Air Itam
| Air Itam | |
|---|---|
| Suburb of George Town | |
| Other transcription(s) | |
| • Chinese | 亚依淡 |
View of Air Itam (foreground) and George Town (left) as seen from Penang Hill
|
|
 Location of Air Itam on Penang Island |
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| Coordinates: 5°24′22″N 100°17′47″E / 5.40611°N 100.29639°E | |
| Country |
 Malaysia |
| State |
 Penang |
| District | Northeast Penang Island |
| Government | |
| • Local Government | Penang Island City Council |
| • Mayor of Penang Island | Patahiyah Ismail |
| • State assemblyman | Wong Hon Wai (DAP) |
| • Bukit Gelugor Member of Parliament | Ramkarpal Singh (DAP) |
| Time zone | Malaysian Standard Time (UTC+8) |
| • Summer (DST) | Not observed (UTC) |
| Postal code | 11500 |
| Website | www |
Air Itam (also spelt as Ayer Itam; Penang Hokkien: ai tam) is a suburb of George Town in Penang, Malaysia. Nested within the central valleys of Penang Island, it is located approximately 7km southwest of George Town proper. Air Itam is one of the well-known places to sample Penang cuisine, and includes a handful of major tourist attractions such as Penang Hill and Kek Lok Si Temple.
The area now known as Air Itam was first developed in the late 18th century, soon after the founding of Penang Island by Captain Francis Light in 1786. British officials intended to turn Air Itam, including Penang Hill, into an agricultural area and established spice farms. To this day, fruits and vegetables are still grown at the hills of Air Itam; fresh produce are then brought downhill daily to the wet markets throughout George Town.
Air Itam got its name from the murky waters of the Air Itam River (Malay: Sungai Air Itam). The phrase 'Air Hitam' means black water in Malay.
Soon after the founding of Penang Island in 1786, British East India Company officials, led by Captain Francis Light, began exploring and clearing the interior of the island for agricultural purposes. Pepper and nutmeg farms were then established at the hills of Air Itam, while Light also commissioned the planting of strawberries at Penang Hill. The Anglo-Indian Suffolk House, one of Light's residences, was also built within a pepper estate by the Air Itam River.
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