World Travel GuidesPanglima Lane (Concubine Lane), Ipoh

Exotic Tours of Asia
 Asia Travel Guide Compare Hotel Room Rates from different Booking Sites     Follow Me on Pinterest 












Panglima Lane (see map) is a small lane located off Jalan Bandar Timah (Leech Street) in Ipoh. Along with Hale Lane and Market Lane, it is an alleyway bearing the same name as the adjacent main road.

Hale Lane, Panglima Lane and Market Lane constituted the red light area of Ipoh Old Town. In Cantonese, they were known as the First, Second and Third Concubine Lanes. During the tin-mining heydays, these three lanes were where the coolies from the mines came to look for prostitutes and opium. The lanes were lined with brothels and opium dens, during an age when such activities were conducted in a less-than-discreet manner.


Panglima Lane, Ipoh
Panglima Lane, Ipoh (19 June 2011)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

 Over time, Panglima Lane became the place where tycoons would deposit their concubines. These girls who exists solely to give rich men worldly pleasures are cloistered away from sight down this lane, visited discreetly. They did not hold any position in the men's family, and may have existed without the wives' knowledge.

Today there has been interest to gentrify the lanes while preserving the history for posterity. However, as of now, the amount of restoration conducted here has been minimal. Many of the houses here are in advanced stages of disrepair. Many of the houses here are being taken over by vegetation, and unless steps are taken immediately, Panglima Lane may literally be gnarled away by the elements.


 Houses on Panglima Lane
Houses on Panglima Lane (19 June 2011)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

Clothes hung to dry at Panglima Lane
Clothes hung to dry at Panglima Lane (19 June 2011)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

Vegetation taking over the houses at Panglima Lane
Vegetation taking over the houses at Panglima Lane (19 June 2011)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

Empty house with New Year decorations at Panglima Lane
Empty house with New Year decorations at Panglima Lane (19 June 2011)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

Return to Ipoh Travel Guide
Return to Perak Budget Travel Guide






  • Tips to become a smart traveler: Useful tips to remember, to get the best out of your travels.
  • Preparing for a Trip: Systematic approach to help you prepare for your trip.
  • How to plan your travel itinerary: Step-by-step build to creating the itinerary for your trip.
  • How to compare hotel room rates: Learn to use a booking search engine to compare rates across all major booking sites.
  • How to pack your luggage: Useful steps to take when packing your luggage.
  • Packing List (PDF): Print out this free packing list to make sure you don't forget anything for your trip.
  • Voltage, Frequency, Plugs & Sockets of the World: Learn about the mains electricity supply in the world.
  • Travelers' List of Plugs and Sockets (PDF): Easy-to-use list of electricity and plugs for all countries.
  • Making International Direct Dail Calls: Learn to make IDD calls from anywhere in the world.
  • IDD Call Prefixes & Country Codes (PDF): Listing of Call Prefixes and Country Codes on one page for you to bring on your trip.
  • Safety Tips When Traveling Alone: Useful advice for when you travel on your own.
  • Guide to Health Matters related to Travel: Comprehensive coverage of different issues related to your health when traveling.
  • Getting Travel Insurance for your trip: Benefits of travel insurance, and advise on when you should signing up for one.
  • Improve your travel photography: Tips to improve your photography skills, especially when traveling.
  • Guide to Traveling Around the World: Useful tips for encircling the globe.


    • Find a hotel







    Follow Me on Pinterest

    Point - Click - Discover!

    Thanks for visiting this webpage. To continue exploring, choose another destination!


    My World Travel Guides - celebrating a beautiful world beautifully.

    Earning a living as a Happy Jobless Guy

    I am a Happy Jobless Guy! I am one of the few people who is fortunate enough to earn an income from my websites that I don't to go out to work. My sites get thousands of visitors every day. It has been a long process, but it is something everybody can achieve, and that means YOU. The following are some articles which you might want to read if you want to do what I do:
    1. Money Making Manual
    2. How to earn from writing websites
    3. Guide for earning a living without holding a job
    4. Generate a Sitemap for your website
    5. Complete Step-by-Step e-Business Building System