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Travel Bucket List: Malaysia Part 17 – Selangor Part 3

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Petaling Jaya

Fondly known as PJ, Petaling Jaya was originally developed as a satellite township for Kuala Lumpur. It is part of the Greater Kuala Lumpur area and covers an area of approximately 97 sq km. It was granted city status on June 20, 2006. The city is surrounded by Kuala Lumpur to the east, Sungai Buloh to the north, Shah Alam, the capital of Selangor, Subang Jaya to the west, and Bandar Kinrara or Puchong to the south.

The city was developed during post-war British Malaya on a piece of 1,200-acre rubber estate, the Effingham Estate, around Old Klang Road to address the overpopulation of Kuala Lumpur in the 1950s. Since 1952, PJ has witnessed dramatic growth in terms of population size and geographical importance. The development of Petaling Jaya commenced in 1952 with the construction of 800 houses centred on the area known as Old Town today.

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Petaling Jaya was planned to be a satellite town to prevent people from assisting the communists, hence, the earlier housing areas were fenced off from the surrounding area. The first two main roads built in Petaling Jaya were simply called Jalan 1 or Road 1 and Jalan 2 or Road 2. Road 1 was later named Jalan Templer while Road 2 was named Jalan Othman after Othman Mohamad, former Menteri Besar or Chief Minister of Selangor. Until the end of 1953, the town was administered by the Kuala Lumpur district officer. The Petaling Jaya Town Authority commenced administrating Petaling Jaya in 1954. Administratively and historically, it was considered part of Kuala Lumpur. However, Petaling Jaya ceased to be part of Kuala Lumpur when the latter became a Federal Territory, and at that point, it became a township in its own right within the state of Selangor.

Following a boundary realignment exercise in January 1997, parts of Petaling Jaya including Subang Jaya, USJ, Putra Heights, and Bandar Sunway were ceded to the newly formed Subang Jaya Municipal Council. In exchange, the MPPJ annexed Bandar Utama, Sungai Buloh, Bukit Lanjan, and Kota Damansara from the Petaling District Council, which disestablished itself after the cession. Due to the proximity of the city to the capital of Malaysia, Petaling Jaya has been the headquarters of many federal government departments.

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A prominent landmark in PJ is the Kota Darul Ehsan arch, which symbolically marks the boundary between Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya. This arch straddled the Federal Highway which was originally the only highway link between Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur. However, many links now exist as alternatives to the congested Federal Highway. Close to the Kelana Jaya Line’s Taman Jaya station is the Petaling Jaya Museum, as well as the Thai Wat Chetawan temple, very popular amongst the Buddhist community. A short drive ahead is PJ State, the nickname for the Central Business District of Petaling Jaya with the landmark Menara MBPJ as a focal point. PJ State is more formally referred to as PJ New Town. Damansara is the main shopping hub of Petaling Jaya with many of the city’s shopping malls being located there.

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The Forest Research Institute Malaysia is one of the chief institutes in tropical forestry research in the world housing a multiplicity of flora and fauna. The institute provides an opportunity for camping at Perah Campsite, trekking at natural trails and picnics at Sungei Kroh. Kepong Botanical Garden, the Ethnobotanical Garden and the Colours of FRIM allow visitors to explore. Other places worth visiting include the Research Gallery, Malay traditional houses, the Wetland area, the Arboretum and the Silicified Wood.

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Situated in 1 Utama Shopping Centre, the Secret Garden is regarded as one of the largest rooftop gardens in the world. This garden sprawls across an area of about 30,000 sq ft and houses about 600 species of plants. The garden is divided into several zones based on the various species of plants. Some of the most attractive zones of the Secret Garden include the Rainforest Zone and the Victoria Amazonica Zone. The meandering pathways that are constructed between beds of plants are quite attractive, and artificial ponds and waterfalls accentuate the beauty of the place. Guided tours are also available during the first weekend of the month. The garden is open only on weekends and public holidays between 10 am and 10 pm.

