Port Dickson

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Port Dickson
Port Dickson lighthouse
Nickname(s): PD
Port Dickson Location of Port Dickson in Peninsular Malaysia
Coordinates: 2°31′N 101°48′E / 2.517°N 101.8°E / 2.517; 101.8
Country	Malaysia
State	Negeri Sembilan
Established	1800s
Elevation	79 m (259 ft)
Population (2007)[1]
- Total	97,834
Time zone	MST (UTC+8)
- Summer (DST)	Not observed (UTC)
Website	Port Dickson Municipal Council

Map of Port Dickson

Description

Port Dickson or PD to locals is a beach and holiday destination situated about 32 km from Seremban and 90 km from Kuala Lumpur. It is located in the state of Negeri Sembilan in Peninsular Malaysia. It takes just over an hour by car to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Port Dickson along the North-South Expressway.

History

This small town used to produce charcoal, but it was later developed as a small port by the British during the Strait Settlement period. Port Dickson was also known as Tanjung. In Malay language that means "cape". The oldest shophouses were the four situated presently at Jalan Lama. There was also a carbon mine at the first mile of the coast road (Jalan Pantai), and therefore Port Dickson was also called "Arang" (charcoal) in the Malay language.

Tin ore was plentiful in Lukut, an area within the Port Dickson district, during the 1820s, and it attracted Chinese immigrant miners. The British considered the area to have great potential as a harbour. It was intended to supersede the port in Pengkalan Kempas. The in-charge officer's name was Dickson, and thereafter the town was named Port Dickson. Others claim that Sir John Frederick Dickson founded Port Dickson and Pulau Arang in 1889.

Port Dickson evolved into a busy trading centre. Railways were constructed to facilitate the growth and development of Port Dickson. Although Port Dickson experienced rapid development, the beautiful beaches are fairly well preserved. Now, Port Dickson has become not only a beautiful tourist destination, but a large municipality with about 89,000 residents.

Recent developments

The 18 km extent of beach from Tanjung Gemuk to Tanjung Tuan is a popular holiday destination for visitors coming as far as those from Kuala Lumpur itself. Many Singaporeans have invested in holiday homes in and around Port Dickson.

Back in the late 1990s, Port Dickson went through a boom boom pow of hotels and resorts. Some of these projects never took off the ground and the unfinished construction projects can still be seen along the tourist town. However, today, with the economy improving and tourism booming in Malaysia, the projects are being revived.

In September 2009, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak declared that Port Dickson shall be known as "Army Town" in recognition of her role in the nation's military services.^[1] This announcement came during a time when the adjacent town of Bagan Pinang was in preparation for a by-election.^[2]

Yacht Clubs

Linking the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the Straits of Malacca is the shortest sea route between three of the world's most populous countries - India, China, and Indonesia. Inspired by the sea trade, expats founded the Royal Port Dickson Yacht Club in 1927, which still offers dinghy sailing courses and runs regattas. Unknown to most, Malaysia's developmental sailing teams, starting at the Optimist Dinghy level, train in and sail from the RPDYC.

The newer 5-star Admiral Marina & Leisure Club has good dock facilities for yacht travelers, sailboats and luxury cruisers. It is a transit point for racing sailboats joining the Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta, Royal Langkawi International Regatta and Thailand's Phuket Kings Cup regattas. Admiral Marina also hosted the sailing event of the 2006 FESPIC Games^[3]. It will once again be the venue for disabled sailing, this time the 2009 ASEAN Para Games in August.

Tourism

Port Dickson is among the tourist attractions in Negeri Sembilan. Key factor of this coast visited by many tourists and local people because this is the only beach in Negeri Sembilan. Furthermore, close ranges between Port Dickson and states vicinity such as Malacca and Selangor also contribute to the city development.

References

External links

• Port Dickson .NET (VNET Holidays)
• Port Dickson Online

• Port Dickson travel guide from Wikitravel

v • d • e Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus Districts Jelebu • Jempol • Kuala Pilah • Port Dickson • Rembau • Seremban • Tampin Towns Ayer Kuning • Air Kuning Selatan • Ampangan • Bahau • Bandar Seri Jempol • Batang Benar • Batu Kikir • Chembong • Dangi • Gemas • Gemencheh • Johol • Juasseh • Kota • Kuala Klawang • Kuala Pilah • Labu • Lenggeng • Linggi • Lukut • Mantin • Mambau • Nilai • Pajam • Paroi • Pantai • Pasir Panjang • Pedas • Pengkalan Kempas • Pertang • Port Dickson‎ • Rantau • Rasah • Rembau • Rompin • Senawang • Sepang Road • Seremban (capital) • Seri Menanti • Serting • Sikamat • Siliau • Sungai Gadut • Sungai Muntoh • Tampin‎ • Tanjung Ipoh • Teluk Kemang • Tiroi Villages FELDA L.B. Johnson Township Bandar Baru Nilai • Bandar Springhill • Rasah Jaya • Seremban Forest Heights

Coordinates: 2°31′N 101°48′E / 2.517°N 101.8°E / 2.517; 101.8