Discovering Gracious Ipoh, Malaysia

[Heena Adwani]

 

The capital of Malaysia's northwestern state of Perak (pop. 658,000) has great tourist attractions as well as some lovely districts surrounding it - an undiscovered gem has over time proved to be a city that is undiscovered by many but has all the potential to offer a memorable experience to anybody who plans to visit.

Ipoh historically is known mostly for its tin mining industry, creating some of this British colony's wealthiest and most powerful industrialists after its founding in 1880, and much of the centre city's historic architecture is colonial British. There are various ways by which you can also find out about the lifestyle of the people living here from the past century or so and to know how much it has changed, the best way is to witness yourself. Check out how many stops we can actually make in one day with the summary one day in Ipoh visit. 

SEE

• Ipoh Old Town - Atmospheric, with some lovely marketplaces.

• Wall Art Murals - Something that began in Penang has extended to Ipoh now - definitely worth at least 20 minutes of your time!

• Ipoh Railway Station - With Moorish architecture and closely resembling its Kuala Lumpur counterpart- Ipoh Railway station has been there since Malaysia was a British colony.
  

• Perak’s Herbal Garden- It is locally called Taman Herba Negeri Perak and is a 22-hectare garden. You can find various medicinal herbs, cosmetics, and aroma-therapeutic plants here.

• Temples - Each cave temple in Ipoh here has a story to tell. Do not miss out on a single one of them!

DO

• EAT - Do not forget to try out each and every delicacy here.

• RAFFLESIA TREK - Take the trek to the jungle where Rafflesia thrives. It is located at a distance of around 12 kilometers from here.

• KINTA RIVERFRONT WALK -You should not miss out on the riverfront where trees are accessorized with LED lights. It’s a beautiful view and definitely deserves one visit!

• BUKIT KLEDANG - See the Ipoh night view from Bukit Kledang

• WHITEWATER RAFTING - On the beautiful Sungai Kapar.
  

STAY

LUXURY

-The Banjaran Hotspring Retreat is one of the best options for luxury accommodation in Ipoh for some pampering and a delightful stay.

- Best Western Premier the Haven lives up to its name completely. It is truly a haven, and also provides you with transport facilities!

MID-RANGE

Impiana Hotel is a perfect option for mid-range accommodation in Ipoh. Decently priced, it provides everything you require during your stay at a hotel and is situated very conveniently to roam around Ipoh.

Heritage Hotel is another option located in the cigenter of town that you can consider for accommodation.

You can explore the city with Ipoh itineraries and take the perfect glimpse of the city and get the memorable trip planned.

WEATHER

Temperatures here assure you a comfortable stay throughout the year, from 20 to 30 degrees Celsius. Ipoh faces rains quite often, but it does not stop you from your activities! December is the coolest month, with temperatures near 20 degree Celsius. From January through August, it's above 25, providing perfectly pleasant touring weather. September through November again becomes slightly cool, but the temperature still does not fall below 22-23 degrees Celsius.

 

GETTING IN BY AIR

Sultan Azlan Shah Airport is situated right in Ipoh. Firefly operates twice daily flights to and from Terminal 2 of Singapore Changi Airport. Malaysia Airlines (Jalan Sultan Idris Shah) has daily departures to Kuala Lumpur and that is the best option for catching international flights to Ipoh.

GETTING IN BY TRAIN

Ipoh's train station (Jln Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab) is on the main Singapore-Butterworth line. There are daily trains to both Kuala Lumpur and Butterworth the latter continuing to Hat Yai in Thailand.

BY BUS

Ipoh is on the main Kuala Lumpur to Butterworth highway road which 205 kilometers north of the capital and 164 kilometers south of Butterworth. The long-distance bus station is at Medan Gopeng(Jalan Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah) which is 5 kilometers south of the city center and linked by frequent shuttle buses to the city bus station. 

The city bus station is off a roundabout south of the train station. Buses depart from here for destinations in Perak, such as Batu Gajah, Gopeng Kuala Kangsar, Taiping and Teluk Intan. Perak Roadways have a separate terminus on Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, with regular buses to Lumut.

BY COACH

You can book coach tickets from Singapore, Malaysia, and Hatyai.

BY CAR

Ipoh is located on the North-South Highway. You can drive by car from Kuala Lumpur and exit via from nearly Ipoh of Simpang Pulai. You also can via exit from Ipoh South or Jelapang. If you come from Penang then you can exit via the North-South Highway of Jelapang.

BY THE WAY...

Apart from Ipoh, capital Kuala Lumpur is most searched city in Malaysia and Ikea Cheras is popular attraction in Kuala Lumpur. Many people search hotels near Ikea Cheras and make their stay memorable.