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Wat Chetawan is a popular Buddhist temple. A Theravada Buddhist Thai temple, with the Buddha Thammeen shrine inside, is a sight to behold, with its sparkling gold seat. People believe that this complex is built in the only true and original Thai style. Also known as the Chetawan Buddhist Temple, the temple was built in 1957 and officiated by the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand at the time. The temple is also the only Malaysian Siamese temple that has been chosen as the custodian of the Buddha sacred relics for all Malaysian Buddhists that are parts of the ancient relics discovered in Piprahwa, a village in Uttar Pradesh near the border of the Kingdom of Nepal in 1898 which were presented to King Chulalongkorn of Siam by the then British Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon.

The main shrine is heavily gilded in gold leaves and intricately decorated with multi-coloured glass tiles. The main prayer hall houses several images of Buddha while the pavilion features the four-faced God, Phra Phrom and the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Guan Yin. Another prayer hall pays tribute to abbots with Malay titles that marked their northern Malay Peninsula and southern Thai origins.

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Muzium Coklat is also known as the Chocolate Museum where visitors can learn all about the history of chocolate and can watch how chocolate is processed and prepared, taste samples and even buy some to take back home.

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Also called the Muzium Petaling Jaya, the Petaling Jaya Museum showcases the history and development of Petaling Jaya. The museum building was originally established in 1980 as a children’s reading house. In 1992, the reading house ceased to function due to its location and the building was taken over by the environment and development department. It was then transformed into a nature education centre and in April 2007, the building was turned into a museum. Construction and renovation work were completed in October 2007 and the museum was officially opened on November 12, 2007. It was later closed for renovation and reopened again in April 2016. The museum showcases the historical development of Petaling Jaya and is housed in three sections: the origin of Petaling Jaya, the administration of Petaling Jaya, and the expansion of Petaling Jaya. The museum is open daily except Fridays and public holidays from 9 am to 5 pm and admission is free. The museum is within walking distance of the Taman Jaya LRT Station.

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Batu Caves

Batu Caves, a Mogote type of karst landform, has a series of caves and cave temples in Gombak. It takes its name from the Malay word batu, meaning rock. The cave complex is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India, is dedicated to Lord Murugan, and is the focal point of the Tamil festival of Thaipusam in Malaysia. The caves are also referred to as the 10th cave or hill for Murugan, as there are six important holy shrines in India and four more in Malaysia. The three others in Malaysia are Kallumalai Temple in Ipoh, Tanneermalai Temple in Penang, and Sannasimalai Temple in Malacca.

The limestone forming Batu Caves is said to be around 400 million years old, with some of the cave entrances used as shelters by the indigenous Temuan people. As early as 1860, Chinese settlers began excavating guano to fertilise their vegetable patches. However, they became famous only after the limestone hills were recorded by colonial authorities in 1878.

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The cave was promoted as a place of worship by K. Thamboosamy Pillai, an Indian Tamil trader. He was inspired by the vel-shaped entrance of the main cave and was inspired to dedicate a temple to Lord Murugan within the caves. In 1890, Pillai, who also founded the Sri Mahamariamman Temple in Kuala Lumpur, installed the consecrated statue of Sri Murugan Swami in what is today known as the Temple Cave. Since 1892, the Thaipusam festival in the Tamil month of Thai, which falls in late January/early February, has been celebrated there.

Wooden steps up to the Temple Cave were built in 1920. In the 1930s, the stairs began to show signs of wear and tear, and it was proposed to build two flights of concrete stairs to the upper caves. The proposal was forwarded in 1939, and work was completed in 1940. Currently, there are 272 concrete steps. Of the various cave temples that comprise the site, the largest and best known is the Temple Cave, so named because it houses several Hindu shrines beneath its high vaulted ceiling.

In August 2018, the 272 steps were painted, with each set of steps painted in a different range of colours. At the base of the hill are two more cave temples, the Art Gallery Cave and the Museum Cave, both of which are full of Hindu statues and paintings. This complex was renovated and opened as the Cave Villa in 2008. Many of the shrines relate the story of Lord Murugan’s victory over the demon Soorapadman. An audio tour is available to visitors.

