Ipoh Heritage Walking Tour

Itinerary

Ipoh in the northern state of Perak, Malaysia was famous as a rich tin mining town in the 19^th century. The town’s name, however, is actually from the Ipoh tree, one of which can be found a short distance from the central business district. You will pass this landmark, as your local guide takes you on a walking tour of the town and its historical buildings and surroundings.

The tour commences at the Ipoh railway station, a colonial structure built by the famous architect, Arthur Bennison Hubback in 1917. Housed in an annex to the railway station is the Majestic Hotel, also passionately regarded by the locals as The Taj Mahal of Ipoh. Across from the railway station is the Ipoh Town Hall and Post Office, which have stood since World War I as well as the Royal Ipoh Club (formed in 1895) and nearby the imposing St Michael’s Institution.

The Padang Mosque, constructed in 1908, has Moghul architecture with features similar to the Red Fort in Delhi. Of note is that a Tamil Muslim businessman, Shaik Adam financed the construction of this mosque. Also near the Padang (central field) is the FMS (Federated Malay State Bar and Restaurant) a very old local restaurant established in 1923.

The Ipoh Padang it self has a story, established to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1898. The Chinese community subscribed over 43,000 pounds to create the feature and it has served a variety of purposes since. During the Japanese occupation, all the staff of government offices in Ipoh would gather here to participate in a Bowing and Allegiance ceremony. On 31^st May 1962, the Sultan of Perak declared the formation of the Municipality of Ipoh at this Padang.

The tour continues to the Birch Memorial, built in 1909 to commemorate the First British Resident of Perak and the Ipoh Mosque (also known as Sultan Idris II Mosque). Next is Concubine or Panglima Lane, a narrow path in the old town of Ipoh established in 1908. Formerly a residential area where rich Chinese, British officers and businessmen kept their concubines and mistresses in townhouses, the area was also renown for gambling, prostitution and opium. Today, the lane has been transformed into a tourist enclave of shops and cafes and is a must for visitors to Ipoh. There are numerous local restaurants where one can explore and experience the various local delicacies, cuisines and snacks famous in Ipoh.

The walking tour ends here and you are free to explore this and other parts of Ipoh on your own.

For more information on the history of Ipoh, there is the Han Chin Pet Soo museum. This was originally home of the Hakka tin miners club founded in 1893 and was rebuilt in 1929 to replace the earlier double storey club house on the same site. There is a nominal fee to enter the museum.