Muar

Muar(Johor)
Muar is one of the cities situated at around 179 kilometre from Johor Bahru. It's a town and port on the south-western coast of West Malaysia. Muar also known as Bandar Maharani for most of the local people staying there. It's popular for its delicious and inexpensive foods served by food stalls and restaurants. A picturesque town located strategically on the Muar River.Muar is also known for its agricultural products. The main natural products that are commercially produced are palm oil, gambier, mangosteen, rambutan and durian. Palm oil have become the main agriculture product as the Johor government promotes plantation of Palm Oil trees through out the state of Johor. There's also a furniture industry, which export to the international markets such as Europe and America.
Some say the name "Muara" it comes from muara, a word from the Malay Sunda language, meaning ‘a very wide river pouring into the sea’. Still others believe that it comes from the Hindu words munu, meaning ‘three’, and ar, meaning ‘river’. The ancient peoples of India had come to Muar looking for gold, but instead found the confluence of the rivers Muar, Serting and Pahang, similar to the ones they had at home. They named this place Muar to remind them of their beloved homeland.
Muar was established, years before Melaka came into being. Muar played a role in resisting the Portuguese occupation of Malacca in 1511. In response to attacks from the Portuguese fleet, the Bentayan fort was built by the Sultan of Malacca to repel seaborne invasions. When the Portuguese conquered Melaka in 1511, its Sultan and his entourage had escaped to Muar.
Tourists can enjoy a drive or stroll along tree-lined Jalan Tanjung, which follows the river mouth on the south side. Along this road, you will see mosques, old colonial houses, government buildings and a beautiful park.For most of the travellers visiting Muar, it's amust to stroll along the tree lined Jalan Tanjung, where Jalan Tanjung is actually along the river mouth located on the south side. Besides along the river side, Muar is actually a town situated strategically on the Muar River where originally, many believe that the Muar River actually contributed to the growth of Muar due to the fact, where Muar River is a natural means of transportation in the early days.
Map of Muar



Most leisure hours are lulled away by the meandering banks of the Muar River, the town’s lifeline, by either fishing, canoeing or savouring seafood as the sun blazes in the sky and burnishes the placid waters in the afterglow. In fact, Muar is actually very popular for its local delicacies where any of the travellers visiting Muar can enjoy delicious and inexpensive foods served by food stalls or restaurants located at various areas of Muar. One of the most preferred and famous local delicacy in Muar is known as “Otak – Otak” This is a mix blends of fish or prawn in various spices, wrapped normally in coconut leaf.


A few good food stores and restaurants:
1) Pak Yayah Asam Pedas,Parit Jawa

2) Oyster Omelette, Jln Haji Abu

3) Satay Muar, Jln Haji Abu

4) Straits View Rest, Parit Jawa

5) Mee Bandung Abu Bakar (Wah San Restaurant)

6) Seng Kee Otak-Otak (Jalan Haji Abu)

7) Fish Ball Noodles (Jalan Haji Abu).



A few places to visit:
Grisek Hot Spring - The natural wonder of hot springs can be found in the district of Muar, about 10km from Parit Jawa town. Like many other hot spring spots in Malaysia, the Grisek hotsprings is more popular with local visitors who believe in the benefits of the hot mineral waters to soothe musle aches, and provide some relief to certain skin ailments. The hot spring area has chalet, bathing and parking facilities, a children's playground and some shops.
Tanjung Emas Park - If you're Muar and looking for a quiet place to lay out the blanket and enjoy reading a book in the warm morning sunshine, Tanjung Emas recreational park overlooking Muar River is the place to go. This recreational park has a food court offering local delicacies if you get a little hungry- try the ikan asam pedas (fish cooked with tamarind sauce and chilli paste) for which this town is famous. There's plenty of rest shades if the sun gets too hot and also a children's playground to keep the little ones amused. Nearby, there is a government rest house offering accommodation in a garden environment for visitors looking to stay in Muar overnightGunung Ledang - Standing at 1,267m, Gunung Ledang is Johor's highest mountain and it can be accessed both from Johor (Sagil) and Melaka (Asahan). The journey to the top will take approximately five hours through the dense jungle.Among the locals, Gunung Ledang (formerly Mt Ophir) is more well known for its mysterious reputation rather than as a natural attraction. At the mention of this mountain, stories of the legendary Puteri Gunung Ledang, entwined with tales of supernatural encounters easily come to mind.
The first Masjid Jamek Muar completed construction in 1887. In the 1920s, a committee was formed to consider building a new Masjid Jamek for Muar. Following a bid to raise funds from the public, the committee in charge of building the new mosque successfully raised RM10,000 for the purpose. The committee then put forward the people's aspiration to the Sultan and obtained the royal consent. n 1925, works to construct Masjid Jamek Sultan Ibrahim began. Five years later, in 1930, the mosque was completed and was officially opened by Johor's Menteri Besar, Dato Mustafa bin Jaafar. Masjid Jamek Sultan Ibrahim is located along Jalan Petri, close to mouth of Muar River.
The majestic Masjid Jamek 2 - the second mosque (built in 1999), a replica of the Masjid Jamek Sultan Ibrahim is a breathtaking sight. It was built on the opposite bank of Muar River in Tanjung Agas. The two mosques formed a spectacular landmark, especially for those who enter Muar from the river mouth.Masjid Jamek 2 was completed in 1999 and can accommodate 5,000 Muslim congregations




GETTING TO MUAR

If you're driving from Kuala Lumpur on the North South Expressway (NSE), take the Tangkak exit (Interchange 235) and drive on past Sg. Mati and Parit Bunga (on highway 23 and 5). Muar town is about 27km from the Tangkak exit.