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The Ramayana Cave is situated to the extreme left as one faces the sheer wall of the hill. On the way to the Ramayana Cave, there is a 15-meter-tall statue of Lord Hanuman and a temple dedicated to him. The consecration ceremony for the temple was held in November 2001. The Ramayana Cave depicts the story of Rama in the manner of a chronicle along the irregular walls of the cave. A 43 m high statue of Lord Murugan was unveiled in January 2006, having taken three years to construct. It is the second-tallest Murugan statue in the world.

The Batu Cave hill and its numerous caverns contain a wealth of plants and animals, many of which are specialised for limestone environments. A total of 269 species of vascular plants have been recorded from the site, including 56 species which are found only on limestones. Various undeveloped caves contain a diverse range of cave fauna, including some unique species. The caves have some 21 species of bats, including several species of fruit bats and is also well known for its numerous long-tailed macaques, which visitors feed — sometimes involuntarily. These monkeys may also pose a biting hazard to tourists. especially small children as they can be quite territorial.

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Below the Temple Cave is the Dark Cave, with speleothems and many animals found nowhere else. It is a two-km network of relatively untouched caverns. Stalactites jutting from the cave’s ceiling and stalagmites rising from the floor form intricate formations such as cave curtains, flowstones, cave pearls, and scallops which took thousands of years to form. To maintain the cave’s ecology, access is restricted. The Malaysian Nature Society organises regular educational and adventure trips to the Dark Wet Caves.

Batu Caves has also been the centre of rock climbing development in Malaysia for the past 10 years. The caves offer more than 160 climbing routes scattered all around and are easily accessed, as most crags start from ground level. These climbing routes often start from the Northeastern side of the cave complex whereas the staircase and temple entrance face the South. This Northeastern area is known as the Damai caves. Abseiling and spelunking trips can be organised with some local adventure companies.

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Batu Caves serves as the focus of the Tamil community’s yearly Thaipusam festival. They have become a pilgrimage site not only for Malaysian Hindus, but Hindus worldwide. A procession begins in the wee hours of the morning on Thaipusam from the Sri Mahamariamman Temple in Kuala Lumpur leading up to Batu Caves as a religious undertaking to Lord Murugan lasting eight hours. Devotees carry containers containing milk as an offering to Lord Murugan either by hand or in huge decorated carriers on their shoulders called Kavadis. The kavadi may be simple wooden arched semi-circular supports holding a carrier foisted with brass or clay pots of milk or huge, heavy ones which may rise to two metres, built of bowed metal frames which hold long skewers, the sharpened end of which pierce the skin of the bearers torso. The kavadi is decorated with flowers and peacock feathers imported from India. Some kavadi may weigh as much as a hundred kilograms.

After bathing in the nearby Sungai Batu or Rocky River, the devotees make their way to the Temple Cave and climb the flights of stairs to the temple in the cave. Devotees use the wider centre staircase while worshippers and onlookers throng up and down those balustrades on either side. When the kavadi bearer arrives at the foot of the 272-step stairway leading up to the Temple Cave, the devotee has to make the arduous climb. Priests attend to the kavadi bearers. Consecrated ash is sprinkled over the hooks and skewers piercing the devotees’ flesh before they are removed. No blood is shed during the piercing and removal.

In the last decade, the surrounding area has changed from a small village to industrial estates, new housing, and retail. There is also an elevated flyover across the highway. A new 515-million-ringgit KTM Komuter rail extension from Sentul to Batu Caves began operations in July 2010, serving the rebuilt Batu Caves Komuter station.

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The cave is open from 6 am to 9 pm and the best and fastest way to reach the cave from Kuala Lumpur is via the commuter train which stops at the Batu Caves Komuter station opposite the cave complex. The fare from KL Sentral to Batu Caves is around RM 2.6 per person. One can also take a taxi which costs between RM 30 to RM 40, but depending on which part of KL one is coming from, take quite a bit of time, given the traffic.

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Ampang Jaya

Commonly known as Ampang, Ampang Jaya is located just outside the eastern border of Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory. Ampang was one of the earliest areas in the Klang Valley to be opened for tin mining. The name Ampang is derived from the old spelling of the Malay word empangan or ampangan, which means a dam; the place referred to the miners’ dams. A road was built to connect Ampang to Kuala Lumpur which is today’s Jalan Ampang.

