecil.












Here, the fishing industry sent out its produce and received the much needed supply from the main land
The urban areas in Pulau Pangkor looked exciting. Narrow streets with few vehicular traffic. If there are - it is dominated by 2 wheelers.


Today's Pulau Pangkor is a thriving tourist destination that does not reflect her turbulent past.

Walk around town to savour some cruisine and native sights. If your timing is right, you may ever see the fisherman pulling in their catch. Have a visit at the seafood factories producing dried cuttle fish, anchovies, satay fish and dried shrimps.

The mystique of this pretty fishing village has never failed to charm tourists from all over the world. Past the Pulau Pangkor Jetty is the main village offering a wide variety of fresh and dried seafood and souvenirs crafted from seashells and local materials.









Don't forget to visit Sungai Pinang Besar village where this village is popular for boat building and repairs.

Teluk Nipah

Further down the road, is the increasingly popular Teluk Nipah. Accommodation here caters much to the middle to lower-ranged budgets and can be a little dissapointing to those who have something of a romantic notion of island getaway in mind. Chalets, restaurants and motels line the streets and even the small alleyways and during the peak seasons, it's jam-packed with tourists. The main road lies between the beach and the motels and chalets so don't expect to get any rooms on the beach itself.

Just off the main street, towards the end of alleyways sits the borderline of the forest reserve. In the evenings, if you're lucky, you can witness a flock of hornbills flying in for handouts left out by local operators. You also can see by our local people feed them with bread or papaya fruit. Always shy but these hornbills seem to think that there may be some truth in safety in numbers.

From the beach, you can also take a short boat ride to the nearby islands the area for snorkling area at Pulau Giam and Pulau Mentaggor and if you're really for some exercise, you can rent kayaks for a paddle out to these islands.

Pulau Pangkor, Teluk Nipah is a popular local resort. It can get very crowded on weekends and holidays when prices are highest, but during the week the beaches are almost empty. A wide range of sun and sea activities are available such as Banana Boat, Fishing Trip, Jetski, Kayak, Scuba Diving, Snorkling.