Muka Head Lighthouse

The Muka Head Lighthouse (6 March 2004)


Muka Head Lighthouse is the most prominent landmark in the Penang National Park. It is located at the top of the hill at Muka Head. The Muka Head Lighthouse was built by the British in 1883 at a cost of £37,929. It stands at a latitude of 05º 28.4' N and a longitude of 100º 10.9' E. The lighthouse is in the form of a 14 meter tall white granite tower, and the light is at a height of 242 meters above sea level. It has a visible range of 25 nautical miles.

Spiral staircase leading up to the beacon of the lighthouse (6 March 2004)


The lamps and lenses of the Muka Head Lighthouse (6 March 2004)


One of the lamps of the Muka Head Lighthouse (6 March 2004)


View from the Muka Head Lighthouse lantern (6 March 2004)


Room with a view - gorgeous scenery of the Penang National Park, from the Muka Head Lighthouse (6 March 2004)


The Muka Head Lighthouse was built just a year after the Fort Point Lighthouse, which still stands today at Fort Cornwallis. These two lighthouses, along with the one at Pulau Rimau, were erected at a time when Penang experienced tremendous economic boom due to large-scale tin mining. This and other regional products gave the Penang Harbour a boost. At the same time, the Industrial Revolution in England brought about the introduction to steamships to replace sailing ships. These larger vessels began to call at Penang Harbour.

The Muka Head Lighthouse serves as a beacon to assist incoming ships approaching Penang Island from the Andaman Sea and the northern end of the Straits of Malacca, guiding them to navigate through the North Channel towards Penang Harbour. In similar fashion, the lighthouse at Pulau Rimau does the same thing from the southern approach.

The jungle trail towards Muka Head Lighthouse (23 August 2012)


A rest stop in along the jungle trail towards the Muka Head Lighthouse (23 August 2012)


At the base of the Muka Head Lighthouse is the office of the Jabatan Laut as well as the caretaker's living quarters. From the base, a cast-iron spiral staircase leads up to the lantern. That's the glass hut encasing the lamp. There are a number of lamps, or bulbs, pointed in different direction. They are surrounded by parabolic reflactors to maximize the light. When the lighthouse is operational, the mechanism rotates, sending a sweeping ray of light across the surroundings.

The caretaker at the Muka Head Lighthouse (6 March 2004)

Penang Hokkien Section

This section is in Penang Hokkien and is part of Learn Penang Hokkien. It helps you practise reading in the language. Refer to the Penang Hokkien Dictionary for words that you are not sure.

Muka Head-eh3 Teng3thak3

Muka Head-eh3 Teng3thak3 si33 cit3-leh3 chut1mia2-eh3 sor1cai3. Cit1-leh1 teng3thak3 si33 1883 ni2 khi4 eh2. A33si33 lu1 boek1 khee3 cit1-leh1 teng3thak3, lu1 khah1 ho4 ceh33 cun2 khee3 Teluk Ketapang liau4 ba3lu1 paek1snua1 khi4. Muka Head-eh3 Teng3thak3 khui1 9-tiam4 ca1khi4 kau3ka1 3-tiam4 ae3por1. A33si33 lu4 kau3 thai1 wna33, lu4 tok33 boh3 tharn1 jip1.
Ti1 cit1-leh1 teng3thak3-eh3 teng1bin33 lu1 tharn1 khnua3 cin3 sui4-eh3 hong3keng4. Enee3-enee3 seik1 lu1 e33 khnua3 tiok3 hai4. Lu1 tun1 e33 hien3 tiok1 Pantai Kerachut-eh3 hai1kni2.

Translation
The Muka Head Lighthouse is a famous lighthouse. This lighthouse was built in 1883. If you want to go to this lighthouse, it's better that you take a boat to Teluk Ketapang and then hike from there. The Muka Head Lighthouse opens (to visitors) at 9:00 am in the morning until 3:00 pm in the afternoon. If you arrive too late, you will not be allowed in.
From the top of the lighthouse you can get a very beautiful scenery. All around is the sea. You can also see the Pantai Kerachut seashore.

Getting there

You reach the Muka Head Lighthouse, you can either hike from the national park office, or hire a boat to take you to Teluk Ketapang (Monkey Beach) and hike the rest of the way there. Even if you take the boat to Teluk Ketapang, the hike will take you at least half an hour of moderate climbing to reach the lighthouse. There are a number of rest areas along the jungle trail where you can catch your stop to catch your breath.

If you wish to enter the compound of the Muka Head Lighthouse, note that it is only open from 9:00 am in the morning until 3:00 pm in the evening, so play your journey accordingly.

Muka Head boatride (6 March 2004)

Location of the Muka Head Lighthouse on the map

References

List of Lighthouses in Penang and Lighthouses in Malaysia

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