Fort Cornwallis in Penang

Fort Cornwallis in Penang

Address- Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah 10200 Georgetown, Penang
Contact Number: +604-2610260 / 261
Fax: +604-2610260
Email: sebagus@tm.net.my
Opening hours - 8.30am to 6.30pm daily

Fort Cornwallis in Penang is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in this island. Fort Cornwallis derives its name from Charles Cornwallis, the Governor-General in Bengal, India. Located next to the Victoria Memorial Clock in George Town, this fort can offer you an open-air amphitheatre, a history gallery, a souvenir centre, tourist information kiosk and even a café. One of the oldest sites of Penang in Malaysia, Fort Cornwallis was built in 1786 soon after Captain Francis Light annexed Pulau Pinang or Penan from the Sultan of Kedah for the British empire. Captain Light built this fort to defend the territory. The original structure of the fort was made of nibong palms till it was refurbished with stone and brick in 1804 by during Colonel R.T. Farquhar’s term as Governor of Penang.

Features of Fort Cornwallis in Penang

  -  Fort Cornwallis in Penang functioned more as an administrative center rather than serving for defense
  -  You can still view some of the older structures like chapel, prison cells, ammunitions storage area, a harbor light to notify for incoming ships and old bronze canons
  -  One of these cannons called the Seri Rambai is considered to induce fertility in women.
  -  The moat that once surrounded the fort was filled in 1922 due to an outbreak of malaria.

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