bigtravelbuzzIpoh is Georgetown’s comfortable little brother and the gateway to the Cameron Highlands. This city-sized metropolis is undiscovered on the same old Malaysia route. Within the antique city, the colonial homes stand out. Timeworn streets were freshened up with cutting-edge road art. Wander a piece to discover colourful temples, surrounded via way of means of remarkable limestone cliffs, caves, and lakes. Ipoh’s hidden gems are the perfect addition to your Malaysian itinerary. Here you’ll find 9 best things to do in ipoh, Malaysia.
Things To Do in Ipoh
Always withinside the shadow of Penang, Ipoh is underestimated for plenty things. For instance, Ipoh is understood in Malaysia for its notable meals and is really well worth travelling for this alone! Spend one or days, however handiest if it suits on your itinerary.
1. Climb Perak Tong Cave Temple viewpoint
Enter a small passageway between the limestone rocks of Perak Tong Cave Temple. Inside opens a huge room with a 12-meter tall Buddha statue.
At the far end of the cave, there are steps leading to the top of a limestone cliff. It takes 10-15 minutes to walk to the top, but the last few steps are quite strenuous. From above you can see the surrounding scenery.
2. Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple
A quick 10-minute force from the city is the high-quality Gunung Rapat Limestone Hills, which might be domestic to many temples. One of the maximum exciting is the Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple, a lovely Chinese Buddhist temple constructed into the limestone.
The temple is picture-perfect, set among lovely gardens and pools. The entryway main thru a cave comes out into an open area in among the limestone.
A beautiful temple painted in reds and oranges touched via way of means of the rays of the sun. It is assumed to be the most important cave temple withinside the us of a and a tremendous issue to do in Ipoh. Temples in Myanmar are also very beautiful. Check out them here.
There are lots of different temples to look withinside the place such as:
- Ling Sen Tong Temple
- Kek Look Tong Cave Temple
- Kwan Yin Tong Temple
3. Walk down Concubine Lane
Concubine Lane is a lovable slim lane flanked via way of means of antique-fashion Chinese save houses, entire with shutters and exquisite tiles. You can discover present day boutiques, charming vintage shops, and infinite cafes promoting Ipoh’s conventional white coffee.
The lane is much less crowded for the duration of the week however maximum amusing to go to on the weekend while stalls are installation promoting souvenirs and standard ingredients of the place. The antique attraction and colourful records of this place aren’t to be missed!
Tip: Once you’ve got wandered down Concubine Lane, make certain to look Wife Lane and Market Lane. Market Lane is embellished with lovely placing umbrellas and purple lanterns that mild up the place at night.
4. 22 Hale Street
The building at 22 Hale Street is two old businesses that have been converted into a museum and cafe. The Heritage Gallery showcases the timeless Ipoh lifestyle, including many retro items.
The entrance fee is required with the admission ticket, but this seems to vary depending on the exhibition.
5. Mirror Lake (Tasik Cermin)
Experience Ipoh’s hidden gems: a mystery lake named Tasik Cermin. The lake’s setting, surrounded via way of means of limestone karsts, is sincerely precise and has been given the nickname ‘Mirror Lake’.
Update: Due to growing popularity, there is now an reputable front constructing promoting tickets at four RM according to person. Opening time: 9 AM-6 PM.
It is placed near the Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple. To input the cave, you need to byskip an deserted residence and comply with a slim direction till you spot your proper cave entrance. Walkthrough the limestone rock tunnel that brings you out on the brink of this noticeably non violent a part of nature.
We noticed a collection of untamed beavers swimming round and making noises that echo thru the complete nirvana. Sadly, no matter the peace right here, the lake is beneathneath hazard from the extraction of limestone, that’s slowly getting toward its boundaries.
To get out to the temples and the limestone hills, it’s miles pleasant to take a ‘Grab’ taxi and ask/pay him to wait.
6. Memory Lane Flea Market
If possible, plan your itinerary in order that a while in Ipoh falls over a weekend. Although the streets might be busier, you may get the possibility to look the famend Memory Lane Flea Market, which best takes area on Sundays.
The marketplace takes up the complete road’s complete length, with carriers laying out limitless treasures from antique statistics to vintage typewriters. Have amusing looking to force a tough good buy right here and depart Malaysia with a few great artifacts and memoirs.
7. Kong Heng Flea Market
The Kong Heng Square marketplace is a small crafts bazaar and flea marketplace withinside the metropolis center. This area is creatively embellished and has a amusing stroll-thru. The marketplace is placed in the back of the Plan B eating place and is open day by day among 10 AM and five PM.
8. Mural Art’s Lane (Street Art)
If the road artwork round Concubine Lane left you trying more, then Mural Art’s Lane need to be your subsequent stop! The lane, strolling among the primary roads Jalan Sultan Iskandar and Jalan Masjid, is domestic to dozens of work of art that enliven the houses’ walls. Most are painted via way of means of Ernest Zacharevic, who has had many successes as a road artist in Penang.
Tip: Follow the Mural Art trail (get a map at Ipoh Tourist Information Centre) to locate the places of numerous works of artwork during town.
9. Ipoh Railway Station
The Ipoh railway station, constructed withinside the ordinary colonial-fashion structure of the time, opened in 1917 and nonetheless sticks out over a hundred years later! It is a totally functioning station, with many trains strolling day by day to severa locations during Malaysia. If you are making plans on touring Penang, Ipoh Railway Station has rapid trains to Butterworth during the day (as soon as you are at Butterworth, alternate onto a ferry for Penang).
Tip: If you’re inquisitive about the records of Ipoh, the Heritage Trail (a brief stroll designed to stumble upon all of the key webweb sites of the vintage town) begins offevolved right here at Ipoh Railway Station.
How to get to Ipoh
Ipoh is well located for a stopover before Cameron Highlands or Penang. Buses and trains run regularly from Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh and the journey time is he 2.5-3 hours.
From Ipoh you can take a bus to Cameron Highlands, a bus to Penang or his 2 hour train to Butterworth (for ferry connection to Penang).
How to get around in Ipoh
Ipoh may technically be a city, but its size and feel make it feel like one. This makes it easy to explore the old town and many of the main attractions on foot or by bike.
Where to eat in Ipoh
Ipoh has many specialties, like Lisbon’s Pasteis de Belem, such as sweet white coffee, a variety of dim sum, and the famous egg custard tarts.
Our favorite restaurants in Ipoh are:
- Vegan Delight Cafe
- Plan B
- Lodge 163 Cafe
- Nam Chau
- Old Town Kopitiam
Accommodation in Ipoh
Ipoh offers a wide range of hostels, from budget hostels to luxury resorts, located in the bustling city center or in tranquil nature. We recommend staying in Ipoh for a couple of days, so use one of the many excellent guesthouses in the Old Town as a base for your exploration.