Islamic Civilization Park - a million-tourist attraction in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia

Islamic Civilization Park (or Taman Tamadun Islam) in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, features the first theme park in the world that manifests the achievements of Islamic architecture. It provides tourists with interactive journey of many famous Islamic monuments from all over the world. Located on Wan Man Island (Pulau Wan) in Kuala Terengganu, the 23-hectare themed and landscaped garden and edutainment (educational and entertainment) park has further enhanced Kuala Terengganu as a prestigious and scenic waterfront city. With the best art and architecture, this theme park is built on an island in the Terengganu River, setting the park in the unique combination of manmade and natural beauty. Terengganu Tourism director Suhaimi Abu Hassan Shari said the Islamic Civilization Park had attracted millions of visitors since it opened in February 2008.

This Islamic Civilization Park is divided into two zones: the Islamic Civilisation Complex and the Public Zone. The Islamic Civilisation Complex amazes the tourists with the marvels and wonders of the Islamic world, with 21 monuments and architecture which are scaled-down replicas of many of Islam’s greatest mosques, minarets and palaces from around the world, namely :

1. The Dome of the Rock (Qubbah As Sakhrah), Palestine
2. National Mosque, Malaysia
3. The Sacred Mosque (Masjidil Haram), Makkah, Saudi Arabia
4. Al-Hambra Citadel, Granada, Spain
5. Taj Mahal, India
6. Badshahi Mosque, Pakistan
7. Kudus Al-Manar Mosque, Indonesia
8. The Prophet’s Mosque (Al-Nabawi), Medina, Saudi Arabia
9. Great Mosque of Samara, Iraq
10. Kul Sharif Mosque, Kazan City, Russia
11. The Great Mosque of Qairawan, Tunisia
12. Lutfallah Mosque, Iran
13. Agadez Grand Mosque, Nigeria
14. Suleyman Mosque, Turkey
15. Pattani Mosque, Thailand
16. Minaret of Xian, China
17. Mausoleum of Abu Nasr Parsa, Afghanistan

Out of these 21 replicas, the main attractions are the five interactive monuments, namely

1. Malaysia’s National Mosque,
2. the Dome of the Rock of Palestine,
3. the Sacred Mosque of Saudi Arabia (Masjidil Haram),
4. Al-Hambra Citadel of Spain and
5. the Taj Mahal of India.

In each of this interactive monument, exhibits and explanation related to the monument are displayed. A presentation hall with video introduction to the monument is also equipped to provide visual information on the development of Islamic civilization.

The Public Zone houses the impressive state-of-the-art Crystal Mosque – the icon for the Islamic Civilisation Park and a new landmark for Kuala Terengganu. The unique mosque made of crystal shine glass and steel was officially opened by His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin on 8 February 2008. Being the first of its kind in the world since it was built in 2006, this mosque shines on the Terengganu River (Sungai Terengganu) and portrays picturesque beauty at different hours of the day. The public Zone also boasts the biggest convention centre in the east coast of Peninsular of Malaysia that can accommodate up to 3,000 seats for any function.

Contact for more information:

Islamic Civilization Park
Pulau Wan Man, Losong Panglima Perang
21000 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu
Tel: +609 627 8888
Fax: +609 630 9020
E-mail: khairunnisa@tti.com.my
Website: www.tti.com.my

To get there:

From Kuala Lumpur International Airport, traveller can fly to Kuala Terengganu directly either through Malaysian Airlines or the budget airline Air Asia and FireFly. If you book early enough at Air Asia or Firefly, you maybe able to purchase the air ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu as cheap as USD17 one way.

Alternatively, you can take the express coach that runs four times a day from Hentian Putra bus station in Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu, at the fare of about USD10 one way. To book the ticket, go to Mara Liner.

Once you are in Kuala Terengganu, daily shuttles are available to go from the Kuala Terengganu city centre to the Park. Alternatively, tourist can also take the taxi.

Another more exciting transportation is “Penampang” boat or cruise boat. Visitors can take this boat from the Shahbandar Jetty to Tok Ku Paloh Jetty located in the Park itself.

Thanks to Azuan Zahdi, some of the beautiful photos here are courtesy from him. You can view his blog at this link :

http://www.azuanzahdi.com/index.php/2009/12/17/islamic-civilization-park-kuala-terengganu/

The Terengganu state has plenty to offer to the tourist. Characterized by a strong Malay culture, laid-back lifestyle, serene coastal towns and rustic villages, the state boasts the longest coastline in the country with enchanting and secluded islands such as Redang Island (Pulau Redang), Perhentian Islands (Pulau Perhentians), Kapas Island (Pulau Kapas) and the Lang Tengah Island (Pulau Lang Tengah).

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