Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower and Penang Fountain

Welcome to the Leaning Tower of Penang. Erected at the turn of the 20th century to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, it is leaning since the bombings of World War II. The 60 ft edifice was funded by a Malaysian millionaire of Chinese origin, named Cheah Chen Eok. Each feet of the tower is said to represent a year of the Queen’s rule.
This colonial-era landmark is located next to a roundabout marked by the Penang Fountain; yet another beautiful monument designed much like a betel cut in pieces. Why a betel nut? Well, the word ‘Penang’ in Malay translates to betel. In earlier times, Penang Island was often referred to as the island of betel nuts and this modern fountain is an arty reminder. When the fountain was proposed, it faced stiff opposition from interest groups who feared that it might interfere with George Town’s bid for the tag of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the contrary, it adds a distinct Malaysian signature to an otherwise colonial area.

The Victoria Memorial Clock Tower, with its peculiar moorish dome, and the Penang Fountain are situated at the intersection of Beach Street and Light Street in the core zone of World Heritage Site.
Tips: Though the fort administration claims to run an hourly English language guided tour starting at 10 AM, with the last tour-of-the-day at 6 PM, this may not be a regular feature. Depending on your interest, you may plan your tour to this point of interest. Foreigners’ entry ticket to this historical masterpiece is RM 20.