Fun Things to do in Ipoh

Ipoh is a city in northwestern Malaysia. It boasts a rich tapestry of history and culture that attracts international tourists from far and wide. Situated 200km north of Kuala Lumpur, 150 km southeast of Penang, and 91km from the renowned Cameron Highlands, this city is a treasure trove of eclectic architecture. With influences from the British colonial era, Chinese shophouses, art deco, and heritage Malay buildings, the architectural landscape of Ipoh is a sight to behold.

While the preservation of British colonial-era architecture has significantly bolstered international tourism, Ipoh has much more to offer. It has many attractions, from ancient cave temples to vibrant street art and delicious local cuisine.

Ipoh’s fascinating history, stemming from its origins as a tin mining town, is interwoven with tales of growth, adversity, and resilience. In 1892, a devastating fire ravaged more than half of the town, significantly impacting its urban landscape. However, this tragedy also presented an opportunity for rejuvenation and rebuilding. The early 1930s marked the development of New Town by Yau Tet Shin, a Hakka tin miner. The surviving older section is known as Old Town. Ipoh’s cultural landscape mirrors the diversity of Malaysia at large, celebrating the influences of Malay, Chinese, and Indian heritage that have shaped its past and continue to shape its vibrant contemporary urban life.

Food is always a compelling reason to visit a place, and with such a multicultural society, Ipoh offers diverse cuisine influenced by Malay, Chinese, and Indian culinary traditions. The noteworthy food scene in Ipoh offers many famous dishes to try, making it an excellent destination for food enthusiasts.

Egg tarts – egg custard-filled tarts. The Captain recommends the egg tarts.

Hakka mee – noodles made by the Hakka Chinese (Mee is noodles)

Chicken bean sprouts – poached chicken served with crunchy bean sprouts and a soy and sesame oil sauce.

Kai se hor fun – rice noodles in a prawn and chicken broth.

Chee Cheong fun – sheets of rice noodles rolled with various fillings that can be served steamed or fried. I enjoy the Chee Cheong fun. It was delicious and filling.

Salted chicken – chicken wrapped in paper and baked in a huge pot of hot salt.

Ipoh laksa – fragrant, spicy noodle soup.

Snow beer – is beer poured into frozen glasses.

Popiah –  thin wheat flour crepe filled and wrapped like a spring roll. It can be served deep fried or fresh and savoury or sweet. We tried a couple of savoury popiahs; one deep-fried, the other fresh. We both preferred the fresh one; it was delicious.

Ipoh White Coffee –  is a unique technique in which the coffee beans are lightly roasted in margarine before they are ground and brewed. It is usually served with sweetened condensed milk. (Taste Atlas has recently named it the 10th-best coffee in the world.)

Hawker Centres

Ipoh has many food markets offering a fantastic way to experience local culture and inexpensive dining options. On our first night in Ipoh, we visited the Ipoh Night Market, which featured an impressive variety of local and international dishes. We enjoyed sate, nasi lemak, and ikan bakar.

Ipoh Night Market

Location – Lot 158408, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah Utara
Cost – Free entrance
Open hours – 18:30 – 00:30

High Tea

I was looking forward to having high tea in the Cameron Highlands. But, as we decided to leave Cameron Highland for our next visit and explore Ipoh instead, it seemed I might miss out. However, I found a few places serving high tea in Old Town Ipoh. We chose to try the high tea at STG Ipoh Oldtown. We were a little disappointed with the savoury selection, but the sweets and cakes were delicious.

STG Ipoh Oldtown

Location – 20, Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Ipoh, Malaysia
Phone – +60 5-243 311
Opening hours – Mon- Thur 12:00 – 22:00, Fri – Sun 12:00 – 23:00

Heritage Trail

A great way to explore Ipoh’s fascinating heritage is to pick up a free heritage trail map from the Ipoh Tourist Office. The trail takes less than two hours to walk, but it will be longer if you also use the opportunity to visit museums and shops on the way. The trail starts at the railway station then takes you to the war memorial, high court, Straits Trading Building, Kong Heng Coffee Shop, Birch Memorial Clock Tower, and many more attractions.

If you decide not to take the heritage trail, be sure to keep an eye out for the Ipoh Railway Station, which served as a filming location for the movie “Anna and the King.” Also, check out BookXcess, a bookshop formerly the Kong Heng Ipoh Bank, and the Ipoh Heritage Barber, an Instagram-worthy barbershop.

Chinese Shophouses

Notable examples of Chinese shophouses include the Dramatists’ Hotel, Mikasa Photo Shop, and the Seenivasagam Brothers’ residence and offices. A shophouse has a commercial premise opening at the ground level of a multi-floor building and a residential living area above. They are common in Southeast Asia.

Ipoh is situated in the karstic Kinta Valley region, where unique landscapes are formed by dissolving soluble rocks, particularly limestone. The area is characterized by mogotes, which are large hills of limestone that are roundish in shape and have near-verticle sides. As a result of this karstic landscape, Ipoh has many caves, many of which serve as temples. Below is only a small sample of Ipoh’s Cave Temples; click here to read more.

Kek Lok Tong Cave Temple

Kek Lok Tong is a Buddhist temple located in a spacious cave at the base of Gunung Rapat (Gunung means mountain in Malay). It is a Buddhist temple, and only those with severe claustrophobia would dislike it. Before entering the cave, there is a fountain with fish and a statue of the Goddess of Mercy on the right.

Walking through the cave, you’ll encounter beautiful stalactite and stalagmite formations and various statues. If you continue through the cave to the other side, you can descend into the gardens, which feature a pond and a winding path that surrounds it. Following this path, you’ll come to a long reflexology path where you can walk barefoot to soothe your tired feet. The gardens are quite lovely, and there are many statues to admire along the way.

