When people think of Ipoh, two things come to mind: the food and white coffee.
It’s not surprising. Both are really good. I stayed there for three days, and all I had (almost) was nasi ayam (white chicken and rice), together with white coffee.
This small capital of Perak state, however, has more to offer. It’s not only about the delicious kway teow (fried noodles) and low cost of living, but more importantly, it is also about heritage.
Around 200km from the Malaysian capital, Ipoh is the fourth largest city in Malaysia. Its Golden Age arrived in the 1880s to the 1930s, when it became the tin mining capital of the country.
The Ipoh Town Hall, a beautiful colonial building.
The riches promised by tin attracted thousands of new migrants to the city, majority of them Chinese, who brought along their culture, and of course, their food.
Ipoh’s wealth in its boom period is reflected in the architecture of the city structures. Until now, you can still find a lot of very nice buildings in the Old Town. Some do look a bit worn and needing restoration, but at least they remain standing as a reminder of Ipoh’s glorious past.
Some areas in Ipoh are rundown and needed restoration.
It’s easy enough to go to Ipoh from Kuala Lumpur. Aside from taking the Electric Train Service and the bus, you can also book Malindo Air tickets on Traveloka. There’s no booking fee and you can pay via various payment methods, so it’s very convenient, and the time you save on traveling, you can spend more on going around Ipoh.
Once you’re in Ipoh, you can either stay in the Old Town or the New Town. If you’re interested in Ipoh heritage, I would suggest staying in the Old Town, of course.
The restored SPH de Silva Building (1950)
If you want to systematically follow the Ipoh Old Heritage Trail, just find your way to the tourism office (we took a cab) and ask for a map that can guide you in finding and identifying the historically important structures in the city. (You can also download it here.)
The Old Town isn’t so big; in a couple of hours of moderate walking, you’ll already see most of it. However, if you want to be more spontaneous, ditch the map and just walk randomly; let your feet guide you.
The Ipoh Railway Station (1917)
Inside the fully operational Ipoh Railway Station.
The most recommended route for walking the Old Heritage Trail is the one that starts from the Ipoh Railway Station. It is an architectural marvel in itself, drawing from a lot of influences including British Indian colonial and late-Edwardian Baroque architecture.
The exterior is quite beautiful, with its arches and columns, and a large central dome. Designed by British architect A.B. Hubback, the Ipoh railway station was completed in 1917, definitely one of the best examples of colonial architecture.
The best thing? The railway is still functional too. There are trips going to Kuala Lumpur (KL Sentral), Butterworth, Singapore, and Hatyai (Thailand).
Majestic Station Hotel is closed pending renovations.
In the same building as the Railway station is the Majestic Station Hotel. It is locally referred to as Ipoh’s very own Taj Mahal, and calls itself a Grandiose Moorish Colonial Hotel.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t see any of the charms of the hotel because it was closed when I went there and had been closed for a couple of years. Until now, it remains to be restored.
The Straits Trading Building (1907)
Near the railway station, you will find across the street the Ipoh Town Hall, another historic building designed by the prolific A.B. Hubback. Completed in 1916, the town hall — which also used to house the Post Office — gives off a very elegant vibe. It must be the color of the building, or perhaps the columns?
In any case, the Ipoh Town Hall is one of the most photographed buildings in the city.
Ipoh High Court (1928)
Just across the town hall is another gleaming white neo-classical building, the High Court, which was completed in 1928. It’s said to have an underground tunnel that connects it to the Town Hall, but unfortunately, I didn’t have the chance to check it out.
There are many other notable heritage buildings in Ipoh. There’s the well-restored Straits Trading Building that was the former office of a big tin-ore exporter. Built in 1907 in Italian Renaissance style, a bank now occupies its premises.
HSBC Building (1939)
Another one is the HSBC Building, built in elegant classical style in the late 30s. It held the title of being the tallest building in Ipoh for a long time.
There’s also F.M.S. Bar & Restaurant, said to be the oldest restaurant in Malaysia. An immigrant from Hainan, China opened the restaurant, catering primarily to European miners and plantation owners. Unfortunately (again!), it was closed when I went there. If it’s open when you visit, make sure to go inside and have a bite!
The oldest restaurant in Malaysia.
Finally, don’t forget to take a look at the Birch Memorial Tower along Jalan Dewan (Post Office Road).
It was erected in 1909 in the memory of J.W.W. Birch, the first British resident of Perak state who was killed in 1875. There are illustrated panels around the facade which features famous historical figures around the world.
The Birch Memorial Tower
The Ipoh Heritage Trail, despite the rich experience it provides, is still considered as one of the most underrated destinations in Malaysia.
If you like going off the beaten path (although there are many things to do in Ipoh), walking around the Old Town to appreciate its heritage is definitely for you.
Have you been to Ipoh? How was your visit to the city?
Aleah Taboclaon is a location independent writer, editor, and the travel blogger behind Solitary Wanderer. She's partial to slow travel, and prefers extreme adventures like hiking and caving over sightseeing. She likes running (completed one marathon, training for the next!), diving (PADI open water diver), and traveling with her Kindle. Follow her on Instagram and Pinterest!
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8 Comments. Leave new
My last visit to Ipoh was many years ago before the government put money and effort into restoring the dilapidated buildings of Old Town and now I’m really happy it made into Lonely Planet’s Places To Visit in 2017!
Hmm, i was in Malaysia in March and visited KL, Melaka, Cameron, Penang but skipped Ipoh, I don’t remember why, but reading your post makes m ealize I should have, lol
Oh well may be I was tired but I want to go back now.
Thanks for sharing!
I’ve only been to Penang and KL. But seeing the rundown houses has its charms. But I’ve always admired the architecture even in KL. You can find temple-looking buildings amidst skyscrapers. I hope to go to Ipoh too, saka sa Melaka!
Never been to Melacca either. Would love to go visit for their food. hehe
The places are so similar to Cebu. For instance, those run-down houses look like the heritage houses in Carcar. The renovated SPH de Silva building looks like a similar building in Colon street. And the Ipon railway station is somewhat similar to Cebu’s Capitol. Wow!
The similarities also struck me. I hope more buildings in Colon will get renovated. I’m sure it would look great, Cebu is so old there are bound to be many heritage houses there.
The architecture and history buff would love this place. I enjoyed seeing the lovely buildings you photographed. Malaysia has stayed way under my radar so far.
Malaysia has a lot of really nice places to visit. Aside from Ipoh, I would recommend Penang for a fellow cat lover 🙂