Perak Culture and Heritage, Malaysia

Ipoh

Birch Memorial Clock Tower

Along Jalan Raja Musa Aziz in Ipoh stands a clock tower in memory of the first British Resident of Perak, J.W.W. Birch, who was killed at Pasir Salak on November 2, 1875.

The square tower has a portrait bust and four decorative panels illustrating the growth of civilization in the state.

Near the clock tower are some outdoor eateries serving some of Ipoh's better known hawker fares.

Perak Tong

Near Gunung Tasek, 6 km north of Ipoh on the main trunk road, there are some huge limestone caves which were places of meditation for Buddhist monks two centuries ago. The Perak Tong Temple within one of the caves leads to caverns and grottoes with statues and paintings of the Buddha set in nooks. The main attraction is a 12.8m-high sitting Buddha which is the tallest and largest of its kind in Malaysia . A passage leads into the cave's interior, and after a steep climb of 385 steps, it opens onto a ledge, which gives a fantastic view of the countryside. Also here is a cafe' that serves excellent vegetarian food.

Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple

Another famous cave-temple is the Sam Poh Tong Temple (Cavern of Three Precious) in Gunung Rapat, 5 km south of Ipoh. The temple is an impressive work of art with various statues of Buddha set among the natural stalactites and stalagmites.

A Chinese symbol of longevity, tortoises are in kept in a pond in the inner courtyard. Devotees release tortoises into the pond wishing for luck and longevity, and the pond is invariably crowded. The tortoises can be fed with stalks of vegetables.

There is also a wishing well for those seeking better fortunes. An ornamental garden in front of the temple is a a great place for taking photos. There is a vegetarian restaurant within the temple grounds.

Mekprasit Temple

The Mekprasit Temple is a Thai Buddhist temple located about 3km north of Ipoh along Jalan Kuala Kangsar on the main trunk road to Taiping. The highlight of the temple is a 24m-long reclining Buddha, which is one of the largest in Malaysia.

Ipoh Railway Station and City Hall

Constructed between 1914 and 1917, the station is affectionately known as the Taj Mahal of Ipoh to the locals. Situated near Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab it bears a resemblance to its Kuala Lumpur counterpart, and combines Moorish and Victorian architecture.

Its charm and design recently earned it to be one of the locations for the filming of the Hollywood remake of Anna and the King staring Jodie Foster. Also here is one of the best station hotels in the country known as the Majestic Hotel.

Just across from the railway station is the Dewan Bandaraya (City Hall), a huge, white, neo-classical building. Both of these buildings bear testimony to Ipoh 's great wealth, originally from tin mining.

State Mosque

Opposite the Railway Station is the State Mosque. An architectural masterpiece, the State Mosque has a 38m high minaret. Thousands of mosaic tiles adorn the domes.

Darul Ridzuan Museum

Built more than 100 years ago, the Darul Ridzuan Museum was previously the official residence for Malay dignitaries in the Kinta District.

The collections here include those that chronicled the development of Ipoh, the mining industry and forestry.

The museum is open daily from 9am to 5pm except on Thursday when it is open till 12noon and is closed on Sundays. Admission is free.

Geological Museum

Established in 1957, the Geological Museum has an impressive collection of minerals, fossils, precious stones and rock specimens. There are 600 samples of minerals, classified according to chemical content and structure. The museum is also noted for its exhibition of tin ore, including the best existing specimen of cassiterite.

Visiting hours are from 8.00 am to 4.15 pm (Monday-Friday) and 8.00am to 12.45pm (Saturday). Admission is free but visitors must obtain entry permission from the information counter.

Dewan Bandaraya Ipoh Sports Complex

The Dewan Bandaraya Ipoh Sports Complex is the largest of its kind in South-east Asia. It has an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a beginner's pool, a children's pool, a wave pool, a rugby pitch, a velodrome, an astro-turf hockey field, and indoor squash and badminton courts.

Kellie's Castle

Forty kilometers south of Ipoh, on the road leading to Batu Gajah, looms Kellie's Castle, an unfinished mansion commissioned in 1915 by William Kellie Smith. In the middle of its construction, Smith left for England where he died, and the castle was never completed.

Shrouded in mystery, it is believed that Kellie's Castle has hidden rooms and a secret tunnel. The road which leads to the Castle follows the contours of the land in a dizzying, maze-like fashion, adding to the mystery and romance of the place.

St. Michael's Institution

Ipoh has provided the country with a good share of scholars and international achievers. One of the most imposing is St. Michael's Institution, a solid three-storey building with long hallways and arched verandas.

Pasir Salak Historical Complex

Situated 70 km from Ipoh , Pasir Salak is of special importance in the historical development of Malaysia as an independent nation. It was here that the original flames of Malay nationalism were sparked. The assassination of the then British Resident of Perak, J.W.W. Birch, ignited a war between the British colonial administration and the Malays.

