Bachok
Encyclopedia
Bachok is a territory (jajahan) and town in Kelantan
, Malaysia. It is located 25 kilometers east of Kota Bharu
. It borders Pasir Puteh
to the south and Kota Bharu to the west. Bachok district's mukims (smaller subdivisions) are Tawang, Perupok, Repek, Telong, Gunung, Mahligai, and Bekelam. The focus of Bachok's economy is agriculture, primarily tobacco
plantations.
According to one version, Bachok was named after a person called Tok Bachok(atif), who was believed to be the first settler in the area. Traders from China
anchored in Pengkalan Cina in Bachok long time ago to trade silk and spices.
The more popular version of the origin of Bachok's name, according to local inhabitants, originated from two Siamese
words, Ban and Chak. Ban means village and Chak means nipa
(a native mangrove plant). The local Siamese called and still call this place Ban Chak, originally referring to the more populated and possibly a much earlier settlement immediately to the south of Bachok town, the actual Kampung Nipah today. The Bachok town was possibly part of the larger Kampung Nipah then. The pronunciation of Ban Chak was later invariably changed to Bachok to suit the local Malay accent.
, three kilometres to the north of Bachok.
Ranking Population Jajahan Bachok.
The small towns of Beris Kubor Besar (kg Pak Pura), Perupok
, Jelawat
and Wakaf Zin are famous for their wet markets and competitive groceries prices.
Wat Phithikyan Phutthaktham, a Buddhist temple in Kampung Balai, is worth visiting.
Kelantan
Kelantan is a state of Malaysia. The capital and royal seat is Kota Bharu. The Arabic honorific of the state is Darul Naim, ....
, Malaysia. It is located 25 kilometers east of Kota Bharu
Kota Bharu
Kota Bharu is a city in Malaysia, is the state capital and Royal City of Kelantan. It is also the name of the territory in which Kota Bharu City is situated. The name means 'new city' or 'new castle/fort' in Malay. Kota Bharu is situated in the northeastern part of Peninsular Malaysia, and lies...
. It borders Pasir Puteh
Pasir Puteh
Pasir Puteh is a territory and town in Kelantan, Malaysia. The town of Pasir Putih is situated on the bank of Semerak River, about 30 kilometers to the south of Kota Bharu.-History:...
to the south and Kota Bharu to the west. Bachok district's mukims (smaller subdivisions) are Tawang, Perupok, Repek, Telong, Gunung, Mahligai, and Bekelam. The focus of Bachok's economy is agriculture, primarily tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
plantations.
Origin of name
There are several versions of the origin of the name of Bachok.According to one version, Bachok was named after a person called Tok Bachok(atif), who was believed to be the first settler in the area. Traders from China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
anchored in Pengkalan Cina in Bachok long time ago to trade silk and spices.
The more popular version of the origin of Bachok's name, according to local inhabitants, originated from two Siamese
Thai language
Thai , also known as Central Thai and Siamese, is the national and official language of Thailand and the native language of the Thai people, Thailand's dominant ethnic group. Thai is a member of the Tai group of the Tai–Kadai language family. Historical linguists have been unable to definitively...
words, Ban and Chak. Ban means village and Chak means nipa
Nypa fruticans
Nypa fruticans, known as the attap palm , nipa palm , and mangrove palm or buah atap , buah nipah , dừa nước , Ging Pol in Sinhala in Sri Lanka and gol pata , dani . It is the only palm considered a mangrove in the Mangroves Biome...
(a native mangrove plant). The local Siamese called and still call this place Ban Chak, originally referring to the more populated and possibly a much earlier settlement immediately to the south of Bachok town, the actual Kampung Nipah today. The Bachok town was possibly part of the larger Kampung Nipah then. The pronunciation of Ban Chak was later invariably changed to Bachok to suit the local Malay accent.
Demographics
The population of Bachok is about 138,200 (in 2009). Malays are the predominant ethnic group in Bachok, like the rest of Kelantan. Chinese and Siamese are the minority groups in Bachok. Chinese population is quite scattered through-out the district of Bachok whilst the Siamese mainly live in Kampung BalaiKampung Balai
Kampung Balai is a village in Bachok, Kelantan, Malaysia. It is located approximately 20 kilometers southeast of Kota Bharu.-Origin of Name:While ‘’Balai’’ means ‘’hall’’ in Malay, there is no known historical correlation between the village and ‘’hall’’....
, three kilometres to the north of Bachok.
Ranking Population Jajahan Bachok.
| Rank | Daerah/Mukim | Population 2000 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tawang | 23,015 |
| 2 | Gunong Gunong thumb|350px|An antique gunong from Mindanao.The gunong is a knife from Mindanao, the Philippines. It is essentially a diminutive form of the larger kalis or kris. The gunong serves both as a utility knife and as a thrusting weapon used for close quarter fighting - usually as a last defense... |
20,132 |
| 3 | Perupok(Town) | 16,732 |
| 4 | Melawi | 14,334 |
| 5 | Mahligai | 9,101 |
| 6 | Bekelam | 9,014 |
| 7 | Tanjong Pauh | 8,593 |
| 8 | Telong | 8,463 |
Places of interest
A beautiful beach, known as Pantai Irama or 'Melody Beach' is in Bachok.- Pantai Irama (Beach of Melody) is famous for its gently sloping beach that extends far into the clear blue water of the South China Sea. It has been said that Pantai Irama is Kelantan's most beautiful beach and this is evident from the regular visitations from picknickers especially around the weekends.
- Located 1 km north of Bachok, Pantai Irama (Beach of Melody) has good visitor facilities, including motels, camping grounds, restaurants where you can dine on sumptuous local dishes, public restrooms as well as boats for hire, should you wish to explore the coast.
- Pantai Irama is located just 1 km north of Bachok, roughly 20 km southeast of Kota Bharu.
- Bukit MarakBukit MarakBukit Marak is a village in Bachok, Kelantan, Malaysia, located about south of the state capital Kota Bharu. It is famous as the childhood home of Puteri Saadong, and thus has great significance in the history of the Sultanate of Kelantan.The village derives its name from a local hill, one of the...
, the childhood home of Puteri SaadongPuteri SaadongPuteri Saadong or Mariam , was the adopted daughter of Siti Wan Kembang , the legendary Queen of Kelantan. Her full title is Tuan Puteri Saadong binti Raja Loyor, Puteri Vijaya Mala, Raja of Jembal, daughter of Raja Loyor bin Raja Sakti, Raja of Jembal.Puteri Saadong was brought up in Bukit Marak...
The small towns of Beris Kubor Besar (kg Pak Pura), Perupok
Perupok
Perupok is a small town in Kelantan, Malaysia. It is in the district of Bachok....
, Jelawat
Jelawat
Jelawat is a village in Bachok district, Kelantan, Malaysia....
and Wakaf Zin are famous for their wet markets and competitive groceries prices.
Wat Phithikyan Phutthaktham, a Buddhist temple in Kampung Balai, is worth visiting.