 Kangar Travel & Hotel Guide
Gua Kelam, Perlis (30 April 2005)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Kangar is the capital as well as the main town in Perlis, the northernmost state in Malaysia. Located by the banks of Sungai Perlis, Kangar has a population of approximately 50,000.
Kangar is said to have been named after Kangkok, a species of hawk (Spizaetus limnaetu). The town has been around longer than most of the major cities of Malaysia such as Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh, having been established in the 18th century or earlier, even before the establishment of Perlis as a state. The Sultan of Kedah (Sultan Muhammad Jewa) sought refuge here following the attack on Kedah by the Bugis forces based in Selangor in 1771. At that time, Kangar was nothing more than a village with one narrow street by Sungai Perlis.
Guide to Kangar Hotels
It's never easy finding the hotel that's just right for your stay. Still, by taking a little time to do your research, you increase your chance of getting a good hotel at the best price. Go through the list of hotels in Kangar which we've put together, with full description, star rating, address, location map and evaluation. Pick the hotel of your choice and view the rates offered by different booking sites. Yes, we show you prices from different websites, so you don't have to visit them one by one.
More about Kangar
Perlis was created following the fall of Kedah to the Siamese in 1821, after which Kedah was broken up into into four parts namely Setul, Perlis, Kubang Pasu and Kedah. Kubang Pasu reintegrated as part of Kedah in 1909. Perlis became a separate state while Setul became Satun province in Thailand.
Rumah Dato' Wan Ahmad, Kangar (31 October, 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
What's there to see or do in Kangar
There are a number of heritage buildings in Kangar that are worth visiting. Right in the centre of town is the Syed Alwi State Mosque, completed in the early 20th century. Not far away is the State Museum and Heritage Hall. The Kangar Court House is another interesting historical building. The town is almost devoid of tall buildings, except for the EPF Tower. However, it has a few delightful Malay houses, the most beautiful of which is the home of the late Dato' Wan Ahmad, a former menteri besar of Kangar.
How to reach Kangar
Exit the North-South Expressway (E1) to the Changlun-Kuala Perlis Highway. The highway is Federal Route 194, unfortunately the highway number is missing at the access to the highway itself. It only appears much later (that's one of the issues I have with Malaysian highways). Instead routes to different towns are posted, namely to Arau (179), Kangar (7) and Kuala Perlis (81).
Take the Changlun - Kuala Perlis Expressway (Route 194) and then turn right into Jalan Raja Syed Alwi (Route R1) that goes straight into Kangar. Follow the directional signboards for Kangar.
Exit to Changlun-Kuala Perlis Highway (31 October, 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
You will continue in Kedah for a while until you arrive at the border with Perlis, as marked by a big yellow arch.
To reach Kangar, you need to exit Route 194 at the Arau Interchange. If you don't, you will end up in Kuala Perlis. This is the exit:
Arau Interchange (31 October, 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Just continue on this route (it's State Route R3) and it will take you pass Arau and then reach Kangar.
Getting Around Kangar
Kangar is a small two-main-road town. For your convenience, you can drive about and then park near the tourist attractions. Traffic is light compared to bigger towns in Malaysia.
Bukit Keteri, Perlis (1 November, 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Wat Machimaprasit, Jelawi, Perlis (31 October, 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Grapevine in Sungai Batu Pahat (1 November, 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Tasik Melati, Perlis (1 November, 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Masjid Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail, Kangar (1 November, 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
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Places of Interest in Kangar
- Syed Alwi State Mosque
Mosque built in 1910, with traditional Islamic architecture blended with early elements of the Art Deco style.
- State Mosque & Heritage Hall
Museum housing the state artifacts, culture and history.
- Kompleks Kayangan Square
The only shopping mall in Kangar.
- Pasar Borong
Biggest wet market in Kangar.
- EPF Building
Tallest building in Kangar.
- Nine Emperor Gods Temple
Taoist temple to the Nine Emperor Gods.
- Arulmigu Arumugaswamy Devasthanam
Hindu temple in Kangar.
- Arulmigu Kovil Sri Veera Mahakaliamman Alayam
Small, hillside Hindu temple in Kangar.
