Bukit Puteri ( Jawi: بوکيت ڤوتري,

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

: ''Princess Hill'') is a small hill of historical significance in

Kuala Terengganu Kuala Terengganu (; Terengganu Malay language, Terengganu Malay: ''Kole Tranung''), colloquially referred to as KT, is the administrative, economic and royal List of capitals in Malaysia, city of the state of Terengganu, Malaysia. Kuala Tereng ...

Terengganu Terengganu (; Terengganu Malay: ''Tranung'', formerly spelled Trengganu or Tringganu) is a sultanate and States and federal territories of Malaysia, federal state of Malaysia. The state is also known by its Arabic honorific, ''Dāru l-Iman (c ...

Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...

. It is located right in the middle of the city near the estuary of

Terengganu River The Terengganu River () is a river in Terengganu, Malaysia. Originated from Lake Kenyir, it flows through the state capital of Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu, and empties into the South China Sea. It is bridged by the Sultan Mahmud Bridge, Manir Br ...

Background of the hill

Bukit Puteri is located near to ''

Istana Maziah Istana Maziah is the official palace of the Sultan of Terengganu. It is located at the foot of Bukit Puteri in Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia. The palace is the official venue for important functions such as royal birthdays, weddings, c ...

'', one of Terengganu's palaces, the general post office, and ''Pasar Payang'', the main market of Kuala Terengganu. At the foothill is Bazaar Warisan, a place that sells various traditional crafts and products. With a size of 0.688 hectares and a height of 20 metres above the

sea level Mean sea level (MSL, often shortened to sea level) is an mean, average surface level of one or more among Earth's coastal Body of water, bodies of water from which heights such as elevation may be measured. The global MSL is a type of vertical ...

, It is located in a strategic location, overlooking the estuary of Terengganu river.

History

A myth regarding Bukit Puteri tells about a legendary princess who lived on top of the hill. The local residents always went to her to borrow utensils such as bowls, plates, or cutleries for their festive events or celebrations. However, since there were a number of people who did not return the borrowed utensils to her, the princess sulked and decided to leave the hill in search for other places where she could help people. The hill has been in existence in the history of Terengganu since the 16th century. It was important as a lookout point in facing enemies, especially those who come from the sea. During the reign of Sultan Mansur II (1831-1836), Sultan Muhamad I (1836-1839), and Sultan Umar (1839-1876), Bukit Puteri was used as a stronghold during the civil war that occurred during those times.

Features

A number of historical artefacts and monuments are located on the top of Bukit Puteri. One of the artefacts is a

brass Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, in proportions which can be varied to achieve different colours and mechanical, electrical, acoustic and chemical properties, but copper typically has the larger proportion, generally copper and zinc. I ...

bell or ''genta'' weighing 175 kg. This bell was made in 1908 by a craftsmen known as Wan Ali Wan Awang. The bell would be struck during calamity or to mark special occasions such as

iftar ''Iftar'' () is the Fasting in Islam, fast-breaking Supper, evening meal of Muslims in Ramadan at the time of ' (call to prayer) of the Maghrib prayer. Iftar is the second meal of the day; during Ramadan, the daily fast begins immediately a ...

during the holy month of

Ramadan Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (''Fasting in Islam, sawm''), communal prayer (salah), reflection, and community. It is also the month in which the Quran is believed ...

. A number of cannons used to found on the hill, but now only a few remains, with the most famous being the ''Meriam Beranak'', a set of two different-sized cannons. A flag pole approximately 18 metres tall built during the reign of Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah and a lighthouse as a beacon to sailors on the sea were erected on the hill. A fort containing a throne was also built by Sultan Umar, with the building materials consisting of a mixture of

honey Honey is a sweet and viscous substance made by several species of bees, the best-known of which are honey bees. Honey is made and stored to nourish bee colonies. Bees produce honey by gathering and then refining the sugary secretions of pl ...

egg white Egg white is the clear liquid (also called the albumen or the glair/glaire) contained within an egg. In chickens, it is formed from the layers of secretions of the anterior section of the hen's oviduct during the passage of the egg. It forms a ...

, bricks, and chalk as a plaster. Other than that, a cemetery containing graves of various religious figures of Terengganu can also be found.

Gallery

File:Singgahsana Bukit Puteri 2011.jpg, The throne on top of the hill. File:Tiang Bendera Bukit Puteri 2012.jpg, The flagpole. File:The twin gun.jpg, Meriam Beranak, a set of twin cannons. File:Genta Loceng Besar Bukit Puteri 2011.jpg, Genta, a bell made from brass

References

{{Malaysian historical architectures and sites Tourist attractions in Terengganu

Background of the hill

History

Features

Gallery

See also

References