Kuala Kangsar Tourist Attractions
Map of Kuala Kangsar Tourist Attractions
View Kuala Kangsar in a larger map
Kuala Kangsar Clock Tower (31 January 2006)
© Timothy Tye
Istana Kenangan (31 January 2006)
© Timothy Tye
Pavilion Square Tower (31 January 2006)
© Timothy Tye
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Kuala Kangsar, royal town of Perak
Kuala Kangsar is the royal town of the Sultanate of Perak. It is located where the Perak River makes a sharp bend. Located on the western bank of the Perak River, at the confluence with the Kangsar River, Kuala Kangsar is a beautifully preserved town that is worth exploring, especially for heritage enthusiasts. Within Kuala Kangsar are some of the most charming palaces and mosques in Malaysia.
Getting there
The most practical way to reach Kuala Kangsar is by car. Exit the North-South Expressway (E1) at Exit 143.
History of Kuala Kangsar
The name Kuala Kangsar is believed to have come from "Kuala Karong-Sa", which means "99 tributaries", referring to the tributaries that empty into the Perak River. Along the bend of the river, Sultan Yusuf Sharifuddin Mudzaffar Shah (1877-1887) erected his palace, Istana Sri Sayong. This was a strange decision, as the palace was exposed to enemy invasion as well as the unpredictable river. Even though an invasion did not materialize, its vulnerability to the elements proved to be its undoing when, the Big Flood or Air Bah of 1926 almost swept it away. Only then was a decision made to move the palace to higher ground. The site chosen was a gentle knoll close-by, on which today stands the present residence of the Sultan of Perak, the Istana Iskandariah, a fine piece of Art-Deco architecture.
The royal quarters, which include Istana Iskandariah, Istana Ulu, the Ubudiah Mosque and Istana Kenangan, all stand on one side of Kuala Kangsar, on a knoll called Bukit Chandan away from the rest of town, and separated by a large park along the riverbank called Dataran Sungai Perak.
Places of interest in Kuala Kangsar
The following are dates associated with the major landmarks in Kuala Kangsar:
1877 - First Rubber Tree in Malaya was planted.
1903 - Istana Ulu was built.
1905 - Kuala Kangsar Malay College opened.
1917 - Ubudiah Mosque was built.
1926 - Istana Iskandariah and Istana Kenangan were built.
1930 - Pavilion Square Tower was built.
Near to Kuala Kangsar, across the Perak River, is the village of Sayong which is famous for its water gourds.
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