Between colonial rule and February 1974, Ampang was part of greater Kuala Lumpur in Selangor. Following the creation of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Ampang was split into two; the western part, located within the Federal Territory, became Ampang Hilir, and the eastern part, which remained in Selangor, became part of Hulu Langat or Kajang.

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During the height of the Malayan Emergency in the 1950s, the British established the Ampang New Village, which became one of the largest Chinese settlements in the Klang Valley. The Kau Ong Yah Lam Thian Kiong Temple in Ampang New Village is famous for the 9 Emperor Gods festival, which is celebrated annually on the 9th month of the Chinese lunar calendar, between late September and early October.

Ampang Jaya borders the remainder of Hulu Langat District in the east and south, the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur in the west, the Gombak District in the north, and a short border with Bentong in Pahang in the northeast.

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The Zoo Negara or National Zoo is located on 110 acres of land in Ulu Klang in Gombak. It was officially opened on November 14, 1963, by the country’s first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman. The zoo is managed by the Malaysian Zoological Society and is home to 5,137 animals of 476 different species. When it was opened, it was known as the Zoo in the Jungle due to the lush vegetation that dominated the region. The zoo welcomed its millionth visitor on 14 November 1966, just three years after opening, and by 1986, the zoo was attracting over 1 million visitors per year. The zoo remained surrounded by dense tropical forests until the late 1970s when Kuala Lumpur experienced rapid population growth fueled by an economic boom. Nearby Ulu Klang was targeted for large-scale residential development to accommodate the expanding urban population, resulting in habitat loss in formerly wild areas surrounding the zoo. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, there were plans to move the zoo to other locations in Selangor. However, the plans were largely unpopular among the public and it was decided not to relocate the zoo.

The Reptile Park has both indoor and outdoor exhibits and includes saltwater crocodiles, false gharials, and dwarf crocodiles as well as tortoises and terrapins, including Aldabra giant tortoises which are the second largest tortoise species in the world and local Tutong or river terrapins. The Amphibian World center at the Reptile Park has a variety of frogs and toads that originate from various habitats in Malaysia. In 2014, a male and female giant panda pair named Xing Xing and Liang Liang went on public display at an air-conditioned, purpose-built Giant Panda Conservation Centre next to tram stop T5. The pandas are on a 10-year loan to Malaysia. On 26 May 2018, Yi Yi, a four-month-old female panda went on show for the first time. The cub is the second born in Malaysia. The cub’s sister, Nuan Nuan, was born in August 2015 and sent back to China in 2017 as part of Beijing’s agreement with Malaysia that cubs born in captivity must be sent back to China at the age of two. The third giant panda cub was born in June 2021.

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The zoo is home to three Asian elephants: two females, Siti who was born in 1979 in Fraser’s Hill; Sibol, who was born in 1978 at Temerloh and a male, Teriang, who was born in 1980. The trio have been in the zoo since they were very young. This aviary holds over a hundred species of birds from all around the world. The Birds Photo Corner in the aviary lets visitors take souvenir photos with a variety of macaws and cockatoos on weekends. The Nocturnal Exhibits which are indoor, are home to fruit bats, the largest bat in the world, which are sometimes called flying foxes, as well as mousedeer. The Australian Plain is home to emus, agile wallabies, red kangaroos, and red-legged pademelons.

Children’s World houses a variety of mostly domestic animals including goats, rabbits, ducks, and chickens running around freely, as well as parrots and guinea pigs. It includes a mini-rainforest with a variety of plants and insects, as well as a small aviary, fish pond, miniature horse barn, and playground. The Bear Complex is home to several types of bears including Asian black bears, brown bears, and sun bears. The Savannah Walk is one of the largest open-concept exhibits in the zoo and is home to giraffes, plains zebras, ostriches, white rhinos, sable antelopes, and scimitar oryx. Zoo Negara’s Tunku Abdul Rahman Aquarium is the first ecological-based freshwater aquarium that highlights the Malaysian river and wetlands. The aquarium exhibits show the ecosystem or the habitats of Malaysian river systems in the upper, middle, and lower estuarine zones and finally, the sea. The aquarium features fish that are commonly seen in Malaysian rivers, as well as rare and endangered species including invertebrates such as crabs, prawns, corals, and aquatic insects.

