At 833 meters above sea level, Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera) is the tallest point on Penang Island. Accessible by the Penang Hill Railway, this place is one of Penang’s most popular recreational attractions. Standing at the summit, one is rewarded with mesmerizing views of Penang Island, Penang Bridge and Seberang Perai at the horizon.
Penang Hill Railway is a funicular railway between Air Itam and the summit of Penang Hill. A one-way ride takes approximately 7 minutes provided that the carriage does not stop at any intermediate stations. Be advised that the queuing time can be substantial during school holidays. Therefore, it is advisable to arrive earlier or to get premium tickets for priority boarding.
Little Village Penang Hill is an attraction near the upper station. Shaped like a telephone booth, the ticket counter is right next to Strawberry Hill. For Malaysians, admission tickets cost RM8.00 for adults and RM5.00 for children. Meanwhile, foreigners are charged RM15.00 and RM10.00 respectively.
At the entrance of Little Village is the magnificent Love Arch. This love-shaped structure is claimed to be the largest of its kind in Malaysia. Little Village’s mascots – a honey bee and a monkey – greet incoming visitors and offer to pose for group photos. Visitors have the option to have their photos printed at the gift shop later.
The arch also offers lovebirds the opportunity to declare their lasting love for each other in the form of love locks. These customized love locks can be purchased at the ticketing counter. Little Village has thousands of love locks so far, but there is always room for more.
The Love Arch is followed by Love Stroll, a scenic walkway which is covered with artificial turf. The path takes visitors through 5 smaller love-shaped arches. Visitors are welcome to take group photos and selfies here.
A short spur leads to the Valentine Pavilion. This viewpoint offers a different perspective of George Town’s cityscape. The gazebo is somewhat more secluded from the rest of the attraction, giving visitors an opportunity to immerse themselves in the cool, perpetually-blowing breeze. Since the opening of Little Village, many lovebirds have been engaged here.
The next section is the Dwarf Village. There are seven miniature houses along the hilly slopes. Inspired by the fairy tale, each house represents one of the seven dwarfs in Disney’s Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs. The Dwarf Village attempts to convey the spirit of love and harmony within the family.
Further down the path is the Rabbit Garden, a petting zoo where children can play with a herd of rabbits. These docile creatures provide an avenue for children to interact with animals. There are not many such opportunities in today’s urban setting.
At the Bee Garden, there are several beehives that take advantage of the abundance of flowers around Penang Hill. The bees that reside in these beehives are harmless. Respect these hardworking creatures by leaving them unharmed.
Scattered on both sides of the walkway are colorful patches of lavender and sunflower. Flowering plants and bees form a symbiotic relationship: plants provide bees with nectar as sustenance, while bees help to pollinate flowers. Refrain from touching the flowers as they are very delicate.
During construction of Little Village, the forest’s natural state is kept untouched as much as practically possible. As evidence, several pairs of dusky leaf monkeys (Trachypithecus obscurus) have made their home at Penang Hill. Their agile limbs allow them to swing gracefully from tree to tree. Although these primates are largely harmless, it is advisable to keep a safe distance from them.
Queen Bee Palace is the sheltered section of the attraction. This is where the gift shop and indoor exhibits are located. The polyhedron structure at the entrance will eventually be covered with foliage, forming a shady canopy as one enters the “palace”.
Little Village is operated by the same company as Bee Gallery Penang. This explains why the gift shop is stocked with a variety of honey products and bee-related souvenirs. Visitors can also have their photos developed here.
The indoor exhibits cover numerous aspects of honey and beekeeping. For example, explore a way to determine the genuineness of honey using electricity. Also, discover different bee species that are commercially raised to produce honey. If you are planning a field trip, Little Village is an excellent choice as this attraction provides educational values. Students in school uniforms also enjoy discounted admission tickets.
Visiting Little Village during nighttime and daytime is as different as… well, night and day. After sunset, the love-shaped arches are illuminated by colorful LED lighting. Transformed into a magical wonderland, Little Village is a romantic place for couples to spend quality time together.
For casual visitors, the suggested duration to spend at Little Village is 30 minutes to 1 hour. Little Village can also help to accommodate special requests such as birthday surprises, marriage proposals and wedding photography. For larger groups, the management is happy to arrange guided tours and advance booking of train tickets.
Little Village can be reached by phone (016-441-9270 or 012-317-9640) or by email. Also, get informed on the latest happenings at Little Village by following its Facebook page.
Name: Little Village Penang Hill
Address: Bukit Bendera, 11300 Air Itam, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 016-441-9270, 012-317-9640
Business hours: 9:30am-9:00pm
Website: Click here
Coordinates: 5.42401 N, 100.26998 E
Directions: Take the Penang Hill Railway to the summit of Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera). At the summit, follow the signs to Little Village. There is a multi-storey car park next to the lower station.