Fort Cornwallis In Penang, Malaysia

Take a stroll along its privately-managed perimeters for about 10 minutes, and start your day on a beautiful note. As you visit this historic building located in downtown Penang- Georgetown, the sound of 1812 overture playing on a speaker offers a surreal experience, while a local dressed in British regalia standing at the gate adds a whole drama to your visit to this bastion fort. What’s more, as you enter the fort, there is a variety of some vague exhibits that traverse you to an altogether a different world.

History of Fort Cornwallis

Built on the same site where the founder of British Colony of Penang- Captain Francis Light first set foot in the year 1786 to take possession of the Penang Island from the Sultan of Kedah, Fort Cornwallis still holds a significant position in the region. Sprawling over an area of about 4490 sq. km, the fort was constructed with no permanent structures as a stockade using the trunks of nibong palms. Albeit, the intention behind the establishment of Fort Cornwallis, Penang was to create a defensive structure against the Kedah forces, pirates, and French forces during the Napoleonic Wars as well; it mainly served as administration centre.

During the rule of Colonel R.T. Farquhar, the Fort Cornwallis went under reconstruction. The magnificent fort, which was originally built using nibong palms got later transformed into a stone structure.

Architecture of Fort Cornwallis

Attributing to the fact that the fort was originally built as a defensive structure, it was shaped as a star in order to protect Penang from different angles of fire from enemies. With a bronze statue of Francis Light at the main entrance, the Fort Cornwallis in Georgetown, Penang consists of barracks, prison cells, original flagstaff, munitions storage areas, and a harbor light which was used to signal incoming ships. There are also a plethora of bronze cannons in the fort where locals offer flowers and joss sticks.

With rich history exhibited through numerous galleries, Fort Cornwallis is worth-visiting for every traveler who loves to delve into past. So, if you consider yourself a history-buff, this attraction is a must-visit on your next excursion to Penang, for sure.