| | History (Source: WCities) | Top | Much of the architectural heritage surviving in this city dates from the mid-19th century. Johor Bahru in fact means 'new Johor' in the Malay language and, as the capital of the Johor state, encapsulates 150 years of modernising efforts under forward-looking and capable monarchs. Deeper historical roots lie in the upper reaches of the Johor River, near Kota Tinggi in Johor Lama —the 'old Johor'. After Malacca fell to the Portuguese in 1511, defeated Sultan Mahmud Shah fled to Bintan and subsequently founded the Sultanate of Johor. Around 1540, his son and heir, Sultan Alauddin Shah, moved the capital to Johor Lama, where fragments of the original stone fort still remain. However, Portuguese and Acehnese hostilities plagued the infant sultanate for the rest of that century. Only in the early 17th century did it prosper under economic and political alliances with the Dutch. In 1641, it helped the Dutch oust the Portuguese from Malacca. By then, Johor was a thriving trading entrepôt and the Johor-Riau Empire a paramount Malay power. The empire's fortunes reversed following the murder in 1699 of the ineffectual Sultan Mahmud, the last descendant of the Malaccan royal lineage and whose resting place lies within the Kota Tinggi Royal Mausoleum. More than a century of instability ensued. Prey to internal strife and new powers from Europe and in the Malay world, the empire weakened and splintered. In 1819, Stamford Raffles capitalised on factional rivalry in the empire t
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| How To Get There (Source: WCities) | Top | Getting There: By Air: The Senai International Airport ( +607 599 4500/ http://www.senaiairport.com ) is located northwest of Johor Bahru and is served by regional and national airlines including: Air Asia: ( +603 8660 4343/ http://www.airasia.com ) Malaysia Airlines: ( http://www.malaysiaairlines.com ) Riau Airlines ( http://www.riau-airlines.com ) There is an airport shuttle service available; pre-booking is essential. The taxi ticketing counter is located on the ground floor and taxis are available 24 hours daily. Car rental companies at Senai International Airport include: Avis ( +607 599 5380/ http://www.avis.com ) Delta ( +607 598 1677 ) Hawk ( +607 224 2854 ) Hertz ( +607 223 7570/ http://www.hertz.com ) Mayflower ( +607 224 1357 ) Orix ( +607 227 2118 ) Ztt Budget Car & Van Rental ( +607 598 1625 ) Taxi Services: Comfort Radio Taxi Bhd City Enterprise By Train: Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad ( KTM ) provides train service with stops at the Johor Bahru Railway Station ( +60 07 223 4727 ) at Jalan Tun Abdul Razak. Trains run regularly between Singapore, major cities in Malaysia and Johor Bahru. By Bus: The Larkin Bus Terminal is located off Jalan Garuda in northern Johor Bahru. Most major cities throughout Malyasia offer bus service to Johor Bahru. Plusliner ( +60 3 2274 9601 ) runs service several times daily between Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru; the trip takes
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| What To Do (Source: WCities) | Top | Paint a city. What colour would it be? Start with a cosmopolitan background, pencil in the lush greenery of world-class golf courses, go wild with the deep russets of traditional batik from the opulent Bugis era, add a silvery dash of hi-tech music, dance and karaoke and, finally, sneak in the soothing turquoise streaks of beaches and islands. Voila! There you have it—Johor Bharu, multi-hued and exciting. Golf Clubs To the uninitiated, choosing a course to test one's swing can sometimes be tricky, because there are so many in and around the city. Going by popularity, the Pulai Springs Resort and the Palm Resort Golf and Country Club are top dogs and consistently enjoy a high level of Singaporean patronage. The Poresia Country Club , the Octville Golf and Country Club and the Ponderosa Golf and Country Club are decent plays nestled near the city and with night golfing selectively available. Further away, the 54-hole Tanjung Puteri Golf and Country Club and the Sebana Golf and Marine Resort , located at the fringe of the Desaru resort town, both deserve special mention for playability, scenic landscapes and lack of traffic on the fairways even on weekends. On the other hand, newer courses like the Starhill Golf and Country Club and the Legends Golf and Country Club (The) are ever adding variety to the golfing scene here. For beginners, Daiman 18 , a public course, presents a more affordable alternative, while within the city Pelangi Golf Driving
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