Kelantan State Museum
Kota Bharu · Malaysia · Founded 1990
Quick answer
Kelantan State Museum in Kota Bharu, Malaysia — the Kelantan State Museum occupies the old Kota Bharu municipal council building on Jalan Hospital, beside the Tuan Padang roundabout. Open Saturday to Thursday: 8:30 AM – 4:45 PM; closed Fridays. Admission: RM2 for adults and RM1 for children; international visitors pay RM4 for adults and RM2 for children (cash only). Allow 1 hour.
Visitor information last reviewed 22 October 2026. Check the official museum site for current details.
Kelantan State Museum at a glance: hours, tickets and time needed
| Opening hours | Saturday to Thursday: 8:30 AM – 4:45 PM |
|---|---|
| Closed | Fridays and public holidays |
| Admission | RM2 for adults and RM1 for children; international visitors pay RM4 for adults and RM2 for children (cash only) |
| Booking | Tickets usually available on the day |
| Time needed | 1 hour |
| Best time to visit | Saturday to Thursday, ideally mid-morning; the museum is closed on Fridays and public holidays. |
| Getting there | Walk: On Jalan Hospital beside the Tuan Padang roundabout, in the same complex as the Kelantan Tourist Information Centre; Istana Jahar, Istana Batu and Bank Kerapu around Padang Merdeka are less than 1 km to the north |
| Address | Jalan Hospital, 15000 Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia |
| Official website | muzium.kelantan.gov.my |
Checked 2026-10-22 against the official website. Prices and hours change — confirm before you travel.
What is Kelantan State Museum known for?
The Kelantan State Museum was established in 1990 in the former offices of the Kota Bharu Municipal Council on Jalan Hospital, and the Sultan of Kelantan opened it on 6 August 1990. The masonry building, protected as a historic building under the National Heritage Act 2005, was adapted for its new role from 1988, when a mezzanine floor and separate rooms were added to carry the exhibition storyline. It stands beside the Tuan Padang roundabout within the Kota Bharu Land and District Office complex, which also houses the Kelantan Tourist Information Centre.
The galleries begin with the history of Kelantan from its earliest days to the modern era. A replica of the excavations at Gua Cha, a prehistoric cave site in Kelantan, is shown with finds from the dig, including skulls and ceramics, and other ceramics point to the state's early trade with China. The mezzanine is given over to Kelantan's arts and culture: wayang kulit shadow-puppet sets, rebana ubi drums and material from mak yong and menora theatre, alongside traditional musical instruments and dioramas of games such as gasing (top-spinning), wau (kite-flying), congkak and selambut.
The museum is also the headquarters of Perbadanan Muzium Negeri Kelantan (PMNK), the state museum corporation, whose general office and director's office are on the ground floor. PMNK uses the museum for permanent, temporary and travelling art exhibitions and for education programmes such as drawing classes and competitions; in January 2026 it held a drawing and colouring contest linked to 'Dinosaur Land @ The Museum'. The Kelantan Art Gallery moved into the museum in 1992 and now has its own building next to the Tourist Information Centre on Jalan Sultan Ibrahim, opened in December 2013.
PMNK publishes the same prices for all its museums: RM2 for adults and RM1 for children, or RM4 and RM2 for international visitors, paid in cash. Its FAQ and museum pages give opening hours of 8:30 AM to 4:45 PM from Saturday to Thursday, with closures on Fridays and public holidays; Friday and Saturday are Kelantan's weekend, so Saturday is a normal opening day. Food and drink are not allowed in the permanent galleries, and modest dress is encouraged. The palaces and museums of Kota Bharu's royal quarter around Padang Merdeka are less than a kilometre to the north.
Best for: History Enthusiasts · First-timers · Budget Travellers
What are the must-see works at Kelantan State Museum?
5 highlights that define the collection: Gua Cha excavation replica, Wayang kulit shadow puppets, Mak yong and menora displays and more.
Gua Cha excavation replica
Prehistoric Kelantan · archaeological finds
A reconstruction of the dig at Gua Cha, a prehistoric cave site in Kelantan, displayed with finds from the excavation such as skulls and ceramics.
Wayang kulit shadow puppets
Kelantanese shadow-puppet theatre
📍 Mezzanine arts and culture gallery
Puppet figures and the equipment used in wayang kulit performances, one of the Kelantanese traditional arts at the heart of the culture gallery.
Mak yong and menora displays
Kelantanese dance-drama traditions
📍 Mezzanine arts and culture gallery
Costumes and material from mak yong and menora, two theatre forms closely associated with Kelantan.
Rebana ubi drums
Kelantanese percussion
📍 Mezzanine arts and culture gallery
The large rebana ubi drums, shown with other traditional musical instruments of the state.
Traditional games dioramas
Kelantanese pastimes
Dioramas of games such as gasing top-spinning, wau kite-flying, congkak and selambut.
Collections and highlights
- • History of Kelantan from early times to the modern era
- • Gua Cha prehistoric archaeology
- • Ceramics and evidence of early trade with China
- • Wayang kulit, mak yong and menora performing arts
- • Traditional musical instruments, including rebana ubi
- • Dioramas of traditional games: gasing, wau, congkak and selambut
- • Temporary and travelling art exhibitions
Tips for visiting Kelantan State Museum
- 1.
Best time to visit
Saturday to Thursday, ideally mid-morning; the museum is closed on Fridays and public holidays. PMNK's locations page gives shorter gallery hours (9:00 AM – 4:30 PM) than its FAQ, so arrive within that window.
- 2.
Tickets & booking
Pay in cash at the counter: RM2 adults and RM1 children, or RM4 and RM2 for international visitors. No booking is needed; schools and other groups can arrange visits on +609-748 2266.
