SETIU: The lost glories of the
Hindu-Buddhist kingdom of Langkasuka have
been captured in the form of art and culture
at two tourism spots in Terengganu.
The Caritra Langkasuka exhibition, which
runs for three months until Sept 30 at the
Terradala Museum Cafe in Jalan Sultan
Sulaiman in the city centre and Terrapuri
Heritage Village in Penarik.
Terengganu Tourism Association deputy
president Alex Lee Yun Ping said apart from
dozens of batik-cloth art by Asri Mat Yaman,
the exhibition also featured Langkasuka
architecture and artefacts, as well as
santapan Langkasuka (Langkasuka delicacies).
“To complement the exhibition, we have
created a ‘Caritra Langkasuka Escapade’ with
tours to Pulau Duyong, Pulau Sekati, Penarik
and Kampung Pengalan Gajah fishing villages
with colourful boats, Kampung Raja wood
carving, Wat Mai Suwankiri temple and the
firefly and turtle sanctuaries,” said Lee
who is also adviser to the Terengganu
Peranakan Association.
The name Langkasuka, which is Sanskrit in
origin, is believed to refer to a
‘resplendent land of bliss’ that is related
to the empire of Indian emperor Asoka the
great (circa 268 to 232 BC) and Bhagadatta
and legendary Kedah warrior Merong
Mahawangsa.
Lee, who is managing director of Ping
Anchorange Travel and Tours, said response
to the exhibition and tours had been
encouraging, not only among foreigners but
locals as well.
He said visitors could sample traditional
Terengganu and Peranakan fare while enjoying
gamelan music.
“Many are using this opportunity to better
understand the Langkasuka kingdom which is
linked with southern Thailand, Kelantan and
Terengganu.
“They are intrigued at the batik art, and
the wooden and bronze artefacts, which
rekindle the kingdom’s history via
decorative items.
“The exhibition is an added service to the
travel, tour and tourism industries in
Terengganu,” said Lee, who owns both
Terradala and Terrapuri.
Lee said Terradala referred to the ‘land of
decorative arts’, while Terrapuri was a
‘land of palaces’ with traditional Malay
classic bungalow houses overlooking the
South China Sea.
He said he had roped in notable traditional
artist Asri, a native of Cherang Ruku,
Kelantan, to add glamour to the exhibition.
An ardent art lover and collector of
artefacts, Lee has over the years acquired
almost 500 traditional and historical
decorative craft items and artefacts worth
several million ringgit, for display at the
Terradala Museum Cafe. Visitors can also buy
traditional Terengganu ware and clothes at
the cafe.
“I spent time looking for such historical,
heritage and antique arts and crafts from
old palaces around the region,” said Lee.
He is now embarking on refurbishing his
Terradala Museum Cafe, situated on the
ground floor of a five-storey building
complete with outdoor gazebo, into an
eight-room wooden-ornamental adorned
boutique hotel, with a rooftop garden.