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Ipoh - capital of Perak

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Ipoh is the capital city of Perak state. It is located about 85 North East from Pangkor / Lumut and about 200 km from Kuala Lumpur. The name Ipoh originated from a local tree known as pokok ipoh. This particular plant is known for its tree sap. This sap is poisonous and it was used by the asli in their blowdarts.

Ipoh is located in the rich tin bearing valley of the river. It grew up as a mining town. However the city's growth stagnated ever since the closure of the tin mines. Immigration seemed for a lot of people the only solution to escape from poverty. However, the city is still in the top 5 of Malaysia's biggest cities with a population of over 600.000 people.

The Kinta River basically runs through the middle of the town. In 1892, a great fire gutted the East part of town center. The town had to be rebuild. So this part became known as the "New Town". The reconstruction of the New Town also made way to deliberate town planning. And this explains why buildings file along roads that are set into systematic grids.

Another curious fact about Ipoh is that, although it was a rich town, it was not the original administrative centre of Perak. Even more curious, it was not the British, but the Japanese that provided the turning point for Ipoh.

During their occupation of Malaya in 1941, the Japanese Imperial Army transferred all administrative activities from Batu Gajah and Taiping to Ipoh. Funny enough, the British actually continued to retain Ipoh as Perak's administrative centre after the war.

Today, Ipoh has developed significantly. The Greentown area near the City Council is fast becoming an entertainment hotspot with the construction of the Greentown Business Center. Here you find many restaurants and cafes. Ipoh's very own 'Bangsar" is located in Ipoh Garden. It is one of the famous places for its nightspots.

Accommodation

As the capital of the state Perak requires, there are plenty of hotels in Ipoh. On our Hotels in Ipoh page we explore the best options.

Hotels in Ipoh

Attractions in and around Ipoh

Kellie's Castle

Ipoh has some very famous attractions. The most well known is Kellie's Castle. It was mansion of an eccentric English planter. You will find Kellie's Castle about a half hour's drive (14 km) from Ipoh city centre. It is now deserted. Its main appeal lies in the belief that it is haunted and that secret passages leading to hidden chambers exist.

Read more on Kellie's Castle near Ipoh with its tragic and magistic history.

Sam Po temple and Perak Tong temple

Another sight worth seeing is the Sam Po Tong temple. This is a Chinese temple built within a gigantic limestone cave. Sam Pa temple has a sister: Perak Tong. Perak Tong has a steep, tall staircase in the interior of the cave. The staircase rises up to the top of its hill. There's fine views of Ipoh and its surroundings.

Kampar

Just over 30 km south of Ipoh is the old tin mine town of Kampar located. The town is nowadays no longer a tin mine town but in the countryside you will find plenty of lakes which originate from the tin mine industry. You can go fishing here.

Kampar is also a good base to start your exploration of the Gua Tempurung caves and some great white water rafting. I also think it's easier to start a jungle trek from Kampar then from Ipoh.

A special attraction in Kampar is the roti kari ayam, a bread filled with curry chicken. As far as I was told this is the only place in Malaysia where you can find this extra-ordinary dish. More about the curry chicken bread at our Kampar page.

Read more about Kampar and the great Grand Kampar Hotel which is the best base to explore this part of Perak

Gua Tempurung caves

The Gua Tempurung caves are some of the very best limestone caves you can visit in Malaysia. About 25 km south of Ipoh near the Gopeng intersection the caves are quite a wonder. Here you can see some of the real wonders nature produces.

Here is more about the Gua Tempurung caves and some awesome photos

The Perak Museum

The Perak Museum was build in 1926 by a rich and successful tin miner called Foo Choong Kit. Back then, he built it for his own private domain. The rumor goes that it once there were forty people living in this house. The house did not stay long with the family. In 1950 it was sold to the Perak Government. which utilized these premises to house the administrative centre of its Department of Works. In 1992 this building became the Perak Museum.

The museum contains artifacts from the early history of Perak and follows up to the present with plenty of photos and memorabilia of the British administrators and rulers who played key roles in Perak.

The museum contains various pictures of colonial building in Perak. You may recognize them later when you walk through the city.

The museum opens all week from 9.30am-5pm.

