Kota Bahru

Kota Bharu (or Kota Baru or Kota Baharu), a town in Malaysia, is the state capital of Kelantan. It is also the name of a district in which Kota Bharu town is situated. The name means 'new city' or 'new castle/fort' in Malay. It is in Peninsular Malaysia, and lies near the mouth of the Kelantan River at 6°8′N 102°15′E. In 2004, it had an estimated population of 280,000.

This northeastern Malaysian town is close to the Thai border, and is home to many mosques and Thai-style Buddhist temples. Also of interest are various museums and the unique architecture of the old royal palace (still occupied by the sultan and sultanah and off-limits to visitors but viewable from outside) and former royal buildings (which can be visited) in the center of town. Kota Bharu is one of the most conservative cities in Malaysia, and is under the strictest Islamic laws in Malaysia, passed and put into effect by the long-ruling PAS government. There are separate religious services in mosques for men and women, and government offices and many stores are closed on Fridays and Saturdays, but the vibrant markets remain open except for Islamic prayer times.

Kota Bharu was the landing point of the Japanese invasion forces on 8 December 1941 in their Malayan campaign when they successfully engaged the British in jungle warfare.