beatiful places in Perak

Perak Darul Ridzuan, also known as the Land Of Grace, has just about everything for everyone, places and graces that speak of genuine warmth and charming hospitality. It is rich with history, culture, folklore and heritage. It is the state of ageless architectural splendor, island resorts that offer sun, sea and sand including virgin tropical jungles, beautiful holiday hideaways, natural recreational parks and a host of specialized museums. Discover the treasures that make Perak such a fascinating experience.

Perak Tong & Sam Poh Tong Within the huge limestone caves of Gunung Tasek, 6 km to the north of lpoh, nestles the Perak Tong temple. Built in 1926 by a Buddhist priest from China, the temple houses over 40 Buddha. Beyond the main altar, a passage leads into the cave's interior. After a steep climb of 385 steps, the cave opens again to reveal a wonderful view of the surrounding countryside. Another famous cave temple is the Sam Poh Tong temple, located in Gunung Rapat, 5 km south of lpoh. The temple is an impressive work of art and faith, with various statues of Buddha among natural stalactites and stalagmites. There is also a pond where visitors can feed tortoise, (symbol of longevity) with stalks of vegetables and a wishing well for those seeking better fortunes. Outside the temple is a vegetarian restaurant. Kellie's Castle About 30 minutes drive from lpoh, 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. Lata Kinjang Lata Kinjang is located about 18 km from Tapah. The main attraction at this waterfall is the impressive series of cascades winding down a 100-metre drop. There are parking bays and eating stalls for picnickers. Visitors may also visit an orchid garden and a bamboo park. Geological Museum Established in 1957, the Geological Museum at Jalan Sultan Azian Shah in lpoh houses a collection of over 600 samples of minerals, classified according to chemical content and structure. The museum is well known for its exhibition of tin ore, including the best specimen of cassiterite in the world. There is also an impressive collection of fossils, precious stones and rock specimens. Visiting hours are from 8.00 am to 4.15 pm (Mon-Fri) and 8.00 am to 12.45 pm (Sat). Admission is free but visitors must obtain entry permission from the information counter. Darul Ridzuan Museum It is located at Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab, lpoh and was officially open to the public in 1992. Among the interesting artifacts on show are the history and development of lpoh and the mining and forestry industry of Perak. Built more than a hundred years ago and it has a colourful history. Among others it has been home to the Malay Chieftains of Kinta and the British rulers. The museum is opened everyday (a half day on Thursday) except Friday from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Admission is free DR Seenivasagam Park The fresh atmosphere and variety of flora are the main attractions of this park in lpoh. Children can enjoy several recreational and amusement facilities such as the roller-skating rink, a playground and a mini-train course. Royal Museum Previously known as Istana Kenangan, Istana Tepas and Istana Lembah, the Perak Royal Museum is an amazing achievement in architecture. It was built without any architectural plans and without using a single nail. Situated near the Istana Iskandariah, the Sultan of Perak's official palace at Kuala Kangsar. River Terrapin Breeding Project (Bota Kanan) A breeding farm for 'Tuntung' (river terrapins or Bataqur baska) is located at Bota Kanan, about 40km from lpoh. Opened in 1967 by the State's Dept of Wildlife and National Parks, the primary aim of this project is the conservation of this species. To date the hatchery at Bota Kanan has released more than 25,000 hatchings into the Perak river. Between November and March, visitors can witness migrating river terrapins laying eggs in the wilds. Perak Museum, Taiping Built in 1883, the Perak Museum is the oldest museum in the country. it houses an impressive collection of ancient weapons, aboriginal implements, ornaments and archaeological treasures. Also on display are artifacts from Perak's rich historical culture and heritage. An excellent place to begin an in-depth study of the state and its past achievements. Visiting hours: 9.30 am to 5.00 pm. Admission - Free Taiping Lake Gardens This 62-hectare park is one of the biggest and most beautiful parks in the country. It offers lush greenery, a beautiful lake abounding with freshwater fish, a gazebo and a colourtul profusion of flowers. The Taiping Zoo, probably the oldest zoo in the country, is another attraction located within the Gardens. Visiting hours 8.30 am to 6.30 pm daily. Fares are RM3.00 for adults, RM1.50 for children, primary student with uniform RMO.50 and secondary student with uniform RM1.00. Other facilities available at the Gardens include a rest house, fishing and aqua biking in the area. Lumut Lumut is situated about 84km south of lpoh and is well-known for its beautiful shell and coral handicraft. Mainly a fishing village, it is the departure point from the mainland for those wanting to visit Pulau Pangkor. The annual Pesta Laut or Sea Festival is held at Teluk Batik, Lumut in August and attracts thousands of visitors. There are sea-sport competitions, culture shows and fun-and-food fairs for young and old to enjoy. Please check with the Perak Tourist Information Centre for the actual date of Pesta Laut Lumut. Teluk Intan Leaning Tower The pride of Teluk Intan, 84km from lpoh, is its spectacular Leaning Tower. Reminiscent of the Leaning Tower of Pisa this pagoda-like structure was built in 1885 by a Chinese contractor, Leong Choon Choong. The dominating 25.5m tower was once used for water storage. Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary Kuala Gula is famous for the variety of exotic birds which come here to nest. Over 100 species of birds, some of them protected, have been sighted in this area. Mammals can also be seen here, among them the smooth otter, dusky leaf monkey, long-tailed macaque and the ridgeback dolphin. The best time to visit is between September and December, when thousands of birds can be seen in the area.

