Butterworth, Penang

Butterworth, Seberang Perai, Penang (11 December 2017)

Butterworth (GPS: 5.39552, 100.36688)(Jawi: باڬن; Traditional Chinese: 北海; Pinyin: Běihǎi; Penang Hokkien: Park1hai4; Tamil: பட்டர்வொர்த்) is the main town of Seberang Perai, and is often synonymous with the whole mainland area. It serves as the transportation hub for Penang Mainland, and increasingly, for the entire Penang State. The town has not yet existed when the British acquired the piece of land on the mainland and named it Province Wellesley after Richard Wellesley, the Governor-General of Bengal at the turn of the 19th century. There was however already a settlement by the name of Bagan, which means pier, and refers to the wooden piers or jetties that jut out of the coast as well as along the Prai River. At that time, there was already a river settlement on the other side of the river, which appeared in British maps as Prye.

Butterworth was only established in the mid 19th century as a counterpart of George Town. It was named after William John Butterworth, the Governor of the Residency of the Straits Settlement from 1843 to 1851. Throughout the over one hundred years of its existence, Butterworth had always played second fiddle to George Town. Butterworth was founded to be a transportation hub supporting George Town, a role it still holds today. This is where the railroad, road network, ships and ferry have their terminus.

Butterworth Railway Station is one of the major railway stations in West Malaysia. However, most travelers either continue to George Town or head south to Kuala Lumpur or north of Bangkok. Whether you plan to stay in Kuala Lumpur or George Town, you can book your accommodtion online before you arrive.

Location of Butterworth

Measured from Penang Sentral (GPS: 5.39548, 100.36511), Butterworth is 10.9 km to the Penang Bridge, 31.4 km to the Second Penang Bridge and 28.8 km to the Penang International Airport.

Map of Butterworth

Sights in Butterworth

Butterworth Arena (GPS: 5.4125, 100.39913)
Butterworth Lay Buddhist Society (GPS: 5.4407, 100.39185)
Butterworth Post Office (GPS: 5.39225, 100.36918)
Butterworth Railway Station (GPS: 5.39304, 100.36723)
Dewan Dato Haji Ahmad Badawi (GPS: 5.40853, 100.36937)
NB Tower (GPS: 5.39686, 100.3668)
Padang Pemuda Merdeka (GPS: 5.40848, 100.3698)
Penang Sentral (GPS: 5.39548, 100.36511)
Pengkalan Sultan Abdul Halim (GPS: 5.39468, 100.36366)
Taman Pantai (GPS: 5.40557, 100.36718)

High-rise residential properties in Butterworth

Affina Bay (GPS: 5.4184, 100.37312)
Bayu Residence (GPS: 5.42767, 100.39096)
Camellia Park Condominium (GPS: 5.41895, 100.37901)
Casa Utopia (GPS: 5.4387, 100.42309)
Cassia Resort Condominium (GPS: 5.4259, 100.3821)
Centro View (GPS: 5.4246, 100.39672)
Elements Garden (GPS: 5.41783, 100.38259)
Harbour Place (GPS: 5.39607, 100.37252)
Jiran Residensi (GPS: 5.39607, 100.37252)
Luminari @ Harbour Place (GPS: 5.397, 100.37291)
Nautical Bay (GPS: 5.41807, 100.37296)
Ocean View Residences (GPS: 5.39497, 100.3724) (update)
Orange Regency (GPS: 5.42959, 100.39004)
Pangsapuri Capri (Capri Park) (GPS: 5.40705, 100.37319)
Pangsapuri Tanjung Permai (De Centro) (GPS: 5.42962, 100.38743)
Park View Tower @ Harbour Place (GPS: 5.39671, 100.37302)
Praicon Tower (GPS: 5.40043, 100.37584)
Sea View Tower @ Harbour Place (GPS: 5.39524, 100.3715)
Springs Ville Condominium (GPS: 5.44081, 100.3943)
Straits City (GPS: 5.40426, 100.36838)
The Park @ Mak Mandin (GPS: 5.42224, 100.38679)
Wellesley Residences (GPS: 5.39524, 100.3715)
Woodsbury Suites @ Harbour Place (GPS: 5.39916, 100.37557)

Hospitals in Butterworth

Bagan Specialist Centre (GPS: 5.39616, 100.36847)

Hotels on Penang Mainland

Crowne Plaza Penang Straits City (GPS: 5.40424, 100.36826)
Pearl View Hotel (GPS: 6.435766, 100.190755)
De Garden Hotel Butterworth (GPS: 6.435766, 100.190755)
Hotel Palm Inn Butterworth (GPS: 6.435766, 100.190755)
Aroma Hotel Butterworth (GPS: 6.435766, 100.190755)

Hypermarkets in Butterworth

Econsave Butterworth (GPS: 5.39919, 100.37653)
Econsave Raja Uda (GPS: 5.43375, 100.38828)

