Tracing History at the Terengganu State Museum
Blog
Terengganu State Museum
"The Largest Museum in Southeast Asia"
Greetings to all loyal readers. On this blog page, I would like to share my special experience tracing History at Terengganu State Museum, a destination full of fascinating history and culture. For those of you who have never visited this museum, let me take you through this fascinating journey.
Introduction
The Largest Museum in Southeast Asia
Welcome to Terengganu State Museum, a historical and cultural treasure located in the beautiful state of Terengganu, Malaysia. This museum is a must-visit for anyone interested in learning more about the rich heritage of Terengganu and its people.
Introduction
Terengganu, a state rich in culture and heritage, offers a variety of interesting destinations to visit. One of the must-visit destinations is the Terengganu State Museum. Located at Bukit Losong, this museum is the largest museum in Southeast Asia and the most beautiful in Malaysia, housing various artifacts and exhibits that depict the history, art, and culture of the state.
The history of the Terengganu State Museum originated when the idea of developing this museum came from the discovery of Terengganu Inscribed Stones found in Kampung Buloh, Hulu Terengganu by Saiyed Husin bin Ghulam Al Bukhari in 1902. The Terengganu State Government realized there was no suitable place to store the Terengganu Surat Stone at the time of the discovery. In 1923, the authorities decided to store the Inscribed Stone in the Raffles Picture Museum in Singapore because there was no suitable place in Terengganu. They determined that the Terengganu State Government can take back the Inscribed Stone when the state has a museum or a suitable storage place.
Tips & Suggestions
The Terengganu Museum is open from 9 am to 5 pm every day except Friday. This area is equipped with access facilities for disabled users, such as special paths and elevators to facilitate movement within the museum.
There is a souvenir shop that sells various items such as books, souvenirs, and local handicrafts related to the history and culture of Terengganu. This museum area is located in Losong, Kuala Terengganu close to Terengganu Cultural Village and Islamic Civilization Park. It is easily accessible by car, taxi, or bus. If you are driving, the museum is located about 10 minutes from downtown Kuala Terengganu.
Experience at Terengganu State Museum
Upon arrival at the Terengganu State Museum, I was greeted with a magnificent and unique view of the museum building. The museum's design is inspired by traditional Malay architecture with high roofs and fine wood carvings. A feeling of awe and excitement enveloped me as soon as I stepped into the museum area. It is one of the largest museums in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, including various exhibition buildings, traditional houses, gardens, and open spaces that showcase the state's history and cultural heritage.
Scenery
The view at the Terengganu State Museum is very wide and provides a comfortable and relatively calm environment. It is understood that there are 4 main blocks in this museum as well as galleries located in each block. You can imagine how vast this Terengganu State Museum is.
Area of Terengganu Museum
The total area of the Terengganu State Museum complex is around 27 hectares (66.7 acres). This area is equivalent to about 15 football fields.
Entrance Ticket
I headed to the ticket counter located at the main entrance of the museum. The entrance ticket price is very reasonable. For adults, tickets cost RM5, while for children and students, the price is only RM2.
Category | Ticket Price |
|---|---|
Citizen (child) |
RM2 |
Citizen (adult) |
RM5 |
Non-Citizens (children) |
RM10 |
Non-Citizens (adults) |
RM15 |
Permanent Exhibition Gallery
My first step took me to the Permanent Exhibition Gallery. Soft lighting illuminates every corner of the exhibition, highlighting the beauty and uniqueness of each artefact on display. There are also traditional weapons, old clothes, and ancient household appliances that all tell the history and culture of Terengganu.
Islamic Gallery
Next, I stepped into the Islam Gallery. Here, I can see various beautiful manuscripts of the Qur'an, intricate wood carvings, and daily use items of the Muslim community in the past. The atmosphere in this gallery made me appreciate more how important Islam is in the lives of the people of Terengganu.
Maritime Gallery
The Maritime Gallery took me to delve into Terengganu's maritime history. The atmosphere here is more alive with large models of traditional ships and old navigational equipment.
Dagger: A Weapon Full of Symbolism
As a lover of Malay art and culture, exhibition of daggers in this museum is one of the most interesting to me. Looking at the keris on display, I was stunned by the art of making that was so meticulous and full of meaning. Each dagger not only serves as a weapon, but also carries its own story and symbolism. There are keris that are believed to have mystical powers, and there are also those that are symbols of status in the Malay community.
Terengganu Traditional House
Before going home, I spent time visiting the traditional houses located outside the main building of the museum. Rumah Tele, Rumah Limas Belanda, and Rumah Bujang Berserambi are all carefully displayed, highlighting the very beautiful traditional Malay architecture. Walking around these houses gave me an authentic experience of the life of Terengganu people in the past.
Background of Terengganu State Museum Agency
Museum
State of Terengganu
Construction 1986
The Terengganu State Museum Board was established under Enactment No. 9 of 1976, which was approved by the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly on 28 December 1976 and came into force from 1 November 1977. The main aim of the establishment of this institution is to dignify the state's cultural heritage through museum activities such as collecting, conserving, rescuing, researching, and disseminating information.
The history of the Terengganu State Museum begins at Bukit Che Long, Kuala Terengganu in the building of the former State Secretary's Office. Later, it moved to Bukit Losong on a 27-hectare site known as the State Museum Complex. The complex was inaugurated by the late DYMM Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah, the 17th Sultan of Terengganu on 20 April 1996.
The State Museum complex consists of three main components: the Main Building, the Garden Area, and the Maritime Museum. The Main Building, characterized by a traditional Terengganu Malay house, covers an area of 75,075 square meters, consisting of four blocks that house office spaces, repository rooms, laboratories, meeting rooms, exhibition galleries, etc.
External premises of the Terengganu State Museum
Cover
My visit to Terengganu State Museum was an experience I will never forget. It not only gave me an in-depth knowledge of the state's history and culture, but also enriched my understanding of the heritage that makes Terengganu so special. Each gallery and exhibition is a journey through time, bringing me closer to the soul and identity of Terengganu society.
Long walk to the city,
The most magnificent museum stands,
History is full of stories,
The legacy of Terengganu remains in the heart.
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