The beach and local cuisine are two specific ways to experience Kijal: picnicking is a designated activity at Pantai Penunjuk, while lemang and keropok lekor are among the town’s specialties.
Picnics and beach views at Pantai Penunjuk
Pantai Penunjuk also has a pavilion, a children’s playground, signposts and a paved road. Sometimes, you may see colourful fishing boats moored on the beach. For planning purposes, it is useful to distinguish between the two: picnicking is a designated activity, while the boats are a possible sight, but are not always present. This places a specifically named activity alongside an occasional detail of the beach scene.
Lemang and keropok lekor from Kijal
Lemang is rice cooked in bamboo and a specialty of Kampung Bukit Anak Dara in Kijal. Lemang and keropok lekor are also Kijal specialties; both are available at roadside stalls or at the resort. There are two distinctions to note: the connection with Kampung Bukit Anak Dara applies to lemang, while both dishes are grouped together as Kijal specialties. Lemang is therefore tied more specifically to a named place, while keropok lekor is also part of the local selection.
Terengganu as the wider setting
Terengganu has a 224-kilometre coastline. The Terengganu Scenic Drive links coastal destinations from Kemaman through Kuala Terengganu to Besut. The described driving route passes through Kemasik, Paka, Dungun, Marang (Kelulut), Chendering, Batu Buruk, Penarik, Mangkuk, Setiu Wetland, Benting Lintang and Pantai Air Tawar in Besut. Pulau Kapas lies about six kilometres off the coast of Marang. These place and route details offer a broader regional view of Terengganu.
The markets have different highlights, too. Pasar Marang offers fresh seafood, traditional Malay dishes and local handicrafts. Pasar Payang is located on the banks of the Sungai Terengganu in Kuala Terengganu. It offers traditional handicrafts such as batik, silk fabrics, songket, brocade fabrics and metalware. Marang therefore brings together food and handicrafts at its market, while Pasar Payang offers a particular range of textiles and metalwork.
In Marang, visitors can walk, cycle or ride a motorcycle at Benteng Marang. Another regional focus is the mining heritage of Bukit Besi in Dungun: its remains include a former railway line, tunnels, former accommodation, a tin plant and a factory chimney. Other industrial relics there include an ore stockpile, a processing plant and a crushing plant. Tasik Puteri near Bukit Besi was formed by iron ore mining and is being developed as a recreational area.
The 23-hectare Islamic Civilization Park is located on Wan Man Island in Kuala Terengganu. It offers an interactive exploration of Islamic monuments and includes 21 replicas of structures from the history of the Islamic world. The Crystal Mosque is the park’s landmark and a new landmark of Kuala Terengganu. Nature experiences also span different parts of Terengganu: the Terengganu Marine Park encompasses the four major archipelagos of Pulau Redang, Pulau Perhentian, Pulau Kapas and Pulau Tenggol. More than 150 bird species have been recorded at Kenyir Lake.
Discover more destinations: Kuala Besut, Permaisuri, Chalok, Pulau Redang, Cukai, Kampong Pasir Hantu, Kampong Basong, Dungun.
View the broader travel overview: Terengganu.
