Johor Bahru Vacations, Malaysia

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Johor Bahru Travel Guide

Johor Bahru (also Johor Baru or Johore Baharu, but universally called just JB) is the state capital of Johor in southern peninsular Malaysia, just across the causeway from Singapore. A bustling city but one with little of interest for the casual tourist, it is a significant regional transport hub and manufacturing hub.

Johor Bahru can be easily divided into four parts

North, South, East and West.

South

Its main city centre is located on the southern part of the city which has a link to Singapore via the causeway. It is an area with housing estates which has been around for more than three decades. Important estates includes, Taman Pelangi, Taman Century and Taman Sentosa.

North

Can be accessed via the trunk road, Jalan Tebrau. There can be a relatively frequent peak hour jam along this road. The main centre would be Taman Johor Jaya. Recently, the Austin area has been a hive for construction activities with the latest Jusco Tebrau City locating in its vicinity.

West

Probably one of the larger areas of the four. Its hub is Skudai and has important housing estates such as Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, Taman Skudai Baru, Taman Bukit Indah, Taman Perling and Taman Nusa Bestari. The largest port in Johor, Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas is located in this area.

East

Another port city which has been around for more than 20 years. The main hub is Pasir Gudang which is both a port city as well as a manufacturing hub. Tanjung Langsat which is located near Pasir Gudang is fast becoming a petro chemical hub.

Declared a city only in 1994, Johor Bahru is a rapidly growing city. Latest census figures indicates that it is fast becoming Malaysia's second largest city, with a population of over one million. Given its relatively large land space, the town is not as dense as other cities around Malaysia.

Due to its proximity to Singapore, it suffers from unavoidable comparison with its more squeaky-clean neighbour. Recent clean-up initiatives like greening the city and covering the open sewers that until a few years ago ran through the center of the city have made it a more pleasant place to live. Though appreciably less organised and more messy when compared to the glitz of Singapore, shopping and eating in the city can be a real adventure, with many shopping complexes and a wide variety of food establishments offering budget to fine dining.

Johor Bahru is probably more well known as an industrial city rather than a tourist-friendly town. Many of the world's top manufacturers have at least one plant in Johor Bahru. Prior to the crisis, it was a magnet for foreign investments particularly those from Singapore, United States and Japan. The recent new port at Tanjung Pelepas has stirred the economy a little.

More information on Johor Bahru Travel at Wikitravel.org

Things To Do and See in Johor Bahru

Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque, Johor Bahru
Commissioned in 1900 by Sultan Abu Bakar--a much respected monarch widely referred to as the 'Father of Modern Johor'-- this grand mosque can accommodate 2,000 worshippers.
Attraction type: Religious site; Architectural building

Johor Zoo, Johor Bahru
Attraction type: Zoo

Pulai Waterfall, Johor Bahru
Attraction type: Waterfall

Dataran Bandaraya (City Square), Johor Bahru
Attraction type: Town center/square/plaza

Grand Palace Park (Istana Besar), Johor Bahru
Attraction type: Park; Museum complex