Want to witness a cosmopolitan city with vast culture, rich history, and many beautiful heritage sites including mosques, churches, and temples? Then Johor Bahru is the right tourist place for you.

Johor Bahru is the capital city of Johor state, located on the Malay peninsula. It is very close to Singapore as a small strait separates each other. Its history dates back nearly 150 years, making it a pretty old city. Sultan Abu Bakr laid the foundation of it in 1855 and later named it “Johor”, its current name. The residents of the city are referred to as Johoreans.

The progressive cultural values and aspects of Bahru City make it a unique tourist state. You will see a blend of cultural aspects and historical events in everything, including their dance, music, food, and handicrafts. For example, Gazal is the traditional Johorean music, and Zapin and Kuda Kepang are the traditional dances that reflect their history.

Another popular element of it is the traditional handicrafts that reflect their culture. The famous handicrafts of Johor Bahru are copper calligraphy, weaving, and wood carving.

You can find several cultural heritage sites in Johor Bahru. Its heritage ranges from Hindu Temples to the Muslim Mosque and Christian churches. We have gathered fifteen must-visit sites which have historical and cultural backgrounds.

Tiong Hua, Chinese Heritage Museum, is a 4-story building. It depicts the Chinese era in Johor Bahru City. This museum has a huge collection of handicrafts, paintings, scripts, and images reflecting the struggles and accomplishments of the Chinese community after their migration. You can gain an insight into the colorful Chinese history.

As its name says, it is a dark bright red colored building with some white paint. The red house can grab your attention at first sight. Primarily an Indian family was its owner, and it was not a landmark. They used it as a pre-war shophouse. The owners decided to preserve it when the government declared Tan Hiok Nee Street, which is located as a heritage site.

It is a magnificent Hindu temple that attracts hundreds of tourists in Johor Bahru. Since it is a religious place, visitors are advised to enter without shoes. It was built to pay respect to the Hindu Goddess Mariamman; they believe that she can bless them with good health, kids, and rain.

First Johor Menteri Besar, Dato Jaafar bin Mohammad lived in Johor Figure Museum. It was formerly called the Dato Jaafar building. Back then, it was used as an army headquarters for Japanese and British armies. Nowadays, you will find documents, artifacts, and paintings showing the historical importance of the Johor state leaders.

The Old Chinese Temple is a small yet beautiful temple. Though its architecture is not extraordinary, it still captures a lot of spirituality. It is painted with bright and energetic colors. Tan Hiok Nee was the founder of the temple. He built it 140 years back.

The Old Chinese Temple is a small yet beautiful temple. Though its architecture is not extraordinary, it still captures a lot of spirituality. It is painted with bright and energetic colors. Tan Hiok Nee was the founder of the temple. He built it 140 years back.

Masjid India is an ancient mosque with a beautiful round blue dome with some silver linings and two minarets. It was built in 1950 by Abdul Majid and Haji Muhammad Ibrahim. It is the central place of Muslim worship in Johor Bahru.

Gurdwara Sahib Sikh Temple was built in the 19th century by Sikh police officers, making it a precious landmark for the Sikh community. It is a double-story temple in which the ground floor serves Langar (food), whereas the first floor is used for praying by Darbar Sahibs. The executive community of the Gurdwara is nominated after the elections.

Sultan Ibrahim Building was once the tallest building in Johor Bahru in the 1970s. Sultan Ibrahim built it. This building has huge historical importance as the Japanese army used it in World War Two. Nowadays, it is closed to the public. However, you can still witness the magic of the building from far behind and can feel the history and the culture of the Johoreans.

Abdullah bin Ahmed built this museum in 1982. It has stuff related to Bugis, including weapons, clothes, ornaments, documents, and scripts representing the Malay region’s Bugis community. It gets the attention of tourists, especially those interested in culture and history.

The old railway station was built in 1932. It reflects Western architecture and has iconic blue and yellow colors. Now the government has launched a new railway station; therefore, it is no longer functional. There are many facilities on the railway stations like food stalls which serve super delicious food and other shopping stores.

Rev John Angus Bethune laid the foundation of Holy Light Church in the year 1883. It is a 130-year-old church. Previously, the church gave services in both English and Chinese languages. Later, the English services changed location, whereas Chinese services still operate there.

Bazar Karat is situated in Jalan Segget. People usually visit it at night. It is a big market with numerous shops where you can buy unique and vintage products, clothes, and fashion accessories. Indonesian Batik shirts from this bazaar are very popular among tourists.

During the rule of Sultan Abu Bakr in the 18th century, he built a high court at Jalan Ayer Molek. Its building depicts Italian architecture. It has relocated to a new location where today’s high court building is present. Both session court and magistrate court sessions can be conducted here.

The Johor Bahru Post Office is a three-story building next to Johor Bahru City Hall. The King of Johor did the orientation of the post office. Formerly this building was used as a hotel.

Johor Bahru Prison was built in the 18th century for the punishment of the people who stood against British colonialism. It was established in a limited space and later shifted to a new bigger place. Visitors can witness the prison process live there.

Johor Bahru, the heart of the Johor state, combines technology, history, and culture perfectly. The heritage sites of Johor show that people of the religion have once fallen in love with the sceneries and the beauty of the Johor Bahru. Hence they all leave their marks as heritage sites in the city. It is a heaven for culture and history enthusiasts. The eye-catching mosques, magnificent temples, old yet modernized churches and railway stations, prisons, and post offices make the visitors love it. You should visit Johor Bahru to make the most of your Malaysia tour.