There’s plenty that will have all your senses tingling in Ipoh with its colonial architecture, street art, fantastic food and gorgeous scenery. The Malaysian city was once one of the nation’s richest and it’s still a place with a wealth of things to see, taste, touch, smell and hear. So, why not get the full experience using all five senses.
SEE
From old colonial buildings to modern art, there’s plenty to please the eye in Ipoh. The majestic Town Hall dates back to 1916, while the Court House, opened in 1948, remains in use today. Both exhibit classic architecture with strong lines and colonnades. Kellie’s Castle, a colonial mansion whose construction began in 1915, is set in green surroundings not far from Ipoh, and along with D.R. Seenivasagam Park with its lush greenery and landscaped Japanese garden, is an attraction that’s easy on the eye.
Looking to more modern times, contemporary street art can be found painted on walls across Old Town and various routes take visitors past the “Art of OLDTOWN” murals, a collection of works by Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic. His paintings are inspired by the culture and history of Ipoh, and the artist’s works can also be seen in the Malaysian town of Georgetown on Penang.
TASTE
Malaysian food is a wonderful blend of the cuisines of the Malays, Chinese and Indians, and Ipoh itself is well known for its food with a number of dishes special to the city.
There’s meant to be something in the water in Ipoh that makes its bean sprouts taste far superior to those you’ll find elsewhere, so don’t miss out on this dish that comes with poached or steamed chicken, is flavoured with soy sauce and oil and often accompanied by a bowl of steamed rice or rice noodles.
For something a little sweeter, kaya puffs are a firm favourite. These small pastries are filled with kaya (a type of coconut jam made from coconut milk and eggs) and some of the best can be found at the renowned Sin Eng Heong bakery.
TOUCH
Don’t leave Ipoh without dipping at least your toes into the naturally-occurring hot springs, or go all out and stay at one of the hot springs resorts. The Banjaran offers various villas, each with its own private pool and sunken Jacuzzi with natural geothermal hot spring water, and guests can also enjoy the touch of local massage therapists, expert in a range of spa treatments.
SMELL
There’s nothing better than the smell of freshly brewed coffee in the morning. Ipoh is well known for its white coffee for which coffee beans are roasted with palm-oil margarine. The brew is then served with condensed milk. Try Sin Yoon Loong or Nam Heong for excellent examples and accompany a mug with freshly toasted Hainanese white bread and kaya.
For something slightly less pleasant on the nose, head out of Ipoh to visit some of its nearby caves. Many of the caves are frequented by bats who cannot help but leave behind piles of guano, but there’s more besides that. At Gua Tempurung, there are not only ancient rock formations dating between 250 and 400 million years, but the caves were used by the communists during the Malayan Emergency and feature hand-drawn pictures and inscriptions on the walls. Stroll among the underground waterfalls and stalactites and stalagmites. Alternatively, Sam Poh Tong is home to a Chinese Buddhist temple built within a limestone cave and featuring a carved reclining Buddha statue.
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Ipoh’s Railway Station is known to locals as the Taj Mahal. Construction began on it in 1914, blending Moorish and Victorian styles familiar in British Indian colonial architecture. You’ll hear the trains chugging in and out of the station on their daily commutes as you stand in Ipoh Heritage Square in front of the station, which is also home to a cenotaph honouring those from Perak who died in World War I and II, as well as prisoners of war who died building the Thailand-Burma Railway.
There was a time when visitors to Ipoh could listen out for the chiming of the Birch Memorial Clock Tower, constructed in 1909 in memory of James W. W. Birch, Perak’s first British Resident, assassinated at Pasir Salak. Friezes on the tower illustrate the development of civilization, depicting Moses, Buddha, Shakespeare and Charles Darwin among other figures that once included Mohammed, though he has since been removed.
A familiar sound in Ipoh is the call to prayer. Listen for it at the Panglima Kinta mosque, which dates back to 1898, or at the Paloh Street Mosque, built in 1912. Not far from Ipoh, in Kuala Kangsar, you’ll find the stunning Ubudiah Mosque and, while you may not be able to hear their call to prayer from Ipoh, it’s magnificent to look at.
Feature image: Nguyen Thanh Lam, Ipoh Street, via Flickr CC BY 2.0
Slider image: Phalinn Ooi, Ipoh via Flickr CC BY 2.0
