Back in the early 1800s, Penang was a key outpost in the British Empire. Nowhere else on the modern day island offers such a vivid insight into what life was like for the British governors and civil servants who came here back then. With the original colonial architecture still remaining, plenty of historic artefacts to explore and guides garbed in authentic 19th century uniforms, you’ll learn more about those days at Fort Cornwallis.
At the front of the fort, you’ll see the statue of Sir Francis Light, the man who led its construction back in 1786 when the British sought to protect their trade route against either pirates or the French. Originally made out of palm trunks, the fort’s stone structure that remains to this day was completed in 1810.
Fort Cornwallis ultimately never came under attack, meaning that today its structure remains intact, meaning you’ll see it almost exactly as its former inhabitants would have done. Explore the gunpowder magazine, the original chapel, and see what it was like behind bars in the fort’s jail.
The fort is home to 17 cannons, the largest of which is the imposing Seri Rambai Cannon. Dating all the way back to the early 1600s, this cannon was owned by the Dutch and the Portuguese before it came into British hands. Today, locals revere the cannon as a fertility aid, and so you may well spot women coming to leave flowers here to try and boost their chances of conceiving.
Tours around the fort are available for a modest fee. You’ll easily spot the guards around the complex decked in their scarlet colonial costumes. You can also, of course, wander freely alone, and you’ll see much of the fort in about an hour. By the entrance, you’ll find a kiosk offering refreshments as well as souvenirs.
Situated in Georgetown near the Victoria Memorial Clock on the Esplanade, you can easily reach Fort Cornwallis by public transport. It opens each and every day, and charges a small fee for admission.
