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Fort Cornwallis
Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah Georgetown, Pulau Pinang Phone: 60 4-264 3494 Average Price: US$ 0 per personAbout
Fort Cornwallis - named after the Governor-General in Bengal, Charles Cornwallis - is one of the most interesting historical landmarks in George Town, located close to the Esplanade, next to the Victoria Memorial Clock.The fort's walls, roughly 10 feet high, are laid out in star-like formation. A stroll along the perimeters takes roughly 10 minutes. Inside the fort, one can still see some of the original structures built over a century ago, including a chapel, prison cells, which were once used as barracks, a munitions storage area, a harbour light once used to signal incoming ships, the original flagstaff and several old bronze canons, one of which is a Dutch canon called the Seri Rambai, dated 1603. An interesting note about the Seri Rambai - some locals believe that this particular canon can have a positive effect on a woman's fertility. Today, this privately managed historical site is popular among visitors, equipped with a tourist information kiosk, cafe, an open-air amphitheatre, a history gallery, a souvenir centre as well as guides who can take you around the fort grounds and provide you with a glimpse of the fort's history.
Expert Review
"When visiting the fort, the five major must-see artefacts are the statue of the legendary Sir Captain Francis Light, the infamous Sri Rambai cannon, which has a history and folklore of its own standing, the gun powder magazine in which explosives were once stored during the British administration in anticipation for a battle, The ever first Christian chapel, Last but not least, beside the chapel, their is barracks and a small jail cell. The barracks were believed to be used as storage for artilleries. As for the small jail cell it is now a favourite photographing spot. Fort Cornwallis is often chosen as the preferred venue for major cultural and festival celebrations of the Penang state. With that, the Fort Cornwallis is definitely a must stop-over site for anyone who wishes to experience the colonial beginnings of Penang island. It would definitely be a worthwhile historical visit."
28 Aug 2013
