Exploring Selangor: GENERAL ATTRACTIONS

Introduction | History | Parks and Gardens

   
   

 

Shah Alam
Selangor's new capital is dominated by the enormous minarets and gleaming blue dome of the State Mosque, Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah. The enormous aluminium dome is reputed to be the among the largest in the Islamic world. Shah Alam is a showpiece city, and its careful planning is evident everywhere. The mosque sits alongside the city's manmade central lake, which is also adjoined by Urban Shah Alam, a beautifully landscaped recreational park. Shah Alam also possesses a world-class stadium and sports complex and an international standard racing track. Located halfway between Kuala Lumpur and Port Klang, the city is just 15 minutes from Subang Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Hutan Kanching
Hutan Kanching, a forest reserve, located 21 km north of Kuala Lumpur offers refreshing waterfalls and lush jungle greenery that abounds with butterflies and plant life. A good place to introduce children to nature. Camp out if you like. Facilities available are bathrooms, toilets, canteens as well as wading pools for children.

Batu Caves

Located 13 km.north of Kuala Lumpur. These magnificent caves have been known to local inhabitants for centuries. However, they became famous as a sightseeing and pilgrimage site only after they were stumbled upon by westerners in the late nineteenth century. Of the three caves that comprise the site, the largest and best known is the Temple or Cathedral Cave, so named because it houses a Hindu shrine beneath its 100 m vaulted ceiling. In late January of each year, during the Hindu festival of Thaipusam, thousands of devotees and other visitors climb the long entry stair and throng this magnificent cavern. As a form of penance or sacrifice, many of the pilgrims carry kavadis, large, brightly-decorated frameworks attached to a melange of body-piercing implements.

A little below the Temple Cave is the Dark Cave, a two-kilometer network of relatively untouched caverns. The caverns contain a diverse host of cave fauna, including some unique species. In order to maintain the cave's ecology, access is restricted. Those wishing to visit Dark Cave must contact the Malaysian Nature Society for permission and guidelines. The third cave, located at the foot of the steps, houses an interesting display of statues and wall paintings depicting scenes and figures from Hindu mythology.

Malaysia Agriculture Parktree1.gif (6848 bytes)
Just 10 minutes from Shah Alam is the 1,258-hectare Malaysia Agriculture Park, the largest agro-forestry park in the world. Within the park are contained samples of virtually every agricultural resource in the nation, including oil and coconut palms, padi fields, fruit trees, and rubber trees, all set in the midst of a luscious rain forest. Through numerous open-air exhibits, live demonstrations, nature trails, and a host of educational programs, visitors are offered unparalleled opportunities to learn about and enjoy Malaysia's rich natural attributes. Other attractions here include two dams, a fishing lake, a Temperate House, a suspension bridge, a bird and a safari park. Bicycles are available for hire within the park. Buses are available on weekends only. Overnight visitors may stay at chalets from RM30 per chalet. The park is open from 8:30 am to 6 pm daily, except Mondays. Admission is RM2 for adults, RM1 for children.

Gedung Raja Abdullah.
Located at the center of Klang, the former capital of Selangor. From its strategic position overlooking the Klang River, the town controlled access to the Klang Valley. The Malay-style Gedung Raja Abdullah is the town's oldest building, erected as a warehouse by Raja Mahdi in 1856. It now serves as a historical museum, with interesting exhibits on the bygone days of this former capital.

Kuala Selangor
Before Klang became the capital of Selangor, Kuala Selangor was the home of the Selangor Sultanate. Located 45 km north of Klang, the city sits at the mouth of Selangor River. The pair of fortresses atop the town's two hills still guard the river mouth, hearkening back to the days when the Selangor River's tin trade constituted the source of this state's wealth and power. The larger of the two, standing on Bukit Melawati, is now the royal mausoleum, containing the remains of Selangor's early Bugis rulers.

Taman Alam
At the foot of Bukit Melawati lies the nature reserve of Taman Alam, covering 240 hectares. Taman Alam has well-marked jungle trails for trekking as well as observation hides for birdwatchers. The reserve's abundant birdlife is due largely to the mangrove swamp in the vicinity, which is frequented by hundreds of thousands of migratory birds. The Malaysia Nature Society has identified some 150 species in Taman Alam, amongst them the rare spoon-billed Sandpiper and Nordmann's Greenshank. The reserve's visitor center, which contains a number of educational displays, is located on Bukit Melawati, from which a path leads down the hill to the park.

Muzium Orang Asli
The Orang Asli are the aboriginal people of Peninsular Malaysia, with an estimated population of over 60,000. They still lead a simple yet fascinating lifestyle. Their ancient customs and traditions are informatively displayed in this museum, located in Gombak just north of Kuala Lumpur.

 

 

 

   

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