Johor - Southern Gateway

Johor is the southern gateway into Peninsular Malaysia and is linked to Singapore by road and rail. Its proximity to Singapore has made it a popular destination among Singaporeans as well as other international tourists visiting the island republic. It is the only state in the country that boasts of a coastline stretching along the Straits of Malacca to the South China Sea. The state is endowed with an abundance of natural attractions that provide numerous opportunities for a wide range of outdoor recreational and leisure activities.

When in Johor Bahru, the capital of the state, take time off to tour the city or shop around. Interesting spots are the Royal Museum, the Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque, the Grand Palace, the Johor Art Gallery, the Mawar Handicraft Centre and Dataran Bandaraya built in 1994 to commemorate Johor Bahru's declaration as a city.

Souvenir and handicraft stores and modern shopping complexes all offer a multitude of items at reasonable prices.

Those who yearn for jungle adventures will find the Endau Rompin National Park in the north eastern border of the state to be a haven for unspoilt nature. The park is home to many unique and endemic varieties of tropical plants and visitors have reported occasional wildlife sightings. The popular Kota Tinggi waterfalls, 56 km north of Johor Bahru is a refreshing spot for picnics. A drive through the large tracts of oil palm and coffee plantations in Kluang makes a pleasant and eye opening experience.

Head for Kukup, a picturesque fishing village on the southwest coast and visit its fascinating fish farms. Round off your trip by stopping at the town to taste the fresh and delicious seafood offerings. Or visit the mangrove swamps of Tanjung Piai to see exotic aquatic life.

Johor's premier beach resort is at Desaru, a magnificent 25 km stretch of sandy beach flanking the South China Sea. The resort has three hotels and is just the right place to unwind and indulge in a host of carefree activities such as fishing, snorkelling, windsurfing, boating, canoeing, swimming and jungle-trekking. Off Johor's eastern coast, amid the clear blue waters of the South China Sea are the islands ofPulau Rawa, Pulau Sibu, Pulau Aur, Pulau Besar and Pulau Pemanggil. All these idyllic islands have accommodation and offer excellent scuba diving, snorkelling, wind surfing, sailing and other activities.

Location
The third largest and southernmost state in Malaysia Johor covers an area of 19,984 sq. km. To its north are the states of Malacca and Pahang; its west the Straits of Malacca; its east the South China Sea ; and its south Singapore , which is accessible via two road and rail causeways. Johor's highest point is Gunung Ledang at 1,276m.

Population
Johor's population exceeds 2 million people, comprising an ethnic mix of mainly Malay, Chinese, and Indians.

Climate
On the whole, Johor's climate is tropical. The temperature is relatively uniform hovering around 26?C to 27?C throughout the year. During the months of January to April, the weather is generally dry and warm. Humidity is consistently high on the lowlands ranging between 82% to 86%. The average rainfall per year is 2,030 mm to 3,050 mm with the heaviest rainfall in the months of May to December.