JC. Princen Perak is one of the central states of Malaysia and has a population of 2 million people with an area of 21,000 square kilometers. It consists of nine districts and in addition to the capital Ipoh, the cities of Taiping, Lumut, Teluk Intan and Kuala Kangsar are important.
Kuala Kangsar is the seat of the Sultan of Perak and Ipoh is the seat of the state government.
Perak became known for its rich deposits of tin and owes its name to the silver color of this metal, because “perak” means silver in the Malay language.
Since the fall in world tin prices in 1983, Perak has successfully restructured its economy and is now enjoying steady growth.
In Perak there are gigantic limestone cliffs, hot springs, lots of fruit, peanuts and, due to the Chinese population, there is also a varied Chinese cuisine here.
Tourist Attractions in Perak
Taiping
This city was once the capital of Perak as it was the center of tin mining and the tin industry for a long time. Parklands have been made from many of the lakes created by tin mining; Taiping’s “Lake Gardens” are a fine example of this. The State Museum of Perak is in the immediate vicinity and gives a good insight into the history and development of Perak.
The hot springs of Tambun
It only takes a quarter of an hour by car to get to the hot sulfur springs of Tambun, where you can even bathe. There are also cabins for changing clothes.
The cave temples
There are some of them that are not far from the usual routes, so a stopover is not particularly difficult or time-consuming. They can all be visited and also have a restaurant where, in the Buddhist tradition, vegetarian dishes are served. Two of the most famous temples are the Perak Tong and the Sam Poh Tong.
The Bukit Larut (Mount Larut)
This small mountain resort was once called Maxwell Hill after its discoverer. It is only 10 km away from Taiping and you can only go up by jeep or land rover, which run regularly from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from the valley and take an hour to get up.
Kuala Woh Forest Park
This small jungle park is 8 miles from Tapah near the Cameron Highlands. It is an excursion destination with a campsite for the Malaysian city dwellers who like to use the rivers, the hiking trails in the jungle and the resting places at the hot springs in their free time.
Kuala Kangsar
The secret capital of Perak is Kuala Kangsar, where the sovereign has his residence, about 48 km north of Ipoh. The cityscape is shaped by the two palaces, the Istana Iskandariah and the Istana Kenangan, as well as the more than impressive Ubudiah Mosque. The city was already known in the last century when the first nine rubber trees outside of Brazil were planted here in 1877; it is still a center of the raw rubber industry today.
The Leaning Tower of Malaysia
This competition to Pisa is in Teluk Intan and is nicknamed “Leaning Tower of Malaysia” because it is inclined a few degrees. The old bell tower is 259 meters high and was built in 1885 by Leong Choong, a wealthy Chinese.
The port of Lumut
Lumut is the naval port of Malaysia, about 85 km southwest of Ipoh on the Strait of Malacca. The city has a small marine museum that is well worth seeing and you can easily cross over to the island of Pangkor from here.
The island of Pangkor
This is Perak’s sunny island and the destination of many visitors to which there are many beautiful beaches and bays that have good-sounding names such as Pantai Dewi, Tuluk Belanga, Teluk Nipah or Pasir Bogak.
On the east side of the island of Pangkor are the fishing villages of the inhabitants. Their houses often stand on stilts in the sea, which makes them favorite subjects for amateur photographers. On the Bay of Gedung, the few remains of a fort that the Dutch built there in 1670 can be seen.
The leading beach hotel on Pangkor is the well-known Pan Pacific, but there are cheaper accommodations from smaller hotels to bungalows.
Adjacent to the main island of Pangkor is the small, privately owned Pangkor Laut Island, perfect for visitors looking to enjoy the lush luxury of the Pangkor Laut Resort. The island offers numerous beautiful beaches, especially the beach at “Emerald Bay”, which is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
The Geological Museum of Ipoh
This unique museum is a must for anyone interested in geology. It shows a perfect outline of the geology of Perak and is located in Jalan Harimau, Harimau Street.
The Kuala Gula Sanctuary
It is a nature reserve specially for birds. Lovers of feathered animals can see over 100 species here. The best time is from August to September, exact information can be obtained from the Kuala Gula Sanctuary
It is a nature reserve specially for birds. Lovers of feathered animals can see over 100 species here. The best time is from August to September, exact information can best be obtained on site in Ipoh at the Department of Wildlife & National Parks in Ipoh, Perak.
The river turtle farm
This can be quite an informative excursion for those interested in zoology when they drive to the state hatchery for turtles in Bota Kanan. This is about 40 km from Ipoh and shows the young animals that are later released in the Perak River to preserve the species. Accommodation is also available here.
The banding resort
Do you want to spend the night in the wild? Halfway on the East / West Highway, the Banding Resort is located in the middle of a very unspoilt, dense jungle scenery. The facility was built on a small island in the middle of Lake Temenggur with a rest house and even a gas station. The lake is very rich in fish and the surroundings are pure nature, far from all the influences of civilization.
Kellie’s Castle
In the past, of course, Perak attracted many soldiers of fortune. Among them was a Scot named William Kellie Smith, who wanted to build a house in the style of Scottish castles out of homesickness. But it was never finished and he then went back home from 1926 and died there. The ruin of his house on the road from Ipoh to Batu Gajah is now a popular destination and attraction for tourists.
