PERAK:

Perak at a glance | Perak History  | Perak Locations | Perak Attractions

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PERAK AT A GLANCE:

The State of Perak, the Land of Grace, has long been renowned for its tin deposits.  In fact, its name "Perak", which means silver in Malay, is derived from the silvery tin ore that was found and mined in abundance here until the turn of the century.  Perak is subdivided into 9 districts and covers an area of 21,000 sq.  km, with a population that exceeds 2 million.  Major towns include Taiping, Teluk Intan, Lumut, Sitiawan, and Kuala Kangsar, the royal town, while Ipoh City is the state capital and administrative center.  Like Kelantan and Pahang, Perak is a state that is defined by the course of its namesake river.  Tin may have lost its predominance over the state's economy, yet it has nonetheless played a major role in the early development of Perak and its many towns.  Perak has progressed steadily by attracting foreign industrialists who have set up factories in various parts of the state.  Its sound infrastructure and facilities of international standard make it an ideal environment for business enterprise.  Today, this ever harmonious state is vibrant and thriving with bustling townships.  Ipoh, its capital, an originally obscure village with dilapidated buildings, has grown to become one of the largest cities in Malaysia.  Hence, whilst remaining very much a business center, Perak offers the visitor everything that one would want, from history, culture, nature and adventure to its ever charming hospitality.
 

HISTORY:

Until the nineteenth century, Perak's people were concentrated along the Perak River, and the chief city was riverside Kuala Kangsar.  In its early years, Perak underwent much turmoil and strife.  Rich in deposits, it was an attractive target for foreign domination.  It was first ravaged by the Achinese in the 16th Century, then the Bugis, followed by the Dutch, and finally by the British at the turn of the 19th Century.  The growing importance of tin in the world market brought about an influx of Chinese immigrants into the rich Larut minefields.  This, however, resulted in the destabilization of the traditional Malay policy in the Kinta River Valley.  The situation took a turn for the worst in the 1870s when the state was torn by a royal dispute over succession to the throne and war in Larut broke out between feuding Chinese miners.  This was eventually settled by British intervention through the Pangkor Treaty of 1874.  Hence the state came under British control.  The discovery of rich tin deposits in surrounding valleys lead to the establishment of and transfer of the capital to Taiping and, later, Ipoh.  The tin mines around Ipoh are reputedly the richest in the world, and it is no surprise that the city has expanded steadily from the time the mines were discovered in the nineteenth century.  Today, Ipoh is one of Malaysia's larger cities, with a population of about half a million people.

LOCATION:
Perak covers an area of 21,000 square km, making it the second largest state in Peninsular Malaysia (Pahang is larger).  The state is situated along Malaysia's western coast at the northern approach to the Strait of Malacca.  It extends deep into the peninsula, with its eastern border marked by mountains of the Main Range.
 

ATTRACTIONS:
Traveling through Perak is an experience by itself as visitors will be treated to an environment, which is complemented with tropical rainforests, hills, rubber plantations, tin mines, and more.  This is a journey that will take you through small towns whose characters have not changed since their mining days.  Besides these, visitors will also be able to see unending fruit orchards for Perak is a major fruit growing region in the area.  A trip here is never complete without a taste of the luscious pomelos - a sweet and juicy citrus fruit that is usually the size of a soccer ball and grown exclusively in the state.  Pomelos are a must during major Chinese festivals.  Furthermore, on the outskirts of Ipoh lies the little town of Menglembu, which is renown around the world for its brand of groundnuts, although no longer found in this area.  Ipoh - This city is the home to many a miner who has made a fortune during the heydays of tin.  Once a small kampung with dilapidated buildings, Ipoh, a town that tin built, did not pass with the demise of the tin industry.  Instead, it has grown with the country's economy.  Poised to become the focal point of industry, business, investment, education, and social activities, Ipoh reflects the overall progress and development that Perak is experiencing.  Bearing a close resemblance to its Kuala Lumpur counterpart, the Ipoh Railway Station is an impressive landmark, which combines Gothic and Moorish architecture with modern embellishments.  Hence its nickname, the Taj Mahal of Ipoh.  Its compound comprises of the famous "Ipoh Tree", a poisonous tree whose sap is used by the natives in the olden days to make fatal darts for their blow pipes.  Surrounded by a beautiful floral garden, it also serves as a charming welcome to visitors arriving by rail.  Opposite the railway station is a neocolonial style building.  Adjacent to that is the Ipoh Clock Tower, which was erected in 1917 as a memorial to J.W.W. Birch, the first British Resident of the state who was assassinated by a group of Malay chieftains in Pasir Salak in 1875.  Ironically, there is another memorial built on the very spot where Birch was assassinated, but this one is dedicated to the Malay warriors who murdered him.  Apart from Penang, Ipoh is the other name that is constantly at the tip of the tongue when the subject matter concerned is food.  The early Chinese immigrants who poured into the state brought with them the cooking styles of their provinces, most of whom were from the southern provinces.  These cooking styles blended well with the local air and a new breed of food came about, such as the Ipoh "Hor Fun" or flat rice noodles.  Ipoh also has elegant mansions and impressive cave temples.  Taiping has beautiful lake gardens, well-preserved Anglo-Malay buildings, a good night-market and hardly any tourists.  Kuala Kangsar is the historic royal town of Perak, which has fine mosques and palaces, and was the birthplace of Malaysia's rubber industry.  Approximately 84 km south of Ipoh is the coastal town of Lumut - the jumping- off point to Pulau Pangkor. Lumut is the home base of the Royal Malaysian Navy but sun seekers go to Teluk Batik, located approximately 6 km from the town. This stretch of beach is the haunt for campers, picnickers and watersports enthusiasts.  But for most travellers to this coastal state, the ultimate destination is Pulau Pangkor, which has enchanting beaches on its western coastline.  Among them are Teluk Belanga, Teluk Nipah and Pasir Bogak. There are also quiet coves and untrodden bays at Tortoise Bay, Teluk Nipah and Teluk Chempedak.  The island is famous for fish- based resources and activities related to these can be seen around the island.  Pangkor is largely inhabited by fisher-folk who live in fishing settlements scattered along the coast.  Pangkor - in stark contrast to Malaysia's fast-paced progress remains a haven for those seeking to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life.  Here, visitors can bask in the sun on her golden beaches and catch sights of fishing boats rocking gently on calm blue waters.  Situated 7 km from historic Lumut town across the Straits of Malacca, it has for centuries enthralled visitors with her charming beauty, idyllic bays, pristine beaches, and vibrant tropical forests.  Hence it comes as no surprise that she has been a welcome stopover for the sea weary, pirates, and adventurers in the old days.  In fact, it was at one time ruled by European conquerors such as the Dutch and British yet her natural wonders have remained unscarred and her environment as tranquil and harmonious as ever.  Today's Pangkor is a thriving tourist destination that does not reflect her turbulent past.