The Historical Complex pays tribute to warriors such as Dato' Maharaja Lela, Dato' Sagor and Si Puntum by erecting special memorials in their honour. Other interesting sights include Mr. Birch's memorial monument, the burial site of Si Puntum, Dato' Maharaja Lela's fortress, the Lela Tentaka cannons used against the British army, a souvenir shop, as well as an information centre.

The Perak Museum

Located along Jalan Museum, the Perak Museum was built in 1883. The country's oldest museum has displays on zoology, pre-history, economy and ethnology.

It contains an impressive collection of archeological treasures like ancient weapons, aboriginal implements and ornaments which reflect Perak's rich historical heritage.

The Museum visiting hours are from 9.30am to 5.00pm daily. Admission is free.

Kuala Kangsar

Ubudiah Mosque

Kuala Kangsar's crowning glory the Ubudiah Mosque at Bukit Chandan is reputedly among the most beautiful mosques in the country.

Construction began at the turn of the century under the commission of Sultan Idris Murshidul Adzam Shah I, the 28th Sultan of Perak. Its magnificent golden domes and minarets are hallmarks of classical Islamic architecture.

An interesting fact is that elephants actually damaged the Italian marble flooring twice during the First World War.

Royal Museum

Just next to the Iskandriah Palace in Kuala Kangsar lies the Royal Museum. This architectural masterpiece was built entirely without any plans or nails.

Solid wood was used to build to the palace with the exception of the roof that was built using the waterproof kayu berlian or diamond wood. In true patriotic fashion, the palace was painted in the three official colours of the Perak flag - white, yellow and black that represent the three branches of the royal family. Woven sliced bertam or bamboo with diamond shaped motifs line the inner palace walls. Also particularly unique are the doors at the top of its stairs, which are set horizontally rather than vertically.

The museum is open daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm except on Thursdays when it is opened from 9:00am to 12:45 pm; and Fridays and public holidays when it is closed. Admission is free.

Malaysia's Oldest Rubber Tree

Rubber was introduced to the country in 1877 when H.N. Ridley planted nine trees in Kuala Kangsar. Just in front of the Kuala Kangsar District Office at the intersection of Jalan Tun Abdul Razak and Jalan Raja Chulan stands an imposing, old rubber tree. Believed to be the oldest rubber tree in Malaysia , it was an offshoot of the original nine. This century-old tree is still producing!

Kota Belanda

Located at Teluk Gedung, Kota Belanda or Dutch Fort was built by the Dutch in 1970 as one of their strongholds against pirates and hostile locals. Abandoned after an attack led by Panglima Kulub, a Malay warrior, its 300-year old stone foundations are the only legacies remaining from the days of Dutch Imperial power.

Pulau Tiga Handicraft Centre

Renowned for high-quality and beautifully crafted clay and porcelain ware, Perak artisans showcase their talents and work at the Pulau Tiga Handicraft Centre. Among the plethora of intricately designed handicrafts available here are gold thread embroidery, traditional tapestry, and the labu sayong, a gourd-shaped jar made from the black clay found only in certain parts of Perak.

Iskandariah Palace, Kuala Kangsar

Located at Bukit Chandan in Kuala Kangsar, the resplendent Iskandariah Palace is the official residence of the Sultan of Perak. Surrounded by lush greenery, this palace sprawls majestically across verdant gardens. Reflecting a strong Moorish influence in its architecture, the pristine cream coloured palace displays the characteristic golden domes of this fashion. Not accessible to the public, visitors can view a replica the Balai Rong Seri, its regal ceremonial function hall at the Sultan Azlan Shah Gallery. Recently, a banquet hall and another ceremonial function hall were added.

Leaning Tower, Teluk Intan

This spectacular leaning clock tower, similar to the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, is the pride of Teluk Intan or formerly known as Teluk Anson, approximately 84km from Ipoh. Standing 25.5m high, its construction appears to be made up of eight different levels but the building is actually divided into only three storeys. When it was first built, it stood straight but began to tilt about 1.8 metre towards Jalan Bandar between 1889 and 1895.

This pagoda-like structure was built by a Chinese contractor, Leong Choon Choong, in 1885. Initially, it was used as a covered water tank to store water for the 800 over Teluk Intan residents at that time. During the Japanese Occupation, it was used as an observation post by the Japanese Army. Later, it became the headquarters for the Boy Scouts.

These days, it just tells the time. On Wednesdays, the clock tower's caretaker will wind the clock's mechanism using a crank. Commissioned in London , the clock chimes twice every 15 minutes. The chimes can be heard as far as eight kilometres in radius especially at night.

To get to Teluk Intan from the North-South Expressway, exit at the Bidor Interchange and proceed to the road leading to Teluk Intan. The Tower is easily accessed through Jalan Selat.