Hotels in Pasir Mas

According to the legend of how Pasir Mas got its name, the area was first opened for settlement by Che Leh Ismail, better known as Che Leh Tok Pendekar. He was forced to move to Pasir Mas after his land in Kota Bharu was taken by the Sultan for the purpose of building his palace. At the same time, a religious teacher from Bachok, came to conduct classes in Pasir Mas. The religious teacher later returned to Bachok after conducting the class, and several days after his departure, 3 bowls filled to the brim with gold, miraculously appeared in the undergrowth. The bowls, according to legend, started spinning, forming a vortex in the undergrowth, and causing the shocked residents to exclaim ‘Mas! Mas!’. The ‘pasir’ part of the name, which means sand literally, is derived from the site of this miraculous finding, made up of vast sand dunes on the banks of Sungai Kelantan. Thus Pasir and Mas were merged together to form the name that we know today.

Pasir Mas is a town, an administrative district (jajahan) and a parliamentary constituency in Kelantan, Malaysia. Pasir Mas is one of 10 territories in the great state of Kelantan, located in the north bordering the territory of Tumpat with Tanah Merah to the south. While Sungai Kelantan and the territory of Kota Bharu to the east and Sungai Golok,Thailand to the west. Due to its geographical location, it acts as the main gateway of the East Coast of Malaysia to Thailand and is also traversed by major road transport routes from the West Coast to the state capital of Kota Bharu. The main town of the same name was once the second biggest in the state until the early 1990s when it was overtaken by Tanah Merah. The town is blocked from expanding to the south by the Kelantan River. To the north, the railway line splits the town - further limiting land suitable and desirable for commercial real estate development.

The Kelantanese dialect of Malay is quite incomprehensible to outsiders. Nevertheless, all Kelantanese learn standard Malay in school, so speakers of standard Malay should not have any problems communicating. As for second languages, some people speak English, but do not expect everyone to be able to, although most people would be able to understand basic English, but may not be able to reply in English. And while no-one will expect you to speak Bahasa Kelantan (Kelantan dialect) but some knowledge of standard Malay would be very useful.

How to Get There

By Plane

To have more safe and comfortable trip to Pasir Mas, you can take flight to reach Pasir Mas from Kuala Lumpur International Airport or Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (Subang) to Sultan Ismail Petra Pengkalan Chepa Airport where it is the only airport in Kelantan. Malaysia Airlines operates daily direct flights to the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan. The flights depart from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) which is situated in Sepang. Alternatively you can board Firefly airlines which operate from The Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang. The budget carrier, Air Asia flies daily to Kelantan from KLIA 2. You can take either a cheap bus or taxi for 21 minutes (28.7km) drive to Pasir Mas Kelantan. If you are from Penang or Johor Bahru you can reach Kelantan by Firefly.

By Car

If you drive from Kuala Lumpur you can use the route via Gua Musang where it is shorter than the coastal route. It takes 6 hour and 29 minutes driving to reach Pasir Mas. For more safe or if you travelling with a kids you can use East Coast Expressway and head straight to Kuala Terengganu and then follow the road signs to Kota Bharu, so that you are on Route 3 the coastal road. If you are from North you are connected by the East West Highway (Grik) Kota Bharu to Pasir Mas. Road users can enter Kelantan from the southern Thai province of Narathiwat at Rantau Panjang (across the Golok River from the Thai town of Sungai Kolok), and across the Kolok River on the newly completed bridge at Bukit Bunga, Jeli. There are several bus services in Kuala Lumpur that cater to the public travelling to and from Pasir mas. Bus travel is a popular travelling to and from Pasir Mas to the other parts of the country. You can reach Pasir Mas by bus from Pekeliling Kuala Lumpur terminal and it takes 18 hours and 55 minutes to reach Pasir Mas. The main bus operator from Kuala Lumpur to Pasir Mas is Transnasional and Express Perdana.

By Train

Pasir Mas is well connected to neighboring cities by train. You can find the train station at the center of the town. Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) or Malayan Railway provides daily rail services to Kelantan. From Kuala Lumpur, you can take Express Wau Train from the Kl Sentral Station. The journey takes 23 hours and 24 minutes to reach Pasir Mas. If you are from Johor you can board the Express Timuran to reach Pasir Mas.

Tourist Attractions

Pasir mas have a good blend of residential and commercial pockets in and around it. The location is proximity with Thailand, bits and pieces of Thai culture had found its way into Pasir Mas. The town itself still preserve some historical buildings and architectures, full of delicious food and importantly the culture and crafts that still intact for many years. Pasir mas is one of the popular tourist destinations in Kelantan with a numerous tourist attractions that include Wat Uttamaram, Wat Phothivihan Temple, Rantau Panjang, Danau To’Uban Lake,Dataran Air Muleh Pasir Mas,Tasik Kwonn and Beijing Mosque that leave you with unforgettable experience. Rantau Panjang is the most famous shopping haven in Kelantan. Since being declared as a Duty Free Zone in 2002, it’s mostly an attraction for domestic tourists. You can get anything from electronics to clothes and kitchenware at affordable prices. Apart from being a shopping destination, Rantau Panjang also serves as a gateway to Thailand, via Golok town. Danau To' Uban in Kampung To' Uban in the Pasir Mas district, is an interesting tourist destination. Located almost 20 kilometers from Pasir Mas town, the lake provides gorgeous views of luscious greenery, creating sense of peacefulness for visitors looking for some peace and quiet, along with activities like camping and picnicking with the family.

