Pekan, The Royal Town Of Pahang

Pekan is situated in the east coast of Pahang. It is about 50 Km from Kuantan. Situated on the confluence of two rivers, River Pahang and the smaller River Pekan. The town is easily accessible from Kuantan by car, taxi and public buses.
         It was the capital of Pahang, during the rules of the Sultan before 1870. Strategically positioned at that time, as it was in control of trades and transportation that passed through the Pahang river.
Pekan is also the name of the district and the Parliamentary constituency. It is the royal town of Pahang and the official home of the Royal Sultan, Sultan Ahmad Shah. The town prides itself as it has produced two of the Malaysian Prime Minister, the late Tun Razak and his son, the current Prime Minister Najib Razak.
The town's name, according to the folk’s tale, came from the name of a species of wild flower, the Bunga Pekan that grew in abundant on the bank of the rivers. The town, which was also a port,  is said to have existed since the 17th century, and was quoted by several Arab and Chinese travelers in their journals.

Events and Attractions
There are a number of tourist attractions in Pekan. The town is more popular with the local visitors, mainly because the attractions and events are more related hers status as the royal town.
The Royal Attractions includes the annual birthday celebration held in Oct 24th. It is an event worth the waiting, as at this visitors will be able to join the outburst of culture and tradition activities. Thousands of the residents from different parts of Pahang will flock to this town to join the celebration. The food and drinks will be sponsored by the palace, the cultural activities, include the traditional dances, handicraft and traditional games. As this is a state's event, hotels are normally full. Early booking of the is required to ensure a room

Sultan Abu Bakar Museum. The museum displays important artifacts related to the state's history and the local Malay culture. The extended portion of the museum, built on Pulau Beram (Beram Island) is dedicated to water transportation owned by the late Sultan Abu Bakar and the Tengku Ampuan Pahang Tengku Afzan. Water transportation was the main mode of travelling before the road system was built.  It showcases many types of watercrafts from beautifully craved boats to decaying logs. Diffrent models of fisherman house and floating hut are also being displayed. 

The Royal Palace you will notice the Ivory Motive on the entrance to the palace. This palace was built in 1965 and it is the current residence of Sultan of Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah. It is almost hidden amidst of lush green tropical trees and surrounded by peaceful and clean Malay kampung or village.

Nearby the Royal Pahang Polo Field is a long-established Islamic college, known as Kuliah Sultan Abu Bakar (the Sultan Abu Bakar Colleges). It has produced eminent scholars all over the State of Pahang and Malaysia. Its students consistently further their studies in the esteemed Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt.

Kelab Golf DiRaja Pekan The 18-holes par-72 course plays to 6,506yds from the blue tees... The First Nine is the shorter of the two nines at 3,210yds and the Second Nine at 3,296yds... The course is flat with minimal water hazards... The fairway is of cow grass... Golfers can either walk (using trolley) or use turfmate or buggy... The clubhouse is a temporary structure with a golfer's terrace for food and beverages... Surprising, the food is of acceptable standard... The changing rooms left much to be desired... The abandoned clubhouse re-development is now being revived. 

Beaches: Pekan is 15 minutes from clean, sandy beaches. North on the way to Kuantan, there is Pantai Legenda (Lagenda Beach) (with golf course). South on the way to Kuala Rompin is the Pantai Batu 16 (the 16th Mile Beach), which used to have a royal retreat complex.

A one-hour drive from Pekan is Lake Chini, a beautiful freshwater lake which is one of the largest in Malaysia. It features a resort with restaurant, jungle trekking paths and a boat station. Boat trips are available by various routes around the lake. Prices differ according to the chosen routes (duration of boat trip from 45 minutes to 3 hours). There are also Orang Asli (natives) settlements nearby providing a hands-on experience of their living culture.


Visiting Pekan can be a day affair. The best time to visit is during the Sultan birthday in October.  If you come on other time, you will find the quite down without much activities.