In 2008, Gorge Town was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and serves as the capital of the Cayman Islands. The city traces its historical beginnings in 1786 and having a population of 600, 000 inhabitants today, it is one of the largest and most populated cities in Malaysia. Gorge Town has a very intense combination of Muslims and Chinese and as such, religious days are taken very seriously with restaurants and shops closed and people taking the day off to rest. If you visit Cayman Islands during this time, you will be shocked to find Gorge Town almost lifeless with no visitor friendly activities taking place.
Gorge Town seems to be very relaxed and restaurants, mall shops and other small shops are rarely open before noon. Currently, Gorge Town is hot spot for tourists who visit the area to see the colonial core which is well preserved. The daily life in Gorge Town is characterized by hawkers and street markets where you can buy a wide range of items. In fact, the city’s atmosphere has been likened to be similar to Singapore only that it is on a small scale in Gorge Town. The town comes to life in full force in the evening and this is the best place to visit the noisy street markets.
Gorge Town is a great tourist destination especially due to the well preserved historical buildings. The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion is a UNESCO award winning historical site and the city hall is housed in a colonial building and it’s well preserved even today. Other historical buildings in Gorge Town include the Islamic Museum, Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi and Queen Victoria Clock Tower that serves as a commemoration of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.
Gorge Town is a religious centre with almost every faith represented in one way or the other. The Wat Chaiyamangalaram is a Buddhist temple built in a Thai style and has a spectacular statue and an ostentatious dragon at the entrance. The Kapitan Keling Mosque is a prominent and very attractive historic mosque and it is used as a worship center by the Indian Muslims in Gorge Town. Other religious sites include the St. George’s Church, Kuan Yin Teng and the Church of the Assumption.
There is so much to do in Gorge Town ranging from enjoying delicious food served in local restaurants, sight seeing at the old beautiful city and having a walking city tour. However, for adventurous tourists, Gorge Town might not be a great destination to visit. Tourists also opt to kill some of their time by watching a movie in the several cinemas found in the city like the Golden Screen Cinemas.
There are also bike rentals in Gorge Town where you can get a motorbike and enjoy a city tour. Street markets in Gorge Town sell fresh food and cheap accessories and bargaining is always an exciting experience. Shopping malls such as Bukit Jambul Complex, Gurney Plaza and Island Plaza stock a wide range of items thereby making shopping a fun activity.
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