| Tourism Info |
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| History |
| Johor Bahru or JB in short, is the vibrant state capital of Johor Darul Takzim, located at the southern tip of Peninsula Malaysia. JB, about 220km from Kuala Lumpur via the North-South Expressway, was established in 1855 by the late Sultan Abu Bakar (the Father of Modern Johor) and now serves as the administrative and commercial centre of the state. The word "Johor" itself is derived from the Arabic word “Jauhar”, which literally means "Precious Stones", illustrating the influence of Arab traders who traded spice in the State in the early days. |
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| Shopping in JB |
| Johor Bahru is a shopping haven, especially to Singaporeans and foreign tourists due to the favourable exchange rate. Other than modern shopping malls, there are also many handicraft centres and stalls selling locally made products. The various handicraft centres provide an interesting and tempting variety of items to choose from as souvenirs or gifts. Some of the major modern shopping complexes in Johor Bahru are: |
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| Plaza Kotaraya |
Approximately 1km north of Johor Bahru Immigration and Customs Complex, it is located along the busy Jalan Trus. It is linked to The Puteri Pacific Hotel and has the Bukit Timbalan government administrative building behind it. Centrally located in town, its anchor tenant, UO Superstore offers a wide range of supermarket items, household appliances and value for money multiple branding apparels at competitive prices. Its food court on the top floor offers delicious Malay cuisine. |
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| City Square |
Approximately 1km from the Johor Bahru Immigration and Customs complex, City Square is located along Jalan Wong Ah Fook in the heart of the city. It is one of the newest shopping malls in town, offering just about anything and everything for everyone! Stores offer a wide range of designer apparel, jewellery, electrical goods, cosmetics, handbags, shoes, household goods and toys. Its many wedding studios too offer great packages for couples. On the top floor, you can find the biggest food court downtown. After a great meal of local favourites or international cuisine, pop over to the Mega Pavillion cinema which boasts of 5 state-of-the-art cineplexes, offering over 1400 seats in luxurious seating with the best sound system available in the market. |
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| Plaza Pelangi |
Approximately 3km north of Johor Bahru, it is located along the busy Jalan Tebrau. One of Johor Bahru's most exciting shopping mall, it has a multitude of stores that offer a wide array of value-for-money quality merchandise from handicraft items and souvenirs to large selections of fashion apparel, accessories, and trendy footwear. If hunger gnaws, head for the local eateries, patisserie or coffee outlets. The shopping mall is a mere 10-minute's drive away from the Causeway and is well served by taxis and regular bus services.
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| Holiday Plaza |
One of the oldest and longest shopping complexes in Johor Bahru, it is situated along busy Jalan Dato' Sulaiman, Century Garden. The complex also includes a cinema, medical clinics, night clubs, banks, travel agencies, goldsmith shops, hawker's centre and a number of fast food outlets catering to shoppers.
Approximately 5km north of Johor Bahru, it houses over 400 shop units, offering just about everything. Besides its anchor tenant, Parkson Grand, other stores offer a wide range of apparel, jewellery, electrical goods, cosmetics, handbags, shoes, household goods and toys.
Public transport are readily available. Town taxis can be boarded from downtown, near the Causeway. Public bus service is available at the bus stop behind Komtar, Jalan Tun Razak. |
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| Johor Bahru Duty Free Complex |
| The Johor Bahru Duty Free Complex (ZON), is one of the largest duty free complexes in the country. Just 2km away from the Singapore Causeway, ZON is easily accessible via daily international ferry services from Batam and Bintan in Indonesia. A five-minute taxi ride from downtown will get you there. |
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| Attraction/Activities |
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State Secretariat Building (Bangunan Sultan Ibrahim) |
| Built in 1940 and located on Bukit Timbalan (Deputy Hill), this building houses the state secretariat, as well as other departments of the state government. Despite the appearances of other high-rise buildings in recent years, JB's skyline is still dominated by it. The Sarascenic character and the mosaic detail, particularly of the Grand Hall, makes this one of the most interesting buildings in Johor. |
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Royal Abu Bakar Museum, Grand Palace |
| The Istana Besar (Grand Palace) was built by Sultan Abu Bakar in 1866. Sprawled over 53.8 hectares of fine, manicured lawns, the Palace itself depicts the neoclassical architecture of a past era. Today, it houses the many artifacts of the Johor Royal family, most of which were collected by the globe trotting Sultan Abu Bakar and his son, Sultan Ibrahim, on their many tours abroad. Its compound is beautifully landscaped with lush green lawns and gardens with flowers of every imaginable color. Nearby is a landscaped Japanese garden and a replica of a Japanese teahouse that was presented by the Crown Prince of Japan to the Sultan of Johor in 1936. |
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Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque |
| Built in 1900 with a blend of the traditional Islamic and Italian style architecture is the Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque. Set atop a hill and unveiling a breathtaking view of the Straits of Johor, this mosque is considered one of the finest in the country. Taking 8 years to complete at a staggering cost (at that time) of RM400,000, it can accommodate 2,000 worshippers. |
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Dataran Bandaraya (City Square) |
| While many of JB's attractions have links to the state's early history, this is a new attraction that was built to commemorate the proclamation of JB as a city on 1 January 1994. It comprises of a clock tower that faces a series of fountains. Its raised structure and open lawns have proven to be a popular venue for outdoor performances and events. |
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Johor Lama Fort |
| Located in Johor Lama, once the royal seat of the Johor Empire, the historical significance of the fort cannot be denied. Visitors can reach the fortress via sea or road. |
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Kite Museum |
| The kite museum at Bukit Layang-Layang in Pasir Gudang was officially opened by the Sultan of Johor in 2002. The RM4.5 million museum has an array of modern and traditional kites of various shapes, colors and designs. Opening hours are from 8am to 4.30pm during the fasting month. The entrance fee is RM2 per adult and RM1 each for children between the ages of seven and 12 years. |
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Pineapple Museum |
| Situated at 52km Jalan Pontian, along the Johor Bahru-Pontian-Kukup "tourist route", visitors can find a collection of artefacts, exhibits and publications pertaining to the pineapple industry in Malaysia. It was officially opened in May 2002. Opening hours are from 8am to 4.30pm daily. Admission is free for schoolchildren. Adults pay RM2. |
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Gunung Arong Recreational forest |
| Located about 17km from Mersing town along the Mersing-Endau trunk road, Gunung Arong Recreational Forest is a popular campsite. Facilities include a children's playground, toilets and surau. A forestry museum is also in the vicinity. |
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Endau Rompin National Park |
| The pristine park has rock formation dating over 248 million years old. Flora and fauna abound in this virgin tropical rainforest which straddles the Pahang-Johor border. The 91,462ha park - 48,795ha of which is in northern Johor and the rest in Pahang - is dotted with waterfalls. It streams and rivers also remain untouched by pollution. Visitors will be awed by the breathtaking Buaya Sangkut waterfall, as the 40m -wide fall gushes 4.5 million litres of water a minute from a drop of 120m. |
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