Luxury Hotels in Kuala Dungun

Dungun is a coastal district of the Malaysian state of Terengganu. Kuala Dungun is the capital of the district. Dungun is made up of eleven 'mukim', or subdistricts: Abang, Besol, Jengai, Jerangau, Kuala Dungun, Kuala Paka, Kumpal, Pasir Raja, Rasau, Sura, and Hulu Paka. Kuala Dungun used to be an iron mining town in the 1940s. Iron ore was mined in a small town inland called Bukit Besi located to the west, while Kuala Dungun served as the port where the ore was transferred onto ships. Kuala Dungun and Bukit Besi were connected by a railway line that not only served the mining industry but also served as public transportation for inland villagers, the Dungun Township and its businesses. This "golden" era ended in the late 1970s and early 1980s. When the mines were gradually closed down, the rail service stopped and the company left the area. Bukit Besi is now a Government-financed plantation estate; the rolling hills and old British architecture are now long gone, replaced by Felda Estate housing and palm oil trees.

Kuala Dungun is now just another town on the coast of Terengganu, sorely bereft of cultural activities, with no cinemas, and only comes alive every Thursday when the weekly night market opens up for business. It is well known as the biggest night market in Terengganu and features second-hand clothing (imported from Japan and the United States) and also food of all sorts. People from the outskirts flow into town for the cheap goods. The night market is situated right in the middle of town, taking over a portion of the old railway line.

Nowadays, it is not a busy small town anymore. There are still pockets of fishing and farming families and some people involved in small businesses, while a large part of the population are involved with the petroleum industry concentrated in another township to the south, Kerteh. Tanjung Jara Resort with its beautiful stretch of beaches, situated on the other side of the river mouth is still popular with foreigners and West Coast tourists. For those who look for eco-tourism spot, D'Pengkalan Eco Resort offer 3 natures spot at cool location in Dungun district.

How to Get There

By Flight

If you are traveling by air, the nearest airport is Sultan Mahmud Airport, which serves the city of Kuala Terengganu and the state of Terengganu. It is located 15 km from Kuala Terengganu town and handles more than 500,000 passengers annually. It has a single runway and serves Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, and Air Asia.

Tourist Attractions

Perhentian Islands

The Perhentian Islands lie approximately 10 nautical miles (19 km) off the coast of northeastern Malaysia in the state of Terengganu, approximately 40 miles (64 km) south of the Thai border. The name Perhentian means "stopping point" in Malay. This is because the islands became a staging point used by traders traveling from Malaysia to Bangkok. The two main islands are Pulau Perhentian Besar ("Big Perhentian Island") and Pulau Perhentian Kecil ("Small Perhentian Island"). Kecil attracts more travellers as it has cheaper accommodation, while Besar is a little more expensive and caters more to families and those who want to avoid the backpacker party scene. The small, uninhabited islands of Susu Dara, Seringgi and Rawa lie off Kecil. All the islands belong to a protected marine park, which means that fishing, collecting coral and littering are strictly prohibited, although in practice litter is one of the major problems that face the islands.

Hotels

Tanjong Jara Resort

Facing a crescent-shaped beach of golden sand, shaded by tall palms rustling in the breeze with views of the turquoise sea, Tanjong Jara Resort is attended to by a people steeped in traditions as timeless as Terengganu itself. Located on the pristine East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, explore a sanctuary of traditional luxury and well-being steeped in age-old Malay traditions.