Golf in Perak
Golf courses in Perak help to make it a state that is defined by the course of its namesake river. Perak's population is about two million. Until the nineteenth century, Perak's golf package golfers and people were concentrated along the Perak River, and the chief city was riverside Kuala Kangsar. However, the discovery of wondrously rich tin deposits in surrounding valleys lead to the establishment of and transfer of the capital to Taiping and, later, Ipoh.
The tin mines around Ipoh are reputedly the richest in the world, and it is no surprise that the city has expanded steadily from the time the mines were discovered in the nineteenth century. Today, Ipoh is one of Malaysia's larger cities, with a population of about half a million people.
Perak Malaysia Golf Holiday Attractions
Kuala Kangsar, located 48km north of Ipoh on the Perak River, is the royal town of Perak. It is dominated by three beautiful buildings: Istana Iskandariah, Istana Kenangan and the Ubudiah mosque. The Istana Iskandariah, situated on a hill overlooking the river, is the palace of the Sultan of Perak.
Kuala Kangsar is also the home of the Malaysian rubber industry. It was here, in 1877, that nine rubber trees were planted by the British resident Hugh Low, marking the arrival of an industry would within decades vie with tin as the country's most important export.
Taiping succeeded Kuala Kangsar as the capital of Perak in the late nineteenth century. Taiping was during that time the thriving center of the tin industry in the surrounding valley. In the 1890s, disused mining pools at the edge of town were cleverly landscaped to form the beautiful Lake Gardens.
Bukit Larut, located just 10 km from Taiping, is Malaysia's oldest hill station. Bukit Larut is not nearly as developed as the more celebrated Cameron and Genting Highlands. However, it preserves much more of the atmosphere of a colonial hill station, with modest, welcoming bungalows, carefully cultivated gardens, and a pervasive atmosphere of cool quietude.
85 km southwest of Ipoh is the naval base town of Lumut. Of interest here is the Naval Museum which houses a collection of ancient weapons and historical artifacts. Lumut is also the departure point for Perak's internationally-known islands, Pulau Pangkor and Pulau Pangkor Laut.
The countryside around Ipoh is studded with dramatic limestone outcroppings, many of which are dotted with cave temples. While many of the temples are of recent origin, cave paintings dating back two millenia have been located at one site.
The Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary attracts a wide variety of exotic birds, particularly during the migratory season between August and December. Hundreds of species of birds have been sighted here, as well as a number of fascinating mammals, the dusky leaf monkey, smooth otter, and ridge-back dolphin among them. For information, contact the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Ipoh.
Midway along the East-West Highway is Temenggur Lake, formed by the the construction of the magnificent Temenggur dam. Set atop an island in the lake is the Banding Resort, a small facility offering basic accommodations and outstanding fishing. The Bandung area is slated for tourist development in the near future, but at the moment the Bandung Resort continues to be a lovely retreat.