- 3.
Accessibility
No accessibility information is published; contact PMNK (+609-748 2266) before visiting. The arts and culture displays are on a mezzanine floor.
- 4.
Photography rules
PMNK publishes no rule on casual photography, but filming at its museums needs a written application to the Director. Ask at the counter before photographing displays.
How do you get to Kelantan State Museum?
- walk On Jalan Hospital beside the Tuan Padang roundabout, in the same complex as the Kelantan Tourist Information Centre; Istana Jahar, Istana Batu and Bank Kerapu around Padang Merdeka are less than 1 km to the north
- taxi Grab or taxi to Muzium Negeri Kelantan, Jalan Hospital, in central Kota Bharu
Address: Jalan Hospital, 15000 Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
Sources we checked
Visitor facts and history on this page come from these sources, checked on the dates shown.
- Muzium Negeri – Portal Rasmi Perbadanan Muzium Negeri Kelantan (Internet Archive snapshot of 10 May 2026; live site unreachable) — Perbadanan Muzium Negeri Kelantan, checked 22 October 2026
- Pengurusan Muzium: Muzium Negeri – Portal Rasmi Perbadanan Muzium Negeri Kelantan (Internet Archive snapshot, 2026) — Perbadanan Muzium Negeri Kelantan, checked 22 October 2026
- Soalan Lazim (FAQ) – Portal Rasmi Perbadanan Muzium Negeri Kelantan (Internet Archive snapshot of 10 May 2026) — Perbadanan Muzium Negeri Kelantan, checked 22 October 2026
- Alamat & Lokasi – Portal Rasmi Perbadanan Muzium Negeri Kelantan (Internet Archive snapshot of 10 March 2026) — Perbadanan Muzium Negeri Kelantan, checked 22 October 2026
- Balai Seni Lukis Kelantan – Portal Rasmi Perbadanan Muzium Negeri Kelantan (Internet Archive snapshot of 10 May 2026) — Perbadanan Muzium Negeri Kelantan, checked 22 October 2026
- Portal Rasmi Perbadanan Muzium Negeri Kelantan – home page with news (Internet Archive snapshot of 10 May 2026) — Perbadanan Muzium Negeri Kelantan, checked 22 October 2026
- Muzium Negeri Kelantan — Wikipedia Bahasa Melayu, checked 22 October 2026
- Kelantan Museum (Q28219680) — Wikidata, checked 22 October 2026
- Category:Kelantan Museum (photos of wayang kulit, mak yong, menora and rebana displays) — Wikimedia Commons, checked 22 October 2026
Kelantan State Museum: frequently asked questions
How much is the entrance fee for the Kelantan State Museum?
Perbadanan Muzium Negeri Kelantan (PMNK), the state museum corporation that runs the museum, charges RM2 for adults and RM1 for children, while international visitors pay RM4 for adults and RM2 for children. The same rates apply at its other museums in Kota Bharu, including Istana Jahar, Istana Batu and Bank Kerapu. PMNK says it accepts cash only, so bring small notes.
Where is the Kelantan State Museum and how do I get there?
The museum is on Jalan Hospital in central Kota Bharu, beside the Tuan Padang roundabout, in the same complex as the Kelantan Tourist Information Centre. It occupies the former Kota Bharu Municipal Council building. Visitors can walk from the heritage quarter around Padang Merdeka, less than a kilometre to the north, or take a Grab or taxi and ask for Muzium Negeri Kelantan.
How long should I spend at the Kelantan State Museum?
Plan 1 hour for the highlights of Kelantan State Museum. Add extra time for temporary exhibitions, the shop and the café.
What are the highlights of the Kelantan State Museum?
Look for the replica of the excavations at Gua Cha, a prehistoric cave site in Kelantan, shown with finds such as skulls and ceramics; the ceramics that point to early trade with China; and, on the mezzanine, wayang kulit puppets, rebana ubi drums and material from mak yong and menora theatre. Dioramas show traditional games including gasing (top-spinning), wau kites, congkak and selambut.
Can I take photos inside the Kelantan State Museum?
PMNK does not publish a rule on casual photography in its galleries. It does say that anyone who wants to film at one of its museums must first send a letter of application to the Director of PMNK. For ordinary snapshots, ask staff at the ticket counter, avoid flash near textiles and puppets, and remember that food and drink are not allowed in the permanent galleries.
Is the Kelantan State Museum open on Fridays?
No. Kelantan's weekend falls on Friday and Saturday, and PMNK's museums close on Fridays but open on Saturdays. PMNK's FAQ gives hours of 8:30 AM to 4:45 PM from Saturday to Thursday and lists public holidays as closed. Its locations page instead gives gallery hours of 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM and closures on the first two days of Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Aidiladha, so plan to visit within the shorter window.
Can I combine the Kelantan State Museum with other museums nearby?
Yes. The Kelantan Art Gallery, which shows 73 paintings on its ground floor, is next to the Tourist Information Centre on Jalan Sultan Ibrahim and charges the same PMNK rates. Less than a kilometre north, around Padang Merdeka, are Istana Jahar (royal customs), Istana Batu (the Royal Museum) and the Bank Kerapu war museum, all run by PMNK with the same opening days.
What are Kelantan State Museum's opening hours?
Kelantan State Museum is open Saturday to Thursday: 8:30 AM – 4:45 PM, and closed Fridays and public holidays. Hours can change for holidays and events, so check the official website before you go.
Is Kelantan State Museum free to visit?
No — standard admission is RM2 for adults and RM1 for children; international visitors pay RM4 for adults and RM2 for children (cash only).
