Located in the east coast of the peninsula, the magic of Kelantan is in its quaint fishing villages, idyllic sandy beaches lined with captivating swaying palms and picturesque panorama of verdant tropical forests. Still, the true charm of the land is in the vitality of its true colorful culture. Kelantan state, which is also the ‘Cradle of Malay Culture”, is home to vibrant cottage industries involved in the making of traditional handicraft such as songket, batik, brassware and basket weaving. In its capital, Kota Bharu, traditional pastimes such as kite-flying and top-spinning are still very much alive today.
Kelantanese cuisine is heavily influenced by Thai cuisine. Nasi dagang, nasi kerabu and budu are the must-try cuisine every time you go to Kelantan. Nasi dagang is one of the testiest dishes. It goes well with fish curry, pickle, and hard boiled egg. Budu is a salted anchovy sauce eaten with rice, grilled fish and vegetables or salad (ulam).
The culture also influenced by the Thai. The cradle of Malay culture based on the diverse cultural activities practiced. Dikir Barat, Wayang Kulit Kelantan, Wayang Kulit Melayu, Mak Yong, Menora, Main Puteri, Wau Bulan, Gasing and Silat are the cultural activities that are still practiced in Kelantan. Songket and batik are so famous in Kelantan and some of them were named after this state. For example batik Kelantan and songket Kelantan.
