NIBONG TEBAL

 

Overview

Nibong Tebal is the largest town located in South Seberang Perai district of mainland Penang. It is a border town where Penang-Perak border is formed by Nibong Tebal-Parit Buntar and Penang-Kedah border is formed by Nibong Tebal-Bandar Baharu. Permatang Tok Mahat is a village that straddles the Penang-Perak border where Masjid Al-Islah is smack dab on the border with its entrance and parking lot in Perak and the building in Nibong Tebal. The eastern edge of the town sits along the North-South Expressway and Kerian River runs through the south. Along the Kerian River are many fishing villages and oil palm plantations and the Sungai Kerian Footbridge is used by cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians to cross the river.

Amenities and Facilities

Taman Recreasi Sri Sanglang is a park with walking paths and a children's playground built on the banks of Kerian River where residents come to relax and de-stress. Bukit Panchor State Park, spread over 445 hectares, is not only a protected forest reserve but also serves to teach people to appreciate nature. It has Taman Wetland to learn about mangroves, allocated areas for camping and group activities and caves such as Gua Kelawar (Bat Cave) for adventurists to explore. Pulau Burung, an island formed by a canal linking the Kerian and Tengah Rivers, is a landfill site but also has a marshland habitat for various birds making it a bird watcher's haven. The mangrove swamps in Sungai Udang fishing village offers various activities such as cruising up the river to observe the synchronized flashes of light produced by fireflies lighting up the mangrove trees, sunset cruises and octopus catching.

For spirituality, there are several places that serve people of various faiths such as Datuk Kong Old Temple, Thean Hock Tong Temple, Hock Teik Soo Temple, Sri Sithi Vinayagar Devasthanam, Kuil Sri Kaala Bairavar, Masjid Al-Isla, Masjid Bukit Panchor, Holy Trinity Church and St. Anthony's Church. Other facilities and amenities in the area include several schools, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Campus, banks, clinics, police station, post office, gas stations, several seafood restaurants, Pasar Malam Taman Pekaka (night market & farmers market) and the closest shopping malls are Kerian Sentral Mall and Mydin Mall Parit Buntar (6km away).

Accessibility and Transportation

It is accessible via Exit 156 of North-South Expressway. The Nibong Tebal Iron Bridge, acts as a landmark signaling the entry into Nibong Tebal when arriving via Federal Route 1. It is a steel arch bridge built as an overpass above the railway tracks of KTM. The KTM train station located close by is ideal to reach this town via public transport.