- Sungai Kechor Recreational Park
Riverside park and promenade beside Sungai Kechor, a tributary of the Perlis River.
- Stadium Datuk Sheikh Ahmad
Stadium in the town of Kangar.
- Kangar Courthouse
Heritage building in Kangar.
- Kangar City Hall Field
Football field in Kangar.
- Masjid Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail
Mosque named after the present ruler of Perlis.
Sights in Perlis in the vicinity of Kangar
- Arau
Royal town located 10 km to the east of Kangar.
- Gua Kelam
Former mining cave with a 370-meter long limestone passageway.
- Wang Tangga Recreational Park
Recreational park located behind Gua Kelam.
- Sungai Batu Pahat Snake & Reptile Farm
An educational centre for understanding reptiles of all types.
- Museum Kota Kayang
Museum sited at the burial site of 16th century Kedah sultans, with artifacts discovered from the late Neolithic period.
- Chuping Sugarcane Plantation
Vast sugarcane fields in northern Perlis.
- Wang Kelian State Park
Protected forest near the Thai border.
- Wang Kelian Border Market
Market located on both sides of the Malaysian-Thai border.
- Melati Lake
Recreational lake surrounded by karst outcrops developed from the surrounding marshland.
- Timah Tasoh Dam
Biggest dam in Perlis with scenic look-out points.
- Padang Besar
Border crossing with bazaar-style shopping complexes.
- Kuala Perlis
Coastal fishing town with ferry to Langkawi and many seafood restaurants.
- Perlis Grape Farm
Experimental farm for the cultivation of grapes being conducted in the Sungai Batu Pahat area.
- Perlis Craft Cultural Complex
A place to view handicrafts produced by the cottage industries in Perlis.
- Gunung Medan
Twin limestone outcrops in Perlis
- Universiti Malaysia Perlis
Institute of higher education in Perlis.
- Wat Machimaprasit
Buddhist temple in Jelawi, Perlis.
- Bukit Keteri Cement Factory
Big cement factory belonging to Cement Industries Malaysia (CIMA).
- Bukit Keteri
Limestone hills surrounded by lush paddy fields, favoured as a rock-climbing site
- Taman Herba Negeri Perlis
Ethnobotany museum established by the Perlis Forestry Department.
Country Mosques of Perlis
The following are village mosques of varying sizes that I have documented in Perlis.
- Masjid Negeri, Arau
State mosque at the royal town of Arau
- Masjid Lama Arau
Old mosque across the road from the State Mosque.
- Masjid Jelawi Luar
Blue-colour mosque along the main road in Jelawi, between Arau and Kangar.
- Masjid Sungai Adam
Old mosque beside Masjid Jelawi Luar.
- Masjid Tun Abdul Razak
Mosque in the village of Repoh near Kangar.
- Masjid Behor Temak
Mosque in the village of Behor Temak west of Kangar.
- Masjid Al Rahmaniah
Main mosque of Kuala Perlis.
- Masjid Syaidina Abu Bakar As Siddiq
Mosque in Seberang Ramai, a village in Kuala Perlis.
- Masjid Batu 2 Lama
An old mosque along Jalan Kaki Bukit, north of Kangar.
- Masjid Sirajuddin
Mosque at 3½ Mile Jalan Kaki Bukit.
- Masjid Al-Ghofur
Mosque at Jalan Santan, in the village of Padang Lati in Beseri, Perlis.
- Masjid Jamek Beseri
Friday mosque of the district of Beseri.
- Masjid Osmaniah
Mosque along Jalan Padang Besar Utara.
- Masjid Solahuddin Al-Ayyubi
Main mosque in Padang Besar.
- Masjid Al-Husna
Mosque in Kampung Batu Bertangkup
- Masjid Bukit Keteri
Mosque near the limestone outcrops of the same name.
- Masjid Al-Muqarrabin
Mosque in Behor Empiang
- Masjid Al-Raudah
Mosque in the Sungai Batu Pahat district.
- Masjid Al-Imarah
Mosque along Jalan Kelab Golf Putra
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