Maklumat mengenai keistimewaan di Muar akan dibukukan untuk jadi panduan kepada pengunjung MUAR: Eko-pelancongan, makanan istimewa, tempat bersejarah dan pemuliharaan alam sekitar adalah antara keistimewaan Muar, yang bukan saja mampu menarik pelancong tempatan, malah pengunjung dari luar negara. Keistimewaan yang ada ini tidak bermakna usaha promosi harus terhenti setakat itu sebaliknya ia harus diteruskan, termasuk menyedia dan memperbaiki kemudahan dari semasa semasa.
Sehubungan itu, Jawatankuasa Pelancongan dan Alam Sekitar Majlis Perbandaran Muar (MPM) mengambil inisiatif mengadakan Program Menjejaki Produk Pelancongan dan Sejarah Daerah Muar bagi mengenal pasti produk pelancongan yang berpotensi untuk dikomersialkan secara giat kepada pelancong tempatan dan luar. Melalui program itu, MPM yang diketuai Yang Dipertuanya, Ab Wahab Ridwan, meninjau beberapa produk pelancongan sedia ada, termasuk Kolam Air Panas Sungai Gersik, Homestay Sarang Buaya, Sungai Muar yang bersejarah, tarikan makanan asam pedas dan mi bandung serta sate Muar. Selain itu, Pantai Leka di Parit Jawa turut memiliki keistimewaan tersendiri apabila menjadi lokasi hijrah burung botak atau nama saintifiknya Leptotilos Javanicus, sejenis spesies burung yang semakin pupus di dunia.
Ab Wahab ketika ditemui, berkata segala maklumat yang dikumpul itu akan dibukukan dan diterbitkan sebagai Direktori Pelancongan dan Sejarah Daerah Muar sebagai promosi dan memudahkan orang ramai mendapatkan maklumat mengenai produk pelancongan di daerah berkenaan. Katanya, Muar mempunyai keistimewaan tersendiri daripada pelbagai aspek, termasuk sejarah dan kedudukan bandar itu sendiri yang terkenal di kalangan pedagang pada zaman dulu, termasuk sejarah Kesultanan Melaka. "Muar bukan saja terkenal kerana keenakan makanan seperti mi bandung Muar, asam pedas dan sate, malah sejarah dan keindahan alam semula jadi Sungai Muar memberikan tarikan pelancongan yang tidak kurang istimewa berbanding tempat lain. "Contohnya, tarikan eko-pelancongan melalui program menyusuri Sungai Muar untuk meninjau sendiri keistimewaan bandar yang terletak di muara sungai dan lokasi memerhati burung botak di Parit Jawa memberikan pengalaman baru kepada pelancong," katanya.
Katanya, kewujudan beberapa lokasi tarikan yang selama ini hanya diketahui oleh masyarakat tempatan di sepanjang Sungai Muar, perlu diberi promosi yang meluas bagi menarik lebih ramai pelancong ke daerah ini. "Kita sudah mempunyai tempat makan yang sering menjadi kunjungan orang tempatan di sepanjang sungai Muar, oleh itu, kenapa tidak kita membuat promosi supaya tempat itu turut mampu menarik orang dari luar Muar bahkan dari seluruh negara," katanya. Ab Wahab berkata, keunikan yang ada pada Sungai Muar dengan beberapa tempat menarik yang dikaitkan dengan sejarah negara serta lagenda masyarakat tempatan dan kawasan sekitarnya turut boleh dieksploitasikan. "Kita boleh bawa pelancong menaiki bot persiaran dari jeti Tanjung Emas dan menyusuri Sungai Muar sehingga ke Bukit Kepong untuk mereka menikmati pemandangan dan menyelami nilai sejarah di sepanjang sungai ini. "Ini adalah antara kelebihan yang sedia kita miliki. Kini, kita harus fikir bagaimana untuk membuat perancangan dan pelaksanaan yang akhirnya meletakkan Muar sebagai destinasi utama pelancong," katanya.

FAKTA: Bandar Muar
Bandar Muar dibuka pada 1884.
Ia juga dikenali sebagai Bandar Maharani.
Nama Muar berasal dari perkataan Muara berikutan kedudukan bandar itu di kuala sungai.
Sungai Muar mempunyai banyak catatan peristiwa bersejarah, termasuk pada zaman Kesultanan Melaka dan kesan serangan komunis di Bukit Kepong. Antara produk pelancongan Muar
Kolam Air panas Sungai Gersik.
Homestay Sarang Buaya.
Lokasi burung hijrah yang hampir pupus iaitu burung botak atau nama saintifiknya Leptotilos Javanicus di Pantai Leka, Parit Jawa.
Pelbagai masakan termasuk Mi Bandung Muar, asam pedas, sate Muar, kopi.
Tokong lama di Parit Unas.
Hutan Bakau.
Pengkalan Parit Tiram yang menjadi lokasi baka tiram yang dikatakan bermutu tinggi di dunia.
Sungai Muar yang bersejarah dan menjadi laluan utama pedagang zaman dulu.
Pelbagai bangunan lama, termasuk Masjid Jamek Sultan Abu Bakar, Bangunan Sultan Abu Bakar, Kubu Bentayan, Bangunan Kastam Diraja.


sumber : Berita Harian Edisi Johor Rabu 28 mei 2008