KUALA KANGSAR

The Royal Town of Kuala Kangsar

Walking down the Royal Town of Kuala Kangsar brings back good memories of ‘past’ livelihood of the Sultanate of Perak Darul Ridzuan and His subjects.

The more than 150-year-old town definitely has a story to tell, from her rich historical background to the existence of the present heritage buildings and memorial graves, and the unique living heritage (arts & crafts) which are still showcased by locals, here. 

UBUDIAH MOSQUE

My first impression of Kuala Kangsar is that it is a beautifully preserved old town worth exploring, and if one wants to know more about Perak, do make a visit to this quaint town.

WELCOME ARCH

An aura of ‘royal’ presence surrounds this Bandar Di-Raja, where palaces are prominent here, and the royal colour ‘yellow’ is significantly used on signs leading to the palace, located at Bukit Chandan.

The royal town, is home to a string of Perak’s best landmark namely Ubudiah Mosque, Istana Iskandariah (official palace of the Sultan), Istana Kenangan (Memorial Palace), Clifford School and The Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK).

MEDIA MEMBERS VISITING AZLAN SHAH GALLERY

As a word of recommendation, Kuala Kangsar is a ‘must see’ town if tourists are visiting the silver state for the first time.

It is advisable to get a map before embarking on a two hour walking expedition covering about 8.5km heritage trail around the town.

It is also best to cover the royal town by ‘walking’ or ‘cycling’ through some 23 heritage sites which runs from the Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK) located at Jalan Tun Razak to the Clifford School that ends at Jalan Bendahara.

AZLAN SHAH GALLERY

On the other hand, one can also select to do an adventurous tour including cruising along the Perak River crossing the Iskandar Bridge and the Sultan Abdul Jalil Shah Bridge.

Alternatively, one can drop-by a small village about 9km away from Kuala Kangsar to walk through one of the oldest railway bridges in the country named as Victoria Bridge (Enggor Bridge), in Karai.

HISTORY

There are two version on how Kuala Kangsar derived her name - firstly it is believed its name was taken from the kangsar tree (Hibiscus florcussus), and another claims that the name by was given by settlers who called it “Kuala Kurang Seratus” (one short of a hundred) because there were 99 tributaries that flowed into the Perak River in the area.

THE ROYAL PORTRAIT (SULTAN OF PERAK)

Apart from early settlers, the Perak Sultanate had made comfortable homes along the Perak River since Sultan Muzafar’s reign in the 1740s. The first Royal Palace named Istana Sri Sayong resided by Sultan Yusuf Sharifuddin Mudzaffar Shah (1877-1887), located at a bend next to Perak River.

Kuala Kangsar is also the site where the first Conference of Rulers called the Durbar was held in 1897, where rulers meet to discuss matters on religion, customs and subjects, held at Istana Negara.

HERITAGE TRAIL

Interestingly, The Malay College Kuala Kangsar’s students had recently produced a “Kuala Kangsar Heritage Trail Map” supported by the State Government, for the convenience of tourists visiting the Royal Town.

The royal town is divided into two section mainly the heritage site and the town centre, with the Clock Tower as the landmark of the dividing point.

The first trail will start off with MCKK followed with Iskandar Polo Pavillion, Ridzwaniah Mosque, The Oldest Rubber Tree, District and Land Office, Idris Club, Post Office and the Clock Tower, that runs along Jalan Tun Razak-Jalan Chulan-Jalan Taiping.

IMPRESSIVE CLOCK TOWER

The next trail covers the Bukit Chandan areas including Sultan Azlan Shah Gallery, Royal Mausoleum (Makam Diraja), Ubudiah Mosque, Idrisiah Islamic School, Iskandariah Palace, Istana Kenangan (Memorial Palace) and Sir Hugh Low’s Residency.

ANGLICAN CHURCH

The third trail, is the so-called ‘new town’ of Kuala Kangsar reflecting the busy commercial lifestyle of the people where old buildings are found - namely Kedai Tinggi, Yat Lai Restaurant and Tsung Wah Primary School.

The final trail, will bring you to the Anglican Church, Clifford School, First Hospital, Gurdwara temple and the Palace of the Raja Bendahara, located at Jalan Bendahara.

MALAY COLLEGE OF KUALA KANGSAR (MCKK)

MCKK, is established in 1905, was the first residential school in the country. It was built on a 12 ha of land donated by Sultan Idris Murshidul Adzam Sham. It was to provide education for the Malay elite and princes of Malay royal families. As a premier school, it is dubbed as the Eton of the East. The school has been the alma mater of Rulers, Prime Ministers and leaders including Umno founder Datuk Onn Jaffar, second Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein and the present Minister of Tourism and culture Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.

CLIFFORD

Another well-known school is the Clifford, which is one of the oldest school in Malaysia, built in 1897.

OLDEST RUBBER TREE

Here, one can also find the country’s oldest rubber tree still breathing at the intersection of Jalan Raja Chulan and Jalan Tun Abdul Razak. It was planted in 1877, and was one of the earliest generations from the first 11 seeds brought in from Brazil.

UBUDIAH MOSQUE

A notable sight is the majestic Ubudiah Mosque built at the command of Sultan Idris Murshidul Adzam Shah in 1913. The word ‘Ubudiah’ means ‘devotion to the Almighty God’. The mosque has an influence of Moorish architecture in its design, adorned with golden onion-shaped domes and black-and-white marble minarets. It is one of the most beautiful mosques in the country standing proudly atop of Bukit Chandan.

MEMORIAL MOSQUE

One unusual palace is the Istana Kenangan (Memorial Palace) built in 1926 under the command of Sultan Iskandar Shah. Its construction included 60 poles of 42 metres long and other wooden materials. This mosque was built without any nails. Sultan Iskandar Shah occupied this palace from 1931, until he moved to Istana Iskandariah in 1933. Today, Istana Kenangan is turned into the Muzium DiRaja (Royal Museum).

Ridzwaniah Mosque

Another popular palace is none other that Iskandariah Palace, an official palace for the reigning Sultan. The construction of the palace was finished in 1933 and named after Sultan Iskandar Shah (1918-1938). The design of palace is based on Indian-Islamic design, ‘Saracenic’ such as pointed arch and onion shapes dome.

LIVING HERITAGE

The royal town is popular for its art and crafts and cottage industry.

Among the living crafts are - the making of Labu Sayong (earthenware pitcher), Tekatan (raised embroidery), keris (Malay daggers) and Mariwasa (silver works). 

MAKING OF MALAY DAGGERS

 

TYPES OF DAGGERS

Visitors are invited to watch ‘live’ demonstration of the making of arts and crafts, and they can also have a hands-on ‘how’ to make these items.

SILVER THREAD SEWING

TEKATAN

LABU SAYONG

 FOOD

Authentic food is plentiful and one should stop-over to enjoy the variety of food ranging from laksa Kuala to popiah basah (spring rolls), cendol (dessert), Pasembor (Indian rojak) and pau (steamed bun), situated at Dataran Lembah (next to the Perak River).

BEEF STEAK

PASEMBUR

LAKSA, CURRY MEE, CENDUL