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Zoo Negara has also built an insect zoo where more than 200 species of insects from around the world are housed. Opened in 2010, the Hornbill Centre is a breeding centre houses 7 species of hornbills native to Malaysia, including great hornbills, Oriental pied hornbills, rhinoceros hornbills and wrinkled hornbills. Other attractions include sea lions, macaques and macaws that are part of a Multi-Animal Show that is shown twice daily. Train rides and guided tours are available on weekends.

The Mini Bee Museum is located at the heart of Zoo Negara and helps educate visitors about the many types of bees in the country. The Multi-Animal Photo Corner is located by the zoo’s main entrance and is opens on weekends. Visitors can have their pictures taken with snakes, miniature horses and birds.

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The Ampang Recreational Forest or Taman Rimba Ampang in Malay is a lowland dipterocarp forest that takes its name from the Ampang River, which flows through the forest. The forest is one of the most popular nature sites in the Klang Valley with the stream and shady playgrounds popular for family outings on weekends. In 2005 the forest was included in the much-larger Selangor State Park. Numerous species of plants and animals can be seen in the forest with the forest frequented by birdwatchers. Several bridges, pedestrian walkways, toilets, playgrounds and other facilities have been built in the park over the years. A nominal fee is charged for the car park and entry to the forest. The park can be reached by taking a train to the Ampang LRT station and then taking a taxi to the park.

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Nirvana Memorial Park is a private cemetery and mortuary with the longest dragon statue in Malaysia. It is 1,000 feet long and fully air-conditioned inside. It was established in 1985 by David Kong and is touted as the largest funeral service in Southeast Asia and also serves as a pet cemetery.

Travel Bucket List: Malaysia Part 16 – Selangor Part 2

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Klang

Officially known as Selangor’s Royal Town, Klang is the former capital of the state. With a unique old-world charm, Klang is known for its rich heritage sites and colonial architecture. Located 45 km from Kuala Lumpur, Klang is a popular day trip for most tourists. The colourful town is split between the town and port and is small enough to explore on foot. The Klang River flows through the town and divides it into South Klang and North Klang. Port Klang is the 12th busiest transhipment port and the 12th busiest container port in the world.

Klang has been a site of human settlement since prehistoric times. Bronze Age drums, axes and other artefacts have been found in the vicinity of the town and within the town itself. Commanding the approaches to the tin-rich Klang Valley, Klang has always been of key strategic importance. It was mentioned as a dependency of other states as early as the 11th century. Klang was also mentioned in the 14th century literary work Nagarakretagama dated to the Majapahit Empire, and the Klang River was marked and named on the earliest maritime charts of Chinese Admiral Cheng Ho who visited Malacca from 1409 to 1433.

Klang was under the control of the Malacca Sultanate in the 15th century. Klang was known as a producer of tin, it produced one hundred bares of tin a year when the Portuguese occupied Malacca. Klang however remained in Malay hands after the fall of Melaka to the Portuguese in 1511 and was controlled by the Sultan of Johor-Riau. In the 17th century, the Bugis began to settle in the coastal region of Selangor including Klang, and the Selangor sultanate was created in 1766, which then controlled Klang.

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In the 19th century, the importance of Klang was greatly increased by the rapid expansion of tin mining as a result of the increased demand for tin from the West. The desire to control the Klang Valley led directly to the Klang War, also called the Selangor Civil War of 1867–1874 when Raja Mahdi fought to regain what he considered his birthright as territorial chief against Raja Abdullah. During the Klang War, in 1868, the seat of power was moved to Bandar Temasya, Kuala Langat, and then to Jugra which became the royal capital of Selangor. In 1874, Selangor accepted a British Resident who would advise the Sultan, and Klang became the capital of British colonial administration for Selangor from 1875 until 1880 when the capital city was moved to Kuala Lumpur due to the growth of Kuala Lumpur.