The Padang

Padang is the Malay word for 'field', and this is exactly what it is. In the colonial days the British used this field for cricket. Nowadays it is in use for many things including playing some football or having a picnic with the family. Ipoh has left the Padang unscathed, together with the beautiful casuarinas trees that has been encircling the field for almost a century now.

St Michael's School

It is maybe the grandest and biggest of all the old colonial buildings in Ipoh. The St Michael's school was opened by a group of La Salle Brothers in 1912. St. Michael's was one of the more prestigious Christian missionary schools in Perak.

Appearance tells a lot about an institution. St Michael's architecture and façade are reminiscence of a true Christian masterpiece. The architecture is absolutely brilliant. Right in front of it stretches the school green. If you're lucky, you may spot the school band marching up and down the field playing some musical score in their full regalia.

Even the Japanese army could not stay away from St Michael's. During the Japanese occupation, this army converted the school for its centre of administration for the state of Perak.

Royal Ipoh Club

The Royal Ipoh Club was once the domain of planters, tin miners and administrators. It is build in white Tudor style.

FMS Bar and Restaurant

F.M.S. stands for "Federated Malay States". This was a creation of the British to bring the different Malay states under one union. Perak was one of them.

The building was built at the turn of the 20th century. It became a bar and restaurant in 1906. Both bar and restaurant (together with its antique décor) have managed to survive the ravages of time. Some claim it is Malaysia's oldest functioning Bar!

Planters and merchants used to frequent the Bar. It is located just opposite the Padang.

The FMS Bar and Restaurant is still quite popular. Time has changed the culinary preferences here. Try the Sichuan rawns.

Birch Memorial, The Clock Tower

The clock tower is quite hidden and for good reasons. J.W.W. Birch was an unpopular character. He was the first British Resident. He showed little sensitivity towards local customs and religion. The feeling was mutual and eventually he was assassinated. His actual grave is to be found at the Pasir Salak historical complex where the Malaysian government build a memorial monument. It's about 30 km from Lumut and Pangkor

For whatever Birch was to the Malays, the British made him a hero. On all four sides of the Clock Tower there are colorful murals depicting various 18th Century professions. There, they also erected a bronze bust of their Mr. Birch although this has been removed. The Clock Tower is quite a fine monument despite the history of the man to whom it was dedicated.

Town Hal

One of Ipoh's architectural wonders is definitely the Town Hall. It boasts the neo-classical architecture, which was popular in the early 1900s. The Town Hall exhibits a mix between renaissance and roman architectural features. Construction began in 1913, and was finally completed in 1917.

This building has also served as a Post Office, and was once the District Police headquarters in 1948.

Ipoh Railway Station

The Taj Mahal of Ipoh, some people call it! It has definitely a fantastic neo-classical architecture combined with domes you will find in India.

The Railway Station was built in the height of the tin mining industry. Obviously it an important feature for the colonials in transporting tin. It is at the moment, December 2004, in complete renovation.

Above the train station, on the second and third floors you will find the Station Hotel. It is also known as The Majestic or The Heritage Hotel. You can take the ancient lift up to the main lobby, and it will take you back in time. In the early 1900s, the hotel was a 'first class accommodation' and had an 'excellent cuisine'. A 200m long verandah runs the length of the building. There is cozy bar.

Today the hotel is rather run down. The walls and ceilings need some paint. The rooms do not have anymore the colonial luxury they had in the early 20th Century. It has all faded. But the hotel has clean rooms and reasonable prices plus a helpful friendly staff.

So, it is not all that bad. It is quite a relief to see much of the façade still remains and fittings still in tact. The banisters and wooden stairs stand firm and proud in their original places, and the slow iron elevator makes the journey up to the third floor charmingly pleasant. It is no longer 1910 or 1920 but still pleasant enough.

Famous people of Ipoh

One of Ipoh's most famous natives is actress Dato' Michelle Yeoh. She acted in the James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies.

One of Hong Kong actress is Angie Cheung Wai Yee was also born in Ipoh.

Getting there

When you stay at Pangkor, Ipoh can be a great day exploring excellent food and architecture. It is easy to go to Ipoh. Check our Getting there page for the details on the busses.

To go there by your own transport, Drive out of Lumut following the road boards to Ipoh, an easy ride of about one and a half hour.

Andrea from explore-ipoh.com has more extensive information about Ipoh available. Check her site for the details.

Back to the top of Perak's capital

Back to Visit Perak Mainpage

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