Luxury Hotels in Bandar Kulim, Kulim

Kulim Town is a town as well as a sub-district or “mukim” of the district of Kulim, state of Kedah, Malaysia, being positioned at the southeast part of the state, with Penang at its border. Starting from this area which comprises of the entirety of Kulim district, together with Sungai Petani till George Town, the capital of Penang, they form the Greater Penang conurbation, the second biggest of its kind after Greater Kuala Lumpur. Administered by the Kulim Municipal Council, the town and the district is believed to be named as such from the kulim trees that were once being abundant in that region, being a plant that is common in Malaysia and other ASEAN rainforests.

The town was said to be founded in the middle of the 19th century by an ex-carpenter, Chin Ah Cheoh, which later became the Kulim Chinese Chief by the appointment of then-ruler of Kedah, Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Mukarram Shah. The town does not take too long and quiickly experienced a boom due to the discovery of tin ore. Back then, the biggest tin mining facilities in Kulim were Taman Tunku Putra, Kampung Bukit Besar, Karangan, Terap and Kelang Lama. By 1854, there were about eight tin mining companies that were active in Kulim with a total workforce of 1500 people. In present, the establishment of Kulim Hi-Tech Park as the country's first high-tech industrial park is the modern representation of the tin mining era, which propelled the town and district in a whole into a new era post-tin mining age.

How to Get There

By Plane

There are flights to Penang Island International Airport from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) which are provided by both Malaysia Airlines and Air Asia. Upon touchdown, from the airport, guests can go to Kulim using bus or taxi.

By Car

People driving from Kuala Lumpur may drive via North-South Highway/E1 for immediate access to Kulim. The journey could take up to three hours and forty minutes depending on the current traffic situation.

By Bus

The nearest express bus terminal is the Kulim Bus Terminal which is located at Jalan Belibis. Take the trip directly to Kulim from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) terminal using express bus services such as Kejora Express, Mayang Sari and Transnasional Express. From here, hop on a local route bus, taxi or ride-sharing services to go around town.

Tourist Attractions

Junjung Waterfall

Junjung Waterfall is a place of attraction in Kulim Town which is very well-known among the locals for picnicking with family and friends. It is located fourteen kilometers away from the town, with the highlight being a cascading river that has been developed specifically for picnicking purposes. There are also a rubber plantation nearby as well as fruit orchards, where visitors can buy the fruits directly from the orchard owners during fruit seasons, especially during the durian season.

Sungai Sedim Recreational Forest

It feels incomplete to talk about Kulim without mentioning this place. Located about 30 kilometers from the town, its river has fast currents and rapids that are perfect for extreme sports like kayaking and white water rafting. Being a forest reserve since 1937, there are campsites and facilities for teambuilding, which is perfect for corporate events and activities with friends and family. There is also a rainforest canopy walk nearby, being the longest of its kind in the world at 925 meters long with maximum height of 26050 meters above the forest level.

Merdeka Clock Tower

Located just a stone’s throw away from town, the Merdeka Clock Tower is the landmark of the area which was built to commemorate the country’s independence. The foundation of the clock tower is established by the first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra on 14th of June 1957. At a cost of forty thousand ringgit collected from the public donation, the tower managed to be completed in three months before the state ruler officiated it on 15th September of the same year.