Until the construction of Port Swettenham, now known as Port Klang in 1901, Klang remained the chief outlet for Selangor’s tin, and its position was enhanced by the completion of the Klang Valley railway to Bukit Kuda in 1886, which was then connected to Klang itself via a rail bridge, the Connaught Bridge, completed in 1890. In the 1890s its growth was further stimulated by the development of the district into the state’s leading producer of coffee, and later rubber. In 1903, the royal seat was moved back to Klang when it became the official seat of Sultan Alauddin Sulaiman Shah. The official boundary of Klang was first defined in 1895. The first road bridge over the Klang River connecting the two parts of the town, the Belfield Bridge, was constructed in 1908.

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Klang may have taken its name from the Klang River which runs through the town. The entire geographical area near the river, which begins at Kuala Lumpur and runs west to Port Klang, is known as the Klang Valley. One popular theory on the origin of the name is that it is derived from the Mon–Khmer word Klong, which may mean a canal or waterway. Alternatively, it has also been argued that it means warehouses, from the Malay word Kilang as in the old days, it was full of warehouses. Today kilang means factory. Klang was also once known as Pengkalan Batu which means stone jetty. Unlike most other place names in Malaysia, the Chinese name for Klang is neither a direct transcription nor translation, but likely a transcription of another Malay word Pasang, referring to the rising tides around the Klang Valley.

The economy of Klang is closely linked with that of the greater Klang Valley conurbation which is the most densely populated, urbanised and industrialised region of Malaysia. Rubber used to be an important part of the economy of the region, but from the 1970s onwards, many rubber plantations switched to palm oil and were then converted again for urban development and infrastructure use. Port Klang forms an important part of the economy of Klang. It handled almost 50% of Malaysia’s sea-borne container trade in 2013. The Port Klang Free Zone was established in 2004 to transform Port Klang into a regional distribution hub as well as a trade and logistics centre. The port is part of the 21st century Maritime Silk Road that runs from the Chinese coast to Singapore, towards the southern tip of India to Mombasa, from there through the Red Sea via the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean, there to the Upper Adriatic region to the northern Italian hub of Trieste with its connections to Central Europe and the North Sea.

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Established in 1932, the Sultan Sulaiman Royal Mosque houses the royal mausoleum. The building reflects an excellent blend of neo-classical, Western, and Mughal architecture. It was the state mosque until the opening of the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Mosque in the new capital city of Shah Alam. Standing at the foot of a hill. The Royal Palace is located right next to the mosque but is not open to visitors. The mosque has a beautiful central hall, and it serves free food during Ramadan. Some of its interesting features include the Tangga Diraja, or royal stairs, from Istana Alam Shah and a royal mausoleum. The late Sultan Salahuddin was buried on the mosque’s grounds.

The semicircular-shaped dome of the mosque is painted egg yellow, not gold. The large dome of the main prayer space is surrounded by four smaller domes. The main dome represents the Sultan of Selangor, while the smaller domes refer to Dato’ Besar Empat Suku Selangor. Five domes at the main entrance of the mosque symbolise the Five Pillars of Islam and the five Daeng Brothers, while two umbrella-shaped domes are symbolic of the royal umbrella. There are eight smaller towers around the mosque and a large tower in the middle, with a higher entrance from the main porch. The tower is also decorated with a yellow dome at the summit. The original design of the mosque was like a crossbar when viewed from above, as is so often used in church plans in Europe, but after renovations by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department, the mosque now has a square footprint. The main prayer room is octagonal at the bottom, but it slowly smooths into a circle at a height of 10 meters. The upper floors can be accessed with a cat ladder, and there are decorative iron frames under the dome that support the multi-coloured patterned glass. The mosque was designed to accommodate about 1,000 pilgrims at a time.

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Kuan Yin Teng or the Goddess of Mercy Temple, is the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia dedicated to the Goddess Guan Yin. The temple building is a heritage structure often visited by Buddhists and a local attraction for Chinese visitors during Chinese New Year or any festive season. The temple was established in 1892 and bustles with devotees during the first day and the fifteenth day of the lunar calendar. On the eve of Chinese New Year, the temple is open all night, and the street is often packed with devotees queuing shoulder to shoulder to enter the temple hall to offer their incense to the Kwan Yin in the hope of an auspicious start to the New Year. It has marvellous exteriors with beautiful archways and carvings, along with a peaceful interior setting. The temple is open daily between 7 am and 5 pm.

