Ipoh, Malaysia: A Hidden Cultural Gem
- Admin
- Apr 4, 2020
- 3 min read
Ipoh Malaysia
With a population of 750,000 people, Ipoh is one of the biggest cities in Malaysia and the capital of Perak. The city is located 200 km north of Kuala Lumpur and has a much more relaxed, slow-paced small-town feel, despite being the capital of the state of Perak. In my opinion, this is the perfect weekend getaway if you ever find yourself visiting Malaysia. The limestone outcrops, cave temples, colorful and vibrant culture and the exotic culinary of Ipoh makes it a super fun place to visit and reconnect with nature. So, check out these fantastic reasons and things to do in Ipoh for an incredible vacation.
Waterfall abseiling and water rapids:
Ipoh offers the best adventure to those who have a special love with nature. Water abseiling and experiencing the forests of Ipoh is the first thing you want to do here. Water abseiling being on the itinerary was actually a surprise and I’m going to let you in on a little secret...I AM NOT A FAN OF WALKING BACKWARDS ON A WATERFALL LOL. But because I didn’t want my friends to think I’m too chicken I decided to go through with it against my natural instincts, and I have NO REGRETS! The adrenaline rush was unexplainable and I will do it again in a heartbeat. You definitely don’t get this kind of a rush sitting at a desk in NYC.
There are so many waterfalls where you can go swimming, boating and for a picnic. Batu Berangkai Waterfall, Geruntum Fall, and the Lata Perahu are the top three places to go. The Gopeng river offers scenic views, and you can kayak in the rapids. Moreover, the Gepai falls, Chepor, Buntong, and Lubuk Timah falls are also perfect, so explore nature and enjoy the best water rides.
Get to know the Ipoh rich culture and heritage trails:
There is so much when it comes to the heritage of Ipoh. The history of this place shows that this city was the center of the tin industry in the world. You can enjoy the colonial legacy like the Railway station because of its construction and architect. Even the Birch clock tower, Townhall, and the post office is a must-see. There is an Ipoh heritage walk which takes place here. It is four miles in which you can cover almost all the historical charm of Ipoh. For this day I was separated from the group and given a private heritage tour of the town and it was so lovely walking around and seeing all the sites. The guide and I talked about culture and he bought me around amazing local restaurants to try the food. There are food courts, restaurants, and hawker stalls, and they are serving the same recipe for so long. The shredded chicken noodles, bean sprout chicken, and the white coffee is something to keep you in love with Ipoh forever.
Buddhist cave temples in town:
Last but not least, another reason to visit Ipoh is because of their cave
temples. With enormous space inside and made of limestone, these temples are an ideal place to visit. Perak Tong cave temple, Sam Poh Tong temple, and Ling Sen Tong cave temple are the top three and have a lot of crowds, including visitors from different countries. The Kwan Yin Tong cave temple and Kek Long Tong temple is also perfect if you want to feel the calm and holiness with less crowd.
Being the top destination for tourists in Perak, this city is so much than just culture and heritage. The fun activities and scenic views here are breathtaking. It is a place perfect nature getaway in Malaysia.
Thank you for reading WDWF
Written in partnership with ASEAN Tourism
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