Pantai Cahaya Bulan

Pantai Cahaya Bulan is a well-known sandy beach located about 10 kilometres northwest of Kota Bharu city in Kota Bharu District, Kelantan, Malaysia, facing the South China Sea. Formerly known as Pantai Cinta Berahi, it was renamed in the 1970s. The beach is notable for its long stretch of sand, casuarina trees, and as a popular local recreation area for picnics, kite flying and sunset viewing near the state capital.

Visitors can expect a long, wide sandy shoreline lined with casuarina and coconut trees facing the South China Sea, about 10 km from central Kota Bharu. The beach area is open and breezy with food stalls, souvenir shops, and seating areas along the promenade. Activities centre on leisurely walks, photography, picnicking, kite flying, and enjoying sea views and sunsets. The sea is often rough and not always suitable for swimming, especially during monsoon season.

Originally named Pantai Cinta Berahi (Beach of Passionate Love), the beach was renamed Pantai Cahaya Bulan (Moonlight Beach) in the late 1970s to reflect local cultural values. The coastline near Kota Bharu, including this area, is historically noted as the site where Japanese forces first landed in Malaya on 8 December 1941 at the start of World War II in the region.

The beach is a major local recreational and social gathering place for residents of Kota Bharu and Kelantan. It is associated with Kelantan's traditional wau bulan (moon kite) culture and serves as a venue for kite flying, family picnics, and local food culture, reflecting the state's coastal leisure traditions.