Kek Lok Tong

Location – Persiaran Sepakat 3, TMN Endah Jaya 31350 Ipoh, Perak
Cost – Free
Open hours – Daily from 08:00 – 16:30

Perak Cave Temple

Perak Cave Temple is a Buddhist temple that contains a 40-foot golden Buddha statue and colourful wall paintings. Behind the main altar are stairs leading to a double-storey pavilion providing panoramic views over the northern suburbs of Ipoh.

Perak Tong Cave Temple

Location – Jln. Kuala Kangsar, Kawasan Perindustrian Tasek, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
Cost – Free
Open hours – Daily from 08:00 – 17:00

Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple

Sam Poh Tong Temple has a fascinating history. It is a Chinese-built temple built in Ipoh in 1950. However, before building the temple, a monk from China made the cave his home and meditation area in 1890. He lived there until his death, and after him, other monks and nuns continued to use the cave for the same purpose until the temple was established.

Visitors to the temple ascend 246 steps to reach the cave entrance. Inside the cave are temple statues and multicultural rock art representing the region’s three main ethnic groups. Additionally, the temple includes a garden, a fish pond, Japanese tortoises, and stunning views of Ipoh and the surrounding hills.

Sam Poh Tong Temple

Location – Kampung Gunung Rapat, 31350 Ipoh, Perak,
Cost – Free
Open hours – Daily from 08:00 – 14:00

Concubine Lane

The lanes in this area, rich with history and fascinating stories, are known for their vibrant past. Among them is Concubine Lane (Lorong Panglima). Along with Wife Lane (Lorong Hale) and Second Concubine Lane (Market Lane), Concubine Lane has a mystery surrounding its colourful name. Two theories exist regarding the origins of their names.

The first suggests that Yao Tet Shin, a prominent mining tycoon, graciously dedicated these three lanes to his three wives, creating a lasting legacy. Alternatively, the second explanation is rooted in the tin mining boom in Ipoh, a time when the area was home to numerous concubines of affluent men who inhabited these lanes, weaving a tapestry of intrigue and culture that still echoes today.

Concubine Lane today is bustling with interesting stalls selling souvenirs, art, and clothing, along with a few small restaurants, cafes and street foods. We enjoyed a delicious plate of softshell crab as we took in the street art.

Old Town Street Art

Old Town features many intriguing murals by both international and local artists. These works depict the city’s diverse heritage, history, and cultural traditions. These works reflect a thriving tin mining industry, colonial-era architecture, and a variety of ethnicities. For more about Old Town street art and other street art in Ipoh, click here.

Kong Heng Square

Kong Heng Square is a charming area featuring cafes, shops, an Artisan Market, and numerous photo opportunities, including old colonial buildings, wooden windows, wall murals, and art installations.

The Geological Museum

This museum is surprisingly good. It is a well-thought-out museum showcasing many facets of geology, including dinosaurs, fossils, gemstones, diamonds, tin mining, and geological surveys.

The Geological Museum

Cost – FREE
Opening hours – Monday to Thursday – 09:00 to 12:30 and 14:00 to 16:30
Friday – 09:00 to 12:00 and 15:00 to 16:30 PM / Closed on Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays
Address – Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, 30820 Ipoh

Ho Yan Hor Museum

In the year of 1941, Dr. Ho Kai Cheong invented a formulated flu remedy that has been a trusted brand of Chinese herbal tea in Ipoh. The special concoction of Chinese herbs known as Ho Yan Hor, was intended to benefit the locals by providing relief and natural healing. Explore the origin and evolution of the tea and learn about Dr Ho Kai Cheongs inspirational life.

Ho Yan Hor Museum

Cost – FREE
Opening hours – Tuesday – Sunday 10.00 – 16.00. Closed Monday.
Address – No. 1, Jalan Bijeh Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak

Darul Ridzuan Museum

The museum is housed in a building that dates back to 1926. Originally constructed as a residence, it has also served as the administrative headquarters for both the British and Japanese. After which, the building was repurposed as a government office. In 1992, it opened its doors as a museum dedicated to showcasing the development of Ipoh from its historical roots to the present day. Exhibits include, the history and development of the mining and agriculture sectors of Ipoh.

Darul Ridzuan Museum

Cost – FREE
Opening hours – Saturday – Thursday 10.00 – 17.00. Friday 10:00 – 12:15 & 14:45 – 17:00
Address – Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab, Ipoh, Perak

Tasik Cermin (Mirror Lake)

Mirror Lake is a relatively new attraction and “eco-park” created from disused quarries. Flooding the quarries created a couple of lakes (tasik), and their calm reflective surfaces have given them the name of Mirror (cermin) Lakes 1 & 2. Attractions include a miner’s tunnel with interpretive signage, short boat tours, Monkey Swing Playground, Snake Mouth Cave, Mirror Lake 2 Hidden World tour by boat, a 130-meter-long water tunnel, and Rocky Sky Ladder for Instagram-worthy photos.

Tasik Cermin

Cost – Ticket prices vary. Tickets start at RM4 for Malaysian citizens and RM12 for visitors. Click here for a list of prices. https://tasikcermin.com/ticket/
Open hours – Open daily from 09:00 to 17:30
Website – https://tasikcermin.com/
Email – [email protected]
Phone – +60 12-268 4116

Cameron Highlands Tour

Cameron Highlands is well known for its tea plantations and strawberry farms. Enjoy tea tasting or high tea, freshly baked scones with strawberry jam, strawberry picking, Mossy Forest Discovery, Cactus Valley, walking & hiking trails, waterfalls, butterfly garden, sheep sanctuary, Kea Farm Market, camellia, rose, lavender, and orchid gardens, bee farms, and so much more.

Like this post? Please share or pin using the image below… thank you!