Kuala Kangsar

Kuala Kangsar is the royal town of Perak. It is the main town in the administrative district of Kuala Kangsar. It sits at the downstream of Kangsar River where it joins the Perak River.

Understand
It was here that the first rubber tree was planted in the then Malaya, by the English botanist Henry Nicholas Ridley. This rubber tree still stands in the compound of the Kuala Kangsar City Hall (Majlis Perbandaran Kuala Kangsar).

Get in
Kuala Kangsar is approximately 25 km (16 mi) northwest of Ipoh, Perak's capital, 98 km (61 mi) southeast of George Town, Penang, and about 235 km from Kuala Lumpur.

By bus
There are numerous intercity buses running to Kuala Kangsar. There are very frequent local bus connections between Ipoh and Kuala Kangsar. From Ipoh's main local bus station (south of the railway station), just hop on the local bus and pay later.

By car
The main gateway to the town is via the North-South Expressway from Kuala Lumpur to the Thai border. From Kuala Lumpur, head northwards towards Ipoh. Kuala Kangsar is approximately 30 km to the north of Ipoh. The old Federal Route One is an alternative for those who want a leisurely drive to Kuala Kangsar.

By train
Keretapi Tanah Melayu operates daily services from Kuala Lumpur and Penang (Butterworth).

Get around
Walking to the various attractions is recommended for those who are fit, but driving around enables the visitor to explore the outskirts.

See




Do




Buy

 * A variety of souvenirs from Labu Sayong, handicrafts, mengkuang mats, keris, traditional fish traps, parangs (long knives) and foodstuffs at and around Jalan Tebing, Kuala Kangsar.

Specialties of Kuala Kangsar

 * Laksa while available in many parts of Malaysia, with slight variations, one unique feature of the Kuala Kangsar Laksa is the Laksa (the vermicelli, or "meehoon") itself. Almost all the Laksa vendors here serve their "laksa vermicelli" freshly made. Thus, the texture is more savouring compared to the dried vermicelli which are first soaked prior to being served.
 * Masak Lemak Ikan Patin a delicious Malay dish, served with rice. The Ikan Patin (a river fish of the cat fish family) is cooked in coconut milk with herbs, spices and condimums with the formidable "cili api" (Thai pepper). Small eateries along the Tebing of the town serves this dish. Find the jetty for the passenger boat to Sayong and these eateries can never be missed.

Drink
Cendol Kuala Kangsar, which in the local dialect is pronounced as "cendoi."



Go next

 * Ipoh
 * Cameron Highlands
 * Pangkor
 * Taiping