Danau To' Uban lake is almost famous as a great fishing hole among avid anglers, due to the wide array of freshwater fish species that fill its waters naturally, including bagrid catfish, tilapia, the Malaysian Masheer, the lampang etc. Besides that you may visit one of the impressive Buddhist Temple in Kelantan and the most well-known is Wat Phothivihan. It takes approximately 30 minutes from Pasir Mas. While Wat Uttamaram is a must visit for its beautiful architecture and rich heritage. If you would like a recreational retreat, don’t forget to visit Dataran Air Muleh Pasir Mas or Tengku Anis Park which are located a few kilometers away from the city. It’s a great spot to picnic and enjoy the fresh air away from the hustle and bustle of big cities. Don’t forget for night activity, Wakaf Che Yeh is well known for its 24-hour shopping attraction and offers an assortment of local products. It is the largest market in the state and also serves as the main wholesale market in the North East. Other local attractions are easily accessible including Kelantan cultural center Gelanggang Seni Siti Khadijah Market, 2nd largest Sleeping Buddha statue in Asia and duty free shopping at the Malaysia-Thai border.

The state's landscape is a charming blend of attractive villages, small towns and riverine settlements. Among the houses built on stilts and covered with thatched roofs. You can celebrate in the time-honoured practice Malay Heritage and culture. Pasir Mas is a Thai influences in culture and language, reflecting the processes of cultural and language contact, interaction and influences.

While in Pasir Mas, the Nasi Kerabu is a must try. It is a rice-based dish served with coconut milk, flaked fish, dried coconut shavings and variety of herbs, spices and sauces. Kelantan is a popular with its sweet and exotic traditional delicacies that was once enjoyed by only the nobility. Today the delicacies can be enjoyed by anyone everywhere. Besides that, you must try famous delicious desert called Akok (steamed egg-based mini cakes) . Akok is another unique Kelantan delicacy. It is known as ‘Akok Kelantan’ because of its sweet Aroma. The ingredients are eggs and ‘gula Melaka’. The Ayam Percik, Nasi Tumpang,Nasi Dagang and Laksam Kelantan are also amongst the many other local delicacies that one should try during their stay in Pasir Mas.

During night in Pasir Mas you can drive or take taxi to Kota Bharu to enjoy shopping and eating at the biggest night market in Kelantan, Wakaf Che Yeh since it opens until midnight. You can purchase items from souvenirs and apparel to local delicacies. You can find imitation clothing, shoe, bag and perfume at here. Local food and snack such as triangle dodol and Akok can be find here. For those who enjoy outdoor night activities you can try the night river cruise to experience firefly watching at Kota Bharu approximately 10-15 minutes’ drive from Pasir Mas. Visitors will be taking by a traditional fast boat or kayak cruise along the river to watch the firefly. Please note that the chances to see the firefly are depending on the weather.

Some people are apprehensive about visiting Kelantan because of it being such a conservative Muslim state. Once you come to Kelantan you will be surprised to find that there is much to explore. During your stay in Pasir Mas it is important for you to respect local mores, especially if you head out into the countryside. It is not necessary or expected for non-Muslim women to wear a headscarf (though it would certainly meet with approval), but both men and women should wear clothing that covers all or at least most of their legs (no shorts), and women should wear blouses or dresses which cover their torso. Long sleeves are preferable for women, and outfits which show the shoulders or midriff should be avoided. Tourists dressed in shorts and skimpy tops are really out of place in this state. Regardless of how modestly you dress, if you're white, people may stare at you. If that happens, just smile. Besides that check on the weather forecast to avoid any inconvenient trip before you start your trip to Kelantan. Avoid going to Kelantan during flood season which is in December and January.

Hotels

Mentary Stay 3 Townhouse Pasir Mas

Accommodation in Kelantan ranges from luxury, affordable, budget hotel, chalet, homestay and a few star rated hotels. In the outskirts area most of the accommodation facilities are modest. If u find for comfortable and affordable accommodations in Pasir Mas, Mentary Stay 3 Townhouse is the best choice for u when stay in Pasir Mas. Mentary Stay 3 Townhouse Pasir Mas is situated in Pasir Mas, 13 km from Kota Bharu. Each room at this terraced holiday home is air conditioned and features a TV with satellite channels. You will find a kettle in the room. There is free shuttle service at the property and car hire is provided. The location of this townhouse is 21 km from Sultan Ismail Petra Airport. This property also has one of the best rated locations in Pasir Mas.