Muar is one of the cities
situated at around 179 kilometre from Johor Bahru.
It's a town and port on the south-western coast of West Malaysia. Muar
also known as Bandar Maharani for most of the local people staying there.
It's popular for its delicious and inexpensive foods served by food stalls and
restaurants. A picturesque town located strategically on the Muar River.
Muar is also known for
its agricultural products. The main natural products that are commercially
produced are palm oil, gambier, mangosteen, rambutan
and durian.
Palm oil have become the main agriculture product as the Johor government
promotes plantation of Palm Oil trees through out the state of Johor. There's
also a furniture industry, which export to
the international markets such as Europe and America.
Some say the name "Muara" it comes from muara, a word from the Malay Sunda
language, meaning ‘a very wide river pouring into the sea’.
Still others believe that it comes
from the Hindu words munu, meaning ‘three’, and ar, meaning ‘river’. The ancient peoples of
India had come to Muar looking for gold, but instead found
the confluence of the rivers Muar, Serting and Pahang,
similar to the ones they had at home. They named this place
Muar to remind them of their beloved homeland.
Muar was established, years before Melaka came into being.
Muar played a role in resisting the Portuguese
occupation of Malacca in 1511. In response to
attacks from the Portuguese fleet, the Bentayan
fort was built by the Sultan of Malacca to repel
seaborne invasions.
When the Portuguese conquered Melaka in 1511, its Sultan and his entourage had
escaped to Muar.
Tourists can enjoy a
drive or stroll along tree-lined Jalan Tanjung, which follows the river mouth on
the south side. Along this road, you will see mosques, old colonial
houses, government buildings and a beautiful park.
For most of the travellers
visiting Muar, it's amust to stroll along the tree lined Jalan Tanjung, where Jalan Tanjung is
actually along the river mouth located
on the south side.
Besides along the river
side, Muar is actually a town
situated strategically on the Muar River
where originally, many believe that the
Muar River actually contributed to the
growth of Muar due to the fact, where Muar River is a natural means of
transportation in the early days.
Map of Muar
Most leisure hours are
lulled away by the meandering banks of the Muar River, the town’s lifeline, by
either fishing, canoeing or savouring seafood as the sun blazes in the sky
and burnishes the placid waters in the afterglow.
In fact, Muar is actually very popular for
its local delicacies where any of the
travellers visiting Muar can enjoy
delicious and inexpensive foods served
by food stalls or restaurants located at
various areas of Muar. One of the most
preferred and famous local delicacy in
Muar is known as “Otak – Otak” This is a mix
blends of fish or prawn in various spices, wrapped normally in coconut leaf.
A few good food stores and restaurants:
1) Pak Yayah Asam Pedas,Parit Jawa
2) Oyster Omelette, Jln Haji Abu
3) Satay Muar, Jln Haji Abu
4) Straits View Rest, Parit Jawa
5) Mee Bandung Abu Bakar (Wah San Restaurant)
6) Seng Kee Otak-Otak (Jalan Haji Abu)
7) Fish Ball Noodles (Jalan Haji Abu).
A few places to visit:
Grisek Hot Spring -
The
natural wonder of hot springs can be found in the district of Muar, about 10km
from Parit Jawa town. Like many other hot spring spots in Malaysia, the Grisek
hotsprings is more popular with local visitors who believe in the benefits of
the hot mineral waters to soothe musle aches, and provide some relief to certain
skin ailments. The hot spring area has chalet, bathing and parking facilities, a
children's playground and some shops.
Tanjung Emas Park -
If you're Muar and
looking for a quiet place to lay out the blanket and enjoy reading a book in the
warm morning sunshine, Tanjung Emas recreational park overlooking Muar River is
the place to go. This recreational park has a food court offering local
delicacies if you get a little hungry- try the ikan asam pedas (fish cooked with
tamarind sauce and chilli paste) for which this town is famous. There's plenty
of rest shades if the sun gets too hot and also a children's playground to keep
the little ones amused. Nearby, there is a government rest house offering
accommodation in a garden environment for visitors looking to stay in Muar
overnight
Gunung Ledang - Standing at 1,267m,
Gunung Ledang is Johor's highest mountain and it can be accessed both from Johor
(Sagil) and Melaka (Asahan). The journey to the top will take approximately five
hours through the dense jungle.Among the locals, Gunung Ledang (formerly Mt
Ophir) is more well known for its mysterious reputation rather than as a natural
attraction. At the mention of this mountain, stories of the legendary Puteri
Gunung Ledang, entwined with tales of supernatural encounters easily come to
mind.
