Not only is Muar a foodie hangout and the preferred abode of the Johor royal family, it is also a sightseer’s paradise with its many historical sites.
And with the scenic Muar River flowing right through the city of Johor Bahru, it would be a shame if there wasn’t a way to catch all the sights in one swoop.
Wait a minute. There is!
Just like nearby Melaka, Muar is home to a river cruise which gives visitors, local and foreign alike, a picture-perfect view of the city.
Imagine half an hour of relaxing downtime, enjoying the wind brushing against your face, while listening to the pristine waters of the Muar River lap against the hull. Intrigued yet?
Available on Fridays, weekends and public holidays, the Muar River Cruise is a must if you happen to be visiting during that time.
Ticket prices are also reasonable, given that each cruise travels a distance of about 8km.
The cruise boats themselves are well-equipped vessels, with ample seating, and of course, lifejackets. Get strapped in!
Through the boat’s PA system, you will be told the history of Muar and that of the historical or cultural riverside buildings you pass along the way.
The first of these sites is Tanjung Emas, which is incidentally located right next to the jetty, so maybe you could take a closer look after the cruise.
A riverside city park, this is often a pit-stop for photography enthusiasts. At night, the park is beautifully lit, the perfect spot for the many cultural events frequently hosted here.
If you keep looking from the starboard (read: right) side, you will spot the Muar home of the Johor royal family. Unlike the usual image of palatial estates, the Palace of Muar, or Istana Tanjong, is something closer to a large bungalow.
As to be expected, it is off-limits to tourists. Still, one can gape at it from a safe distance on the cruise.
Right next to the palace is Masjid Jamek Sultan Ibrahim, also known as Masjid Jamek Muar. While it looks like a wealthy individual’s mansion, make no mistake, this is a uniquely designed place of worship.
Built in the 1880s, the design of the mosque borrows heavily from contemporary Victorian architecture. For that reason, the mosque would not really look out of place in London, with its many Western-style columns.
It’s far from the only mosque in Muar though, as on the opposite bank of Masjid Jamek is Masjid Sultan Ismail Muar.
A twin of sorts to the historical mosque, this one was built in 2002 but it retains the architectural inspiration of its older sibling.
Back to the right river bank though, you can catch a glimpse of one of the town’s most imposing buildings, the Sultan Abu Bakar Building.
Today, it serves as the Muar District Office, but it was built back in 1921 and was the centre of the Japanese administration during their occupation of Malaya during World War II.
Spanning across the river and looming over any passing cruise boat is the Sultan Ismail Bridge, built in 1967.
Before its construction, Muar residents had to take a ferry to cross over to the opposite bank; those days are long past now.
Vehicle traffic in Muar has understandably increased since then and congestion on the bridge is common.
There are also more than just buildings and structures to look at whilst taking a ride on the River Cruise though.
In fact, if you are lucky, you might catch a glimpse of folks engaging in a little-known and underappreciated profession – oyster fishing.
If you look hard, you might notice boats moored to poles in the middle of the river, with no boatmen in sight. Well, in truth, the boatmen are there – but underwater.
Wait long enough, and the boatmen will surface, with their catch of oysters in hand. Post-unloading, they will be diving once more for a second haul.
For a simple boat trip, the Muar River Cruise gives tourists a valuable insight into life in the historical city and is thus worth a trip for any first-time visitor.
Muar River Cruise
Jalan Tanjung 4
Taman Emas
84000 Muar
Johor
Tickets:
- RM20: Malaysians aged 13 and above
- RM15: Malaysians aged under 13
- RM30: Foreign tourists
Operation Hours:
9.30am-12.30pm; 2.30pm-5.30pm
(Friday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays)