JC. Princen Selangor is the most densely populated state in Malaysia with 3.7 million inhabitants, to which the federal district of Kuala Lumpur also makes a significant contribution. Its total land area is about 8,000 square kilometers and it has a long coastline that faces the Strait of Malacca. Selangor’s capital is Shah Alam, close to Kuala Lumpur and Sepang International Airport.
Malaysia’s largest overseas port, Port Klang, is on Selangor’s coast. The entire state has a very well structured economy; Agriculture, light industry, trade and tourism are the flourishing branches. The largest companies in the country have settled in the numerous industrial areas on the Klang River. Its modern history begins in the 16th century when rich tin deposits were discovered, which attracted large numbers of immigrants and the colonial powers. In the 18th century, the Chinese Bugis set the tone here and had political and economic power. In the fighting with the Bugis, the Malay nobility then gave the British the chance to get a foot in the door in Selangor. And they stayed in Selangor from 1874 until independence in 1957.
The capital: Shah Alam
The capital of Selangor is very conveniently located on the ban mile of Kuala Lumpur, half an hour’s drive from there and a maximum of 10 km from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang. The very modern city borders on its periphery on Kuala Lumpur, the suburb of Petaling Jaya and other important communities such as Klang, Port Klang, Bangi and Kajang. It is also halfway from Kuala Lumpur to Port Klang and has excellent transport links.
Shah Alam is a showcase city, very carefully planned and built for the future. The residential districts are separated from the industrial areas by an expressway as well as by parks.
The city has a sports stadium of international standard, also a world-famous modern car racing track, allegedly the most beautiful festival hall in Malaysia and, to top it off, the largest mosque in the whole country. It bears the name of the rulers of Selangor: Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah.
Tourist Attractions in Selangor
The Sunway Lagoon
Sunway Lagoon is a park with lots of amusements that can be experienced on and in the water: there are gigantic slides, double slides into damp water, wave pools, a waterfall garden, the Laguna Express and much more for the little ones. The amusement park is open Monday to Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and on weekends and public holidays from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
“The Mines Wonderland”
The adventure park is located in Sungai Besi and is something for the whole family. The main attraction is the large fountain that rhythmically blows colored water into the air to the sound of music.
There is a lake over which a parade of huge, colorful artificial animals swims: a dolphin, an octopus, a sea turtle, a crocodile, a fat fish and a swan. This demonstration with illumination begins twice a day at 8:45 a.m. and 10:15 p.m.
As a highlight there is a snow house in which the Malaysian children can experience real snow that they otherwise only know from television or the cinema. You can take a boat around the lake, and there are nice picnic spots by a nearby stream. The Wunderland is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
The Malaysia Agricultural Park
It is only 10 minutes by car from Shah Alam to the remarkable agricultural park, which is almost a Malaysian model estate and is one of the largest of its kind in the world. It is approximately 1,258 hectares and gives visitors a comprehensive look at the agriculture of the country.
The individual cultivated plants of Malaysia can be seen in all growth phases and the methods of harvesting and processing are demonstrated here: rice cultivation, fruit planting, oil palms, rubber crops, coconut palms and much more can be seen here.
There are two small reservoirs here, a lake with lots of fish and fish boxes, hanging bridges, a bird park, a mushroom farm, an orchid garden and a safari park. You can drive around the park with a rental bike or use the small park buses on weekends. At the entrance there is a restaurant, a souvenir shop, a shopping kiosk and bungalows where overnight stays in the park are possible.
The Batu Caves
A very popular spot for tourists are the Batu Caves, which are located 13 km north of Kuala Lumpur. 272 steps lead up to the main cave. There is also the Hindu shrine, which is the destination of the great procession of believers on the high Thaipusam festival at the end of January. At the foot of the mountain there is a smaller cave in which there are figures from Hindu mythology.
The Hutan Kanching Forest Park
This rainforest area is located about 13 miles north of Kuala Lumpur and has thick, lush vegetation that is home to many species of butterflies. Small waterfalls invite you to rest, there is a campsite, some food stalls, toilets and a washroom are also available. Here the Malaysian parents bring their offspring closer to nature.
The Raja Abdullah house
The department store, built in 1856, is located in downtown Klang and after its restoration has been converted into an interesting historical museum on the history of Malaysian department stores.
Port Klang
The largest port in Malaysia, Port Klang, is located about eight kilometers to the west. It is also a destination for visitors as its seafood restaurants are very popular. Cruises and boat trips to the neighboring islands start from here.
Kuala Selangor
At the mouth of the Selangor River is Kuala Selangor, a nice destination with small sights: nature, a bird sanctuary and maybe a small boat trip to the small islands.
And at Kampung Kuantan, not very far outside, there is a natural spectacle of great rarity to see: fireflies wandering about in the evening haze on the river bank.
Thousands of these insects populate the extensive mouth of the Selangor River, which consists of dense mangroves. The city is completely dominated by the local mountain Melawati, on the top of which Fort Altingsburg once stood, which the Dutch built there 200 years ago and from whose sparse remains one has a very wide and beautiful panoramic view.
At the foot of the Melawati mountain lies a small nature reserve, the Taman Alam, on an area of 240 hectares. It has well-marked jungle paths and the mangrove swamps in the area are resting places for many migratory birds from the north. Malaysia’s natural history society has counted more than 130 bird species here, including the rare sandpfeiffer and the even rarer Nordmann’s Greenschenkel.
The Orang Asli Museum
The Orang Asli are the indigenous people of Malaysia with a population of around 60,000 and their name simply means “the original people”. They still lead a simple life today, and the Orang Asli Museum in the Gombak Valley, north of Kuala Lumpur, deals with their traditions and customs. In this museum you get a good and detailed excursus on the history of this ancient ethnic group on the peninsula.
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