Landed Residential Properties in Butterworth

Cassa Maya (GPS: 5.43883, 100.42093)
Maple Residence (GPS: 5.44745, 100.39384)
Orange Garden (GPS: 5.452, 100.3948)
Taman Cengkeh Indah (GPS: 5.43573, 100.40125)
Taman Pasir Indah (GPS: 5.42938, 100.42956)
Taman Selayang Oren (GPS: 5.45296, 100.39472)

Markets in Butterworth

Bagan Ajam Public Market (GPS: 5.44211, 100.38291)
Bagan Luar Market (GPS: 5.41184, 100.37084)
Mak Mandin Market (GPS: 5.42048, 100.39488)
Sri Bandar Market (GPS: 5.40568, 100.37234)
Raja Uda Apollo Wet Market (GPS: 5.43742, 100.38614)

Petrol Stations in Butterworth

Caltex Raja Uda (GPS: 5.42998, 100.38458)
Petron Jalan Bagan Luar (GPS: 5.407668, 100.370427)
Petron Chain Ferry Road, north side (GPS: 5.40016, 100.37557)
Petron Mak Mandin (GPS: 5.41508, 100.38652)
Petron Raja Uda (GPS: 5.42546, 100.38231)
Petron Sungai Puyu (GPS: 5.44534, 100.39164)
Petronas Bagan Ajam (GPS: 5.45199, 100.38365)
Petronas Bagan Lalang (GPS: 5.43752, 100.39772)
Petronas Jalan Permatang Pauh (GPS: 5.41472, 100.38221)
Petronas Raja Uda (GPS: 5.42221, 100.38116)
Petronas Sungai Lokan (GPS: 5.44942, 100.41206)
Shell Chain Ferry Road, north side (GPS: 5.400898, 100.377123)
Shell Chain Ferry Road, south side (GPS: 5.400118, 100.377675)
Shell Kampung Gajah (GPS: 5.42022, 100.37551)
Shell Kampung Paya (GPS: 5.41777, 100.37365)
Shell Mak Mandin (GPS: 5.41777, 100.37365)

Schools in Butterworth

Butterworth Convent School (GPS: 5.39616, 100.36847)
Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Chung Hwa 2 (GPS: 5.40658, 100.38459)
Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Li Hwa (GPS: 5.44712, 100.38708)
Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Mak Mandin (GPS: 5.421569, 100.389545)
Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Tamil) Mak Mandin (GPS: 5.420684, 100.392602)
Sekolah Kebangsaan Bagan Ajam (GPS: 5.41642, 100.37518)
Sekolah Kebangsaan Bagan Tuan Kechil (GPS: 5.41642, 100.37518)
Sekolah Kebangsaan Convent Butterworth (GPS: 5.40107, 100.37437)
Sekolah Kebangsaan Kuala Perai (GPS: 5.38989, 100.37116)
Sekolah Kebangsaan Mak Mandin (GPS: 5.421564, 100.390109)
Sekolah Kebangsaan St Mark (GPS: 5.40068, 100.37433)
Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Nyior (GPS: 5.40068, 100.37433)
Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Puyu (GPS: 5.45136, 100.39519)
Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bagan Jaya (GPS: 5.42787, 100.39116)
Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Convent Butterworth (GPS: 5.39616, 100.36847)
Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Datuk Onn (GPS: 5.44793, 100.38207)
Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Kampong Kastam (GPS: 5.42504, 100.37824)
Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Mak Mandin (GPS: 5.42044, 100.3897)
SMJK Chung Ling Butterworth (GPS: 5.43354, 100.39308)

What to eat in Butterworth

Alice S G Seah recommended the food at QQ Thai Garden Restaurant (GPS: 5.433087, 100.394772) in Butterworth on 25 December, 2019.
Hestia Teh recommended Ong Cheng Huat Seafood in Butterworth on 12 October, 2019
Wan Than Mee at Apolo Market at Raja Uda in Butterworth, Penang, was recommended by Alice S G Seah on 5 October, 2019
Ah Khoon Loh Mee, recommended by Keith Timothy (22 August 2019)

Eateries in Butterworth

Old Market Food Court (GPS: 5.39813, 100.37022)
Ong Cheng Huat Seafood (GPS: 5.44334, 100.39644)

Banks in Butterworth

Affin Bank (GPS: 5.400895, 100.368018)
Agro Bank (GPS: 5.401173, 100.368114)
Bank Islam (GPS: 5.400484, 100.367953)
Hong Leong Bank (GPS: 5.396809, 100.367115)
HSBC (GPS: 5.399929, 100.368436)
Public Bank (GPS: 5.399939, 100.367798)
Standard Chartered (GPS: 5.396670, 100.366960)

Street Art in Butterworth

Man & Turtles Mural, by Martin Ron (GPS: 5.42093, 100.38172)
Sabek's Raja Uda Mural (GPS: 5.41621, 100.37922)