Tambun Hot Springs A 15-minute drive from lpoh towards Tanjung Rambutan brings you to the toot of a limestone hill where a rejuvenating experience awaits you - an invigorating hot bath from a natural spring. The bath is open daily from 3.00 pm to 12.00 midnight. The facilities include saunas and restrooms Entrance fee is RM 5.00. Other hot springs in Perak are at Sungkai, Pengkalan Hulu, Kampung Ulu Slim in Slim River, Kampung Air Panas in Grik and Manong in Kuala Kangsar. Ipoh Raiway Station The lpoh Railway Station bears close resemblance to its Kuala Lumpur counterpart and is affectionately known to locals as the Taj Mahal of lpoh. An impressive landmark which combines Moorish architecture with modern embellishments, it is surrounded by a beautiful floral garden which serves as a charming welcome for tourist. Kuala Woh Jungle Park Situated about 13km from Tapah, on the way to Cameron Highlands, Kuala Woh presents a natural backdrop for fun- seekers to swim, picnic and fish. Interesting features include the natural hot-water pool, various waterfalls and Tebing Merbau. Orang asli, or aborigines, live in this area, according to their traditional way of life. They are friendly but shy by nature. Besides Lata iskandar and Kuala Woh, there are two other waterfalls sites which are quite popular: the Ulu Kinta Waterfalls, 16km from lpoh, and Batu Hampar near Taiping. Gua Tempurung Believed to have existed since 8000 B.C., Gua Tempurung is probably the largest natural limestone cave in Malaysia. Situated about 24 kilometers from lpoh, the cave stretches for 1.5 kilometers and is made up of five huge domes whose ceilings resemble coconut shells. Each dome has different formations of stalagmites and stalactites as well as differing temperatures, water levels, content of limestone and marble. DBI Swimming Complex The Dewan Bandaraya lpoh Swimming Complex is the largest and most modern complex of its kind in South-East Asia and boasts on Olympic size pool, a diving pool, a beginners'-pool, a children's pool and the first ever wave pool in Malaysia. The complex is part of the Perak Sports Complex which also houses a stadium with a velodrome and astroturf field. Entrance fee: (Weekdays) (Weekend/Public Holidays) Adults RM 1.00 RM 2.00 Children RM 0.50 RM 1.00 Ubudiah Mosque Located at Bukit Chandan, Kuala Kangsar, The Ubudiah Mosque is reputed to be one of the most beautiful mosques in the country and a symbol of pride and faith for all Muslims in Perak. The mosque's magnificent golden dome and minarets are testaments to the beauty of Islamic architecture. The construction of the mosque began in the reign of Sultan ldris Murshidul Adzam Shah 1, the 28th Sultan of Perak. The mosque was officially opened by Sultan Jalil Karamatullah Shah in 1917. The First Rubber Tree The first rubber tree was planted in 1877 near the Kuala Kangsar District Off ice. It was the only tree that survived, out of the nine that was planted. The rubber seeds were brought over to Singapore, then to Kuala Kangsar, from the Kew Garden in London by H.N. Ridley. He was responsible for turning Kuala Kangsar into first rubber industry district and finally, making rubber as an important source of income for Malaysia. Bukit Larut (Maxwell Hill) Malaysia's oldest hill resort is located on Bukit Larut (formerly called Maxwell Hill), it is accessible only by four-wheel drive vehicles. The road up twists and turns through tropical virgin jungle, the fresh green fragrance and cool air greeting you as you ascend. At the summit you are treated to a spectacular view of the west coast of the peninsula. Visitors can either stay at the Bukit Larut Resthouse or by making reservation through the Superintendent of Bukit Larut, Taiping, Tel: 05- 827243/827241, A Land Rover service at the foot of the hill is available at hourly intervals from 7.00 am to 6.00 pm daily. Fares are RM 2.50 for adults and RM 1.00 for children. Lata Iskandar Waterfalls The Lata Iskandar Waterfalls, on the way up to Cameron Highlands from Tapah, is an ideal picnic area and favourite stopover. Its surrounding jungle is home to one of the largest variety of exotic insect and plant life in the world. Traditional earthenware pottery is crafted at Kampung Kerayung. Sungkai Deer Farm Situated in Manderang, Sungkai, about 82km from lpoh; this deer farm is only one of its kind in the country. Established in 1978, there are approximately 100 deer roaming freely on this 100-hectare breeding and conservation project site. There is also an exotic bird sanctuary nearby. For more information, contact the Dept of Wildlife and National Parks at Sungkai 05 -5273411. Pasir Salak Historical Complex Time seems to stand still in this little village beside a slow river. Pasir Salak is well-known for its ancient Malay architecture and craft: every wooden house is decorated with intricate traditional designs and nature inspired motifs. Here, too, stands the memorial dedicated to the historical incident in which the first British Resident in Perak, J,W.W. Birch was slain by the late Maharaja Lela, Dato' Sagor and Si Puntum. There are also two 'Kutai House' (Perak traditional house) inside the complex. These houses would display various local historical and Malay culture artifacts.   Teluk Batik About 6.5km from Lumut lies Teluk Batik, a favourite spot for campers, picnickers, swimmers and sun-lovers. The stretches of white sandy beach are ideal for whatever activity of inactivity you have in mind. You can rent rooms and chalets along the beach at bargain prices. Contact the Manager of Teluk Batik Chalets. (05-6835554) for reservations. Banding Resort The Banding resort, 35km from Grik, is the ideal place for fishing enthusiast and those who really want to get away from it all. This remote resort covers 103.6 hectares next to the Temenggor Lake at the mid-point of the East-West highway. The lake delivers fish of generous proportions and there is ample opportunity for trekking, camping and picnicking. At present, there is a modern restaurant and rest-house which provides comfortable accommodation. Plans are underway for expansion and improvement of the existing facilities.