Delight in the Royal town of Muar
A visit opens eyes to its charms, old and new
MUAR, the main town in Muar district, has a wealth of culture and heritage and is also known as Bandar Maharani. When Johor ruler Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim died in 1862, he was succeeded by his son, Temenggong Abu Bakar, who adopted the title of Maharajah in 1868.
This town got its other name when Maharajah Abu Bakar visited Muar in 1887 with his consort, Maharani Fatimah, and he conferred the name Bandar Maharani or Empress Town, in her honour.
I could relate to the town’s proud heritage as I explored Muar, which is fast developing into an interesting tourist destination. And within a few hours, I discovered its charming heritage buildings, local food and attractions.
Here are 10 interesting things in Muar: from 1889 to 1925, is displayed in a landscaped area near Tanjung Emas recreational park.
Popularly known as the Bangsa Johor mural, it is on the wall of a government building at Tanjung Emas recreational park. Painted by British artist Thomas Powell, it depicts characters that represent the four main ethnic groups, and the racial harmony in Johor. Other notable wall murals in Muar include The Loving Sisters, Ferry Pier, Roots of World Furniture and Cantonese Opera Star.
In a bazaar at Tanjung Emas recreational park, the sign on this stall caught my eyes — Old School Sengkuang Calit. This nostalgic snack earned its name from how a slice of turnip or yam bean is calit (Malay word for spread) with a layer of prawn paste and sprinkled with chopped toasted groundnuts.