Places of Worship in Butterworth

Butterworth Floating Mosque (GPS: 5.40959, 100.36613)
Butterworth Gospel Hall (GPS: 5.40441, 100.37215)
Butterworth Nine Emperor Gods Temple (GPS: 5.4403, 100.38734)
Butterworth Tian Gong Tan Temple 北海天公壇 (GPS: 5.40878, 100.37389)
Gurdwara Sahib Butterworth (GPS: 5.39773, 100.37121)
Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (GPS: 5.39766, 100.37301)
Devi Sri Nagakanni Amman Temple (GPS: 5.38985, 100.37379)
Guan Yin Ting Dou Mu Gong Temple (GPS: 5.43138, 100.38356)
Lam Then Keon (GPS: 5.40107, 100.38148)
Leng Eng Seah Temple (GPS: 5.44155, 100.38751)
Leng Eng Tean (GPS: 5.42273, 100.38565)
Lim See Sai Hoe Tong Province Wellesley (GPS: 5.41074, 100.37557)
Maha Mariamman Devasthanam Temple (GPS: 5.4126, 100.3703)
Masjid Jamek Bagan Dalam (GPS: 5.39209, 100.37098)
Masjid Jamek Kubang Buaya (GPS: 5.42023, 100.37487)
Masjid Jamek Telaga Air (GPS: 5.41379, 100.376)
Mak Mandin Tua Pek Kong Temple (GPS: 5.4224, 100.38571)
Nam Thean Kong Temple (GPS: 5.41507, 100.37583)
Sri Muneeswaraswami Devasthanam Temple (GPS: 5.4708, 100.38337)
Sri Sithi Vinayagar Temple (GPS: 5.41174, 100.37124)
St Mark's Church (GPS: 5.40541, 100.3677)
Thean Hock Keong Temple (GPS: 5.44453, 100.38069)
Wesley Methodist Church Butterworth (GPS: 5.40794, 100.40942) in Permatang Pauh

Other sights in Butterworth

Khian Guan Biscuit Manufacturing Co. (GPS: 5.41388, 100.379)

Roads in Butterworth

Neighbourhoods and villages in Butterworth

Bagan
Bagan Dalam
Bagan Jermal
Bagan Lalang
Bagan Luar
Kampung Benggali
Mak Mandin (GPS: 5.42478, 100.39263)
Pekan Darat (GPS: 5.47358, 100.40118)
Permatang Tok Gelam (GPS: 5.4895, 100.39785)
Permatang Tok Jaya (GPS: 5.45764, 100.40123)
Taman Mesra (GPS: 5.41388, 100.379)
Taman Villa Permai
Teluk Air Tawar (GPS: 5.47999, 100.38343)

The British Recreation Club Building in Butterworth, now renovated and renamed Dewan Dato Haji Ahmad Badawi (29 January 2009)

History of Butterworth

Butterworth gained significance from 1861 onwards, and the increase in mining activities in the Larut District propelled an economic boom that was experience by both Penang Island and Province Wellesley. Butterworth became the place where the railway station was built to receive tin ore from Larut. The ore is then transferred directly to steam ships docked at the wharves in Butterworth. From George Town comes railway passengers who bought their tickets in George Town, and were then transferred to the railway ferry to be taken to the awaiting train in Butterworth.

Today Butterworth continues to play its role as a transportation hub. The Butterworth Outer Ring Road cuts through the centre of town, allowing for rapid traffic dispersal across the town. The Deepwater Wharves are located to the south of the ferry terminal, Pengkalan Sultan Abdul Halim, while the North Butterworth Container Terminal is located to the north. There is a limited number of high-rise buildings in Butterworth compared to George Town.

Crossing the Prai Bridge, between Butterworth and Prai (20 October 2009)

Going to Butterworth

Butterworth can be reached by road, rail and ferry. The Butterworth Railway Station is a major train terminus and is served by trains from Kuala Lumpur and Hatyai; you can even visit Butterworth when you stay in Bangkok. Visitors by road to Butterworth exit the North-South Expressway at the Prai Interchange (Exit 162) and take the Butterworth Outer Ring Road to Butterworth, exiting at either the Deep Water Wharves Interchange or the Chain Ferry Interchange.

Butterworth (29 January 2009)

Butterworth is on the Map of Seberang Perai

List of Towns in Penang and Towns in Malaysia

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Dear visitor, thank you so much for reading this page. My name is Timothy Tye and my hobby is to find out about places, write about them and share the information with you on this website. I have been writing this site since 5 January 2003. Originally (from 2003 until 2009, the site was called AsiaExplorers. I changed the name to Penang Travel Tips in 2009, even though I describe more than just Penang but everywhere I go (I often need to tell people that "Penang Travel Tips" is not just information about Penang, but information written in Penang), especially places in Malaysia and Singapore, and in all the years since 2003, I have described over 20,000 places.

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