The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes is a catholic church that lies in the Little India area with a lovely chapel outside and marvellously designed interiors with glass panels and dome structures housing artefacts, statues and other memorabilia describing the history of Klang.

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Locally known as the Klang Perumal Temple, the Sri Sundararaja Perumal Temple is the oldest Vishnu temple in Malaysia. The 127-year-old temple was built in 1892 and reconstructed in 2015. Often referred to as the Tirupati of Southeast Asia after its famous namesake in India, it is the first granite temple in Malaysia. The gopuram, or spire, of this temple is a Klang landmark. Inside the temple, there are several complexes dedicated to different deities. At the centre of the temple is the Perumal Sannathi, where Lord Perumal and His consort, Goddess Mahalakshmi, are situated. The centre complex of Lord Perumal Sannathi contains a small gopuram with the statues of all of Lord Vishnu’s avatars surrounding it. On the right of the Perumal Sannathi is the Shivan Sannathi, which consists of Lord Shiva, Lord Parvathi, Lord Ganesh, Lord Muruga, and Lord Ayyappan. On the left side of Perumal Sannathi is Saneshwara Sannathi, where Lord Shani and the Navagrahas are situated. Adjacent to the center complex is Lord Anjaneya Sannathi and just at the corner outside the temple is Lord Nagaraja Sannathi. The temple also has a multi-purpose hall which is used by the Indian community for weddings. The temple is home to a large Navalar Mandapam and a historic Palmyra tree, which is a cultural symbol to Tamils. The temple is open from 6 to 9:30 am and then between 4 and 9:30 pm.

Built on the top of a hill, Kota Raja Mahadi is a historic site that witnessed two civil wars in the 19th century. It was built in 1866 by King Raja Mahdi to gain a power edge over his enemy Raja Abdullah. Once built as a spy fort, today, it houses Klang’s Municipality Council.

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Also known as the Tugu Keris, the silver-coloured kris-shaped monument was constructed by then emperor Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah to celebrate his 25th anniversary as the Sultan of Selangor. The kris is a wavy dagger and the locals believe it to be an epitome of strength and unity. Located in the Klang Royal Gardens, the monument stands tall and is visible while travelling from Kuala Lumpur. There is a playground next to the monument and is close to the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes. It was originally located along the Federal Highway near Taman Kris and the Sungai Rasau toll plaza. In September 2014, the monument was relocated to its present site because the original monument was blocked by a flyover being built just after the Sungai Rasau toll plaza.

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Tanjung Harapan, loosely translated to Cape of Good Hope, is located in the Northport area of Klang. The sunset views from the cape are breathtaking. A calming walk along the coastline of the well-built industrial area of Bandar Sultan Suleiman is a fantastic way to explore the area. Fronting the Straits of Malacca, the Esplanade is a seaside family recreation spot near Northport that houses several seafood restaurants. It’s a nice place to view the sunset and also for anglers to fish.

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The official residence of the Sultan of Selangor is Istana Alam Shah. It is built of wood and marble and incorporates 15 iconic rooms. Between 1903 and 1957, there existed an older palace on the same site, known as Istana Mahkota Puri. It was built in 1903 during the rule of Sultan Sulaiman Shah, the fifth Sultan of Selangor, and the design closely resembles the Sultan Abdul Samad Building in Kuala Lumpur. The Sultan lived there for 35 years until he died in 1938. In the 1950s it was briefly used as a student dorm and was demolished in October 1957, soon replaced by the present-day structure. Most royal ceremonies, like the coronation of a new Sultan, involving the Selangor royal family are held in Istana Alam Shah. The palace has 15 rooms and was built using wood and marble. In early 2000, extensive renovations were carried out by Sultan Salahuddin Shah.

