Luxury Hotels in Kuala Kangsar Town, Kuala Kangsar

Kuala Kangsar is one of the districts and the royal town of Perak. It is located at the downstream of Kangsar River where it joins the Perak River. It is located approximately 25 kilometres northwest of Ipoh, Perak's capital and 98 kilometres southeast of George Town, Penang. The name Kuala Kangsar is believed to be derived from 'Kuala Kurang-Sa', which literally means '100 minus (-) one', usually interpreted as 'the 99th small tributary to flow into the Perak River'.

The population of Kuala Kangsar is around 39,300 and the Sultan had his first royal palace built beside the riverbank named 'Istana Sri Sayong'. After the Big Flood or Air Bah in 1926, it was decided to move the place further up onto the knoll where stands the current Royal Palace named Istana Iskandariah with its elegant architecture. The Sultan of Perak officially resides in Kuala Kangsar, and it has been Perak's royal seat since the 18th century. It was the capital of Perak until 1876.

Kuala Kangsar is also known in Malaysian history as the site where the first Conference of Rulers, the Durbar, was held in 1897. By the 1890s, the growth of the tin mining towns of Ipoh and Taiping had eclipsed Kuala Kangsar, but it remains to this day as one of the most attractive of the Malay royal capitals. The town also acts as the site of the first rubber tree planted in Malaysia. Besides that, the first Malaysian scout troop was established in Kuala Kangsar. Kuala Kangsar also shares its borders with Larut, Matang and Selama at the west, Hulu Perak at the north, Gua Musang (Kelantan) at the east, Kinta at the south, Perak Tengah and Manjung at the southwest.

How to Get There

By Car

From Kuala Lumpur city centre, it takes around 2 hours and 45 minutes by using North-South highway whereas the journey to Kuala Kangsar from KLIA consumes 3 hours and 7 minutes.

Tourist Attractions

Ubudiah Mosque and the Royal Mausoleum

The Ubudiah Mosque is Perak's royal mosque and located in the royal town of Kuala Kangsar. Masjid Ubudiah is ranking high on the list of Malaysia's most beautiful and golden dome and minarets. It was designed by Arthur Benison Hubback, a government architect who is notably credited for the design of the Ipoh railway station and the Kuala Lumpur railway station. Built in 1913 during the reign of the 28th Sultan of Perak, Sultan Idris Murshidul Adzam Shah I Ibni Almarhum Raja Bendahara Alang Iskandar Teja, the Masjid Ubudiah is located beside the Royal Mausoleum on Bukit Chandan.

Perak Royal Museum

The Istana Kenangan was a royal residence in Kuala Kangsar. It was built in 1926 for Sultan Iskandar Shah by the Malay carpenter Encik Sepian from Bukit Mertajam, with the assistance of his sons Zainal Abidin and Ismail. Perak Museum is the oldest museum in Malaysia which founded in 1883 started out as a repository for a vast collection of ethnological, anthropological and zoological items curated during Sir Hugh Low’s tenure as Resident of Perak (1877 - 1889).

There are several galleries here which display a different kind of artefacts. The Nature Gallery exhibits all kinds of animal, bird, fish, snail and herbarium species and placed in various kinds of dioramas which record a British-style presentation method while retaining a wild habitat environment that is both interesting and full of great ecstatic elements. Besides, the Cultural Gallery displays collections and artefacts from various types of handiworks, handicrafts and weavings of the Malaysian people, especially from Perak, such as a unique weaving made by the Sultan of Perak’s mother.

The Clay and Indigenous People Gallery is an abundant source of collections and artefacts. On top of that, Perak is also one of the states which act as a home to a lot of indigenous people from the Proto Malay, Senoi and Negrito tribes. Clay works displayed by the museum are traditional industrial products such as "labu", "geluk", "belanga", "pasu bucung", "buyung", all of which are well over 100 years old.

Hotels

Kinta Riverfront Suites

This hotel lies nearby the city centre and provides accessibility to nearest landmarks and attractions. Every suite is equipped with on-site features like free Wi-Fi in all rooms, 24-hour front desk, facilities for disabled guests, Wi-Fi in public areas and car park. They are also equipped with television LCD/plasma screen, non-smoking rooms, air conditioning and private shower along with complimentary toiletries and robes. The hotel also offers many unique recreational opportunities such as golf course, swimming pool and fitness centre.