Hotels in Tanah Merah

Tanah Merah used to be a capital of a kingdom called Chi Tu. Chinese Sui Dynasty of the 7th century described an advanced kingdom called Chi Tu ("Red Earth") in the area now called Kelantan. Apart from that, the ancient name for Kelantan was called "Raktamrittika", meaning "Red Earth" and this was later changed to "Sri Wijaya Mala’. Tanah Merah is a federal constituency in Kelantan, Malaysia, that has been represented in the Dewan Rakyat since 1959.

The area of Tanah Merah is situated along the Kelantan River. It is bordered by Pasir Mas in the north, Machang to the East, Kuala Krai to the South East, Jeli to the South West and Thailand in the West. Tanah Merah used to be a small town back then but has seen major changes in the last decade when the younger generation started to migrate to cities along the Malaysian west coast for jobs with higher pay. Statistically, the total population in the year 2009 was about 130,000 people, the majority is Malays, with a small Chinese and Indian population and immigrants, mostly from neighbouring Thailand which also make up a part of the population. There are also varieties of shopping mall available here at Tanah Merah for convenience of residents here.

The community here uses Malay language with distinctive Kelantanese accent to communicate here at Tanah Merah and also English to local and international tourists.

How to Get There

By Car

From Kuala Lumpur city centre, it usually takes around 6 hours and 10 minutes to Tanah Merah, Kelantan by using Kuala Lumpur highway and Gua Musang route. Highway 4 is the main highway serving the constituency whereas Highway 129 is a shortcut to Pasir Mas. KTM Intercity has a station in Tanah Merah town for people who travelled from other places.

By Plane

From Kuala Lumpur international Airport, it will take around 55 minutes to Kota Bahru Airport, Kelantan. After that, you can take a taxi or rent a car to Tanah Merah which take another 1 hour 20 minutes using Jalan Pasir Mas/ Tanah merah route.

Tourist Attractions

Siti Khadijah Market

Siti Khadijah Market or Pasar besar Siti Khadijah is the biggest local wet market in Kelantan. Its name is taken after Prophet Muhammad's wife, whom is known for her entrepreneurial skill which shows this market is mostly run by women. Many fresh produce available here such as seafood, vegetables and wide variety of fruits and you can also find ready-to eat food like 'ayam percik', nasi ulam and a variety of noodle soups, all unique in flavors and taste of Kelantan. There are also desserts like 'kuih muih' ,tempeh and hot milk tea, which is the staple drink for Kelantanese.

Guillemard Bridge

The Guillemard Bridge is located over the Kusial River is also known as Kusial Bridge. It was constructed in 1920 by The Metro Carriage Wagon & Finance Company Limited, Wednesbury Works, England and was completed in 1924 officiated by Sultan Ismail Ibni Almarhum Sultan Muhammad IV. During the Second World War (1941-1945), the bridge were severely damaged and thus re-built in 1948. It was officiated for the second time by Sultan Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Muhammad IV, the Sultan of Kelantan on the 7th September 1948. It connects Paloh Rawa in Machang to Kursial in Tanah Merah crossing the murky Kelantan River and the bridge is still in use acting as a vital link for the East Coast Train Line (KTMB) from Gemas to Tumpat. The Guillemard Bridge was claimed as the Longest Railway Bridge in Malaysia.

Hotels

Qadira Hotel

Situated at Tanah Merah, this hotel offers affordable and comfort stay for guests. The rooms are equipped with basic amenities such as air conditioner, free water bottle and free toiletries. There are also free WiFi access around the rooms and public areas and convenient stores nearby this hotel. Guests can easily park their cars as it is free parking.

Lucky Beauty Hotel

Lucky Beauty Hotel is located at Tanah Merah town and offers rooms with air conditioner and features a flat-screen TV. The facilities and services available here are free parking, restaurant, 24-hour counter, free WiFi access, Gift Shop and mini-market. There are also daily housekeeping and laundry service available here at this hotel.