Kedah

The state of Kedah spans approximately 9, 425 sq. km in the northern part of the Peninsular and together with Perlis, Perak and Kelantan, shares a common border with neighbouring Thailand. It has the distinction of being the "Rice Bowl of Malaysia", the Kedah-Perlis rice plains produce more than half of the country's home grown rice supply. Alor Setar, the state capital, is the seat of Government and the business centre of the state.

The flat expanse of padi fields against a backdrop of rolling hills provides a picture of utter serenity that lulls the senses. Off its western shore, are clusters of sun-drenched islands that comprise the legendary islands of Langkawi. Kedah also owes its fame to the archeological discoveries at the Bujang Valley, which furnished evidence of the existence of an early civilisation dating back to the 6th cebtury A.D. With its islands, legends, historical relics, hill stations and scenic aterfalls, Kedah offers the visitor a variety of sights, sounds and fun-filled activities - from beach combing to diving, water skiing, picnicking or merely to take in the sights.

Places of interest in Perak

Ipoh

The name ‘Ipoh’ comes from a local tree called the ‘Pohon Epu’. In its heydays, Ipoh was the economic hub of Malaysia thriving on tin ore. That has come to pass and the town has become a peaceful city which moves at a slow pace.

Ipoh’s food is legendary especially for their silky noodles in soup called ‘Sar Hor Fun’ and Hainanese chicken rice. Locals from other states often come here to buy fruits such as the famous Tambun pomelos, groundnuts and seedless guavas.

Sam Poh Tong Temple

The temple is located 5 km south of Ipoh in Gunung Rapat within a large limestone cavern. Statues adorn the cavern, sitting alongside natural stalactite and stalagmite formations. A vegetarian restaurant, tortoise pond and wishing well can be found here.

Kellie’s Castle

The castle was built in 1915 and was never completed as the owner William Kellie Smith returned to England and died there. Many believe the castle is haunted, having many secret rooms and even a hidden tunnel. Still, it makes for great visiting exploring the many rooms of this large mansion while chasing ghosts.

Gua Tempurung

The Tempurung Cave is one of Malaysia’s largest at 1.5 km long (though the Mulu Caves dwarfs it by about a hundred times). Visitors can take the scenic route and explore the cave via man-made bridges that are lit up or take the rough trail which will bring them through a stream inside the cave. Be sure to brave bat guano and creepy-crawlies!

Bukit Larut

Situated at 1,035 meters above sea-level, Bukit Larut is a pleasant hill offering a cooling retreat from the heat below. Accessible by 4WD vehicles from Taiping, the surrounding hill-top forest is rich in vegetation and wildlife. The country’s oldest hill resort is also located here.

Taiping Lake Gardens

One of the most beautiful and oldest lake gardens in Malaysia, the Taiping Lake Gardens was built with scenery and ambience in mind. There is a large lake with paths draped in festoons of flowering plants and cooling trees. The Taiping zoo is located here.

Temenggor Lake

Temenggor is one of the largest man-made lakes in Malaysia covering 15,200 hectares. The streams and rivers that dot the lake are rich in fish that will make anglers happy. The panoramic beauty of the lake is also suitable for outdoor recreation such as picnics and trekking.

Belum Forest Reserve

Hidden in the north of Lake Temenggor is a large tract of rainforest, which has been gazetted as the Belum Forest Reserve. Practically untouched, Belum hides a wealth of wildlife such as rhinos, tapirs and tigers. Various tour operators now offer trips into Belum to uncover its natural beauty, with permission from the authorities.

Lata Iskandar

On the road leading up to Cameron Highlands, the Lata Iskandar waterfalls will greet you half-way. A spectacular drop of mountain water that forms a shallow pool, many people heading up to the hills just can’t resist taking a dip. Many Orang Asli (Aborigines) settlements are located around the falls, offering handicrafts and plants taken from the surrounding forest for sale.

Pangkor Island

Accessible from Lumut, the Pangkor Island holds a mix of quaint fishing settlements and white beaches decked with rich vegetation. The warm waters are perfect for swimming and diving while the atmosphere is simply relaxing. Many resorts are available for accommodation on this popular island.

Town & Districts, Geography & Climate, Economy

The state of Perak is Peninsular Malaysia’s second largest at 21 sq. km wide. The name ‘Perak’, which means silver, was gleaned from the glittering tin ore found in abundance.

Perak's modern-day history began when Sultan Muzaffar Shah I, a descendent of Sultan Mahmud Shah of Malacca, became the state's sultan in 1528. In 1848, it became prominent when Long Jaafar discovered tin in Larut, Taiping. This was a big boost to Perak's economy, and started the era of tin mining.

But tin brought with it the attentions of the resource-searching British who took the opportunity to intervene in Perak through the signing of the Pangkor Treaty in 1874 after a riot in Larut. Perak was then plunged into the British's Residential system, and the administration of the autocratic James W.W. Birch as Perak's first British Resident.

Birch's administration of the state ended in tragedy for both him and the locals, with an uprising led by the local Datuk Maharaja Lela against Birch in 1875. This was thankfully followed by a peaceful and fruitful period of administration by the charismatic Hugh Low, Perak's second British Resident. The Second World War then saw the state occupied by the Japanese army, until after the war before becoming independent along with the rest of Malaysia in 1957.

Today, Perak has shifted from being a busy commercial area for tin to a diverse manufacturing state. Agriculture is one of Perak’s main industries, especially those concerning rubber, coconut and palm oil. Tourism is fast catching on as more and more people discover Perak’s hidden gems in the form of natural attractions and cultural sights.

Perak

Perak is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is the second largest state in Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor southward and to the west by the Strait of Malacca.

Perak means silver in Malay. The name comes most probably from the silvery colour of tin. In the 1890s, Perak, with the richest alluvial deposits of tin in the world was one of the jewels in the crown of the British Empire. However, some say the name comes from the "glimmer of fish in the water" that sparkled like silver. The Arab honorific of the State is Darul Ridzuan, the Land of Grace.

Ipoh, the state capital of Perak, is known historically for its rich tin-mining activities until the drop of tin price, which has severely affected the state economy. The royal capital, however, is set in Kuala Kangsar, where the palace of the Sultan of Perak is located.

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