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One of the oldest bridges in Malaysia’s Klang Valley region, the Connaught Bridge, was built in 1948 by the British. At one time, the Connaught Bridge could only be crossed by one vehicle at a time, and heavy vehicles were banned from the bridge. The wooden bridge closed in 1993–1994, and in 1995, the wooden bridge was replaced by a concrete box girder bridge. Kota Bridge is the first and only double-decker bridge in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. The bottom deck is a pedestrian walkway bridge, while the top deck is a motor vehicle bridge. The bridge was closed to car traffic in the 1990s due to high demand, which necessitated the construction of a new bridge. The new Jambatan Kota is located beside the old bridge. The old bridge was constructed between 1957 and 1960 and was officially opened in 1961 by the late Sultan of Selangor, Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, as part of the celebration of his coronation as the ninth Sultan of Selangor.

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The Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery is all about the former Selangor Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah. The museum building was initially constructed as the Sultan Sulaeman Building in 1909. During British Malaya, the British government used the building as the land and administration office. During the Japanese rule of Malaya, it was used as a war headquarters. After independence in 1957, it was used as the Klang District office. The museum was initially opened in 1988 as the Memorial Museum and was officiated on 19 October 2007 by Sultan Sharafuddin. The gallery displays the history and heritage of the Sultanate of Selangor since 1766 with more than 2,000 artifacts.

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Pulau Ketam, or Crab Island, is an island located off the coast of Port Klang in the intertidal zone, and the chief vegetation is mangrove. The island is home to two predominantly Chinese fishing villages founded in 1880. The main village on the southern side of the island is also known as Pulau Ketam. The other village on the northeastern side is called Sungai Lima or the Fifth River, its location being at the fifth inlet from the main village. The villagers are mainly Teochew and Hokkien Chinese, with Teochew, Hokkien, and Mandarin Chinese as the main dialects spoken. There is also a small, recently relocated Orang Asli community at the second inlet. The rest of the island consists of mangrove swamps. As the island is submerged during high tide, housing on the island consists of floating houses perched on wooden stilts 1 to 10 m above sea level. The main thoroughfares are narrow concrete pavements, while in the residential areas, the older, rickety wooden plank bridges can still be seen. There are no cars on the island; bicycles, some of which are motorized, are the main means of transportation within the villages. No pavement links the villages, with boats being the only means of transportation between villages. Daily ferry services link the island to Port Klang jetty on the mainland. The main economic activity on the island is fishing. The island is also a tourist spot.

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The One Fathom Bank Lighthouse, Rumah Api One Fathom Bank or Rumah Api Permatang Sedepa refers to two offshore lighthouses in the Strait of Malacca, specifically, on a shoal within Malaysian waters, dubbed One Fathom Bank or Permatang Sedepa, off the coast of Selangor. The One Fathom Bank station was originally served by a lightship stationed in 1852 before a permanent screw-pile lighthouse was built in 1874; the lighthouse has since been replaced twice throughout its service, in 1907 with a concrete pile lighthouse, and 1999 when a larger modern counterpart was built parallel to the 1907 lighthouse, superseding its predecessor’s duties. The lighthouses have since been referred to as the old One Fathom Bank Lighthouse and the new One Fathom Bank Lighthouse. Due to being well out to sea, both lighthouses are only accessible by boat. While both sites of the lighthouses are open, their towers remain off-limits.

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Africa Is Not a Country: Notes on a Bright Continent – Dipo Faloyin

Africa Is Not A Country is a bright portrait of modern Africa that pushes back against harmful stereotypes to tell a more comprehensive story.

You already know these stereotypes. So often Africa is depicted simplistically as an arid red landscape of famines and safaris, uniquely plagued by poverty and strife.

In this funny and insightful book, Dipo Faloyin offers a much-needed corrective. He examines each country’s colonial heritage, and explores a wide range of subjects, from chronicling urban life in Lagos and the lively West African rivalry over who makes the best Jollof rice, to the story of democracy in seven dictatorships and the dangers of stereotypes in popular culture.

By turns intimate and political, Africa Is Not A Country brings the story of the continent towards reality, celebrating the energy and fabric of its different cultures and communities in a way that has never been done before.

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Borderlands: Travels Across India’s Boundaries – Pradeep Damodaran

For most residents of India’s bustling metros and big towns, nationality and