Although the state capital Kota Bharu is relatively small, there’s plenty of variety in things to see including historical monuments, museums, important mosques and Buddhist sites. Of particular interest is the War Museum, which documents the Japanese occupation during WWII. The Royal Museum, known as the ‘Brick Palace’ is where you’ll see exhibits of royal life throughout the history of Kelantan’s sultanates.

Bank Kerapu (WWII Memorial Museum)
Bank Kerapu is located in Kota Bharu, and was built in 1912 on land that belonged to a famous local chieftain, Nik Yusoff bin Nik Abdul Majid. It was the first building made from stone that was erected in Kelantan. During WWII, the Japanese occupying forces used the structure as a police station. After the war, it was once again used as a bank until 1992. At that time it was designated a war memorial and became home to Kelantan’s WWII Memorial Museum, now boasting more than 1,000 war-related exhibits including artefacts, documents and photos.

Istana Balai Besar (Palace of the Large Audience Hall)
This impressive structure is not open to the public, but is worth seeing for the massive walls which surround it. Built in 1840 by Sultan Muhamad II, it was a replacement for his original palace on the banks of the Kelantan River. You’ll find the palace located opposite the Istana Batu (Royal Museum), where it now hosts mostly ceremonial events.

Istana Batu (Royal Museum)
This landmark, once home to Kelantan royalty, is known as the ‘Brick Palace.’ Built in 1939, the distinctive blue-and-white palace was the home of the crown prince from 1969 until it was donated to the state and turned into a museum. Inside you’ll see displays of royal arts and artefacts, as well as items and furnishings that belonged to former sultans. Phone: +60 9 7487737.

Masjid Kampung Laut
This mosque is reputed to be one of the oldest in Malaysia. Located at Nilam Puri, it was dismantled at its original site (Kampung Laut), where the frequent flooding of a nearby river was a continual threat to the structure, and rebuilt here. One interesting point about the construction of this mosque is that it was built without the use of nails.

Merdeka Square
During the British period, many large, open spaces (padangs) were created and surrounded by buildings for administrative purposes. Merdeka Square, in the centre of Kota Bharu, was previously known as Padang Kelupang. It was renamed when Malaysia declared independence from Britain on 31 August 1957.

Photivihan Jambum Temple
There’s a reclining Buddha image here that’s larger than any you’ll find in neighbouring Thailand or any other Buddhist country in Southeast Asia. Many Thais come across the border to visit this shrine, which is located in the village of Kg Jambu, seven miles north of Kota Bharu.

State Mosque
This main mosque is the centre for all Islamic missionary activities carried out in Kelantan. It’s also known as the ‘Brick Mosque’ and the ‘Al-Muhammadi Mosque.’ Its construction took more than 10 years and was completed in 1926, during the reign of Sultan Ismail IV.

Explore a fishing village. Small fishing villages are scattered all along Kelantan’s eastern coast. One of the most frequently-visited is a small community just over eight miles from Kota Bharu, at Sabak beach. Here you can watch the local fisherman returning with their catch in the late afternoon, after which the fish is sold directly on the beach. In addition to this impromptu market, you’ll also see villagers engaged in drying fish and mending nets.

Go trekking in the jungle. Most treks in Kelantan begin at Jelawang. The spectacular Jelawang waterfalls are a highlight of this area; it takes around 1 hour, 30 minutes to reach them on foot from Jelawang. Other options are to visit the majestic Lata Beringin waterfall near Gua Musang or the nearby Taman Negara National Park. In the park you can explore one of the world’s oldest rainforests, numerous limestone caves, and hidden waterfalls or even go on a safari by riverboat.

Ride the jungle railway. Starting in Tumpat, the railway moves at a leisurely pace through the mountains and jungles of the Malaysian peninsula, eventually connecting at Gemas with the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur line. If you like trains, enjoy spectacular scenery and have the time, this is a railway adventure that’s worthwhile.

Spend a day at the beach. Kelantan’s beaches are some of the least-developed in the country, where you’ll likely see more fishermen than sunbathers. Of the many lovely stretches of beach to try, a couple are within easy reach of Kota Bharu. You’ll find Pantai Cahaya Bulan on the north-east coast, around six miles from the capital. Another lovely spot is Pantai Irama, located 15 miles to the south of Kota Bharu. Often referred to as the most beautiful of all the east coast beaches, it is popular with campers and picnickers.

Take a river cruise. By taking a cruise on a riverboat along the Kelantan River, you’ll pass through Kelantan’s virgin rainforest and be able to spot riverside communities and wildlife on the riverbanks along the way. Cruises typically begin at Kuala Krai, approximately a 1-hour, 30-minute drive south of Kota Bharu.

Visit Buluh Kubu market. This vibrant market is one of the country’s most popular, offering up sights and sounds that are uniquely Kelantan. The women traders set up colourful displays of produce while food vendors set up grills, enticing market-goers with barbecued chicken. Craftsmen showcase the best of their wares, with silver rose bowls being a specialty. The market is most active in the early morning.