The first Masjid Jamek Muar completed construction in 1887. In the 1920s, a
committee was formed to consider building a new Masjid Jamek for Muar.
Following
a bid to raise funds from the public, the committee in charge of building the
new mosque successfully raised RM10,000 for the purpose. The committee then put
forward the people's aspiration to the Sultan and obtained the royal consent.
n 1925, works to construct Masjid Jamek Sultan Ibrahim began. Five years
later, in 1930, the mosque was completed and was officially opened by Johor's
Menteri Besar, Dato Mustafa bin Jaafar. Masjid Jamek Sultan Ibrahim is located
along Jalan Petri, close to mouth of Muar River.
The majestic Masjid Jamek 2 -
the second mosque (built in 1999), a replica of the Masjid Jamek Sultan Ibrahim
is a breathtaking sight. It was built on the opposite bank of Muar River in
Tanjung Agas. The two mosques formed a spectacular landmark, especially for
those who enter Muar from the river mouth.
Masjid Jamek 2 was completed in 1999 and can accommodate 5,000 Muslim
congregations
GETTING TO MUAR If you're driving from Kuala Lumpur on the North South Expressway (NSE),
take the Tangkak exit (Interchange 235) and drive on past Sg. Mati and Parit
Bunga (on highway 23 and 5). Muar town is about 27km from the Tangkak exit.
WHAT's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the name Muar? If it's
mee bandung Muar, you're not alone.
Although you can get a taste of "mee bandung Muar" elsewhere, nothing beats the
"original" specialty noodles in the Johor town itself.
Even in Muar, there are many stalls and restaurants that offer the southern
favourite but, based on consensus, Abu Bakar Hanifah's version from the
hand-me-down recipe is the real thing.
It's all in the gravy – a thick paste of prawn and chillies blended together and
mixed with some beef soup. The gravy goes with a bowl of noodles, some
beansprouts and a sprinkling of little egg pieces, beef and tofu.
Abu Bakar, who now sells his noodles at the Wah San restaurant in Jalan
Abdullah, has been preparing mee bandung Muar since he was a little boy.
"I've been doing this for more than 40 years, first helping my father in his
stall in front of the Rex cinema way back then before moving to Jalan Abdullah
in 1961," he says.
His father, who migrated from India, learned how to make mee bandung from a
Javanese man, a Muar native.
A couple of steps down the one-way street of Jalan Abdullah, you can turn right
to Jalan Sulaiman. Here, you can have satay for breakfast from as early as
7.30am.
"Satay is prepared early for breakfast to accompany other food such as lontong
and nasi lemak," says Hud Abdul Rahman who has just taken over the satay
business from its previous owner at Kedai Kopi Suan Chin.
For the past 70 years or so, says Hud, satay has been prepared here for
breakfast until lunchtime. "But it is only here in Jalan Sulaiman you can get
satay this early in Muar." The most famous satay in Muar is satay perut (small
intestine).
From Muar town, another gastronomic attraction nearby is the asam pedas in Parit
Jawa, a fishing village about 12 km away.
There are four asam pedas stalls by the riverbank near Pantai Leka – offering the
dish comprising many different fish, with stingray being the favourite.
The four stalls are equal favourites with locals and Muar folk.
A stall owner, who wished to be known only as Kak Ida, says making asam pedas is
a family tradition started off by her great-grandparents who had a small stall
by the Leka beach.
Indeed, in the case of Muar, the town residents will vouch for its many
gastronomic delights. But more than that, Muar has a picturesque, calming
waterfront.
The Sungai Muar flows through the town into the Straits of Malacca, and near
where the river joins the sea is Tanjung Emas – the town's family park, rest and
recreation centre.
On weekends, especially, the park teems with people. Well, Muar leaves the
impression that it takes a lot to beat the joys and benefits of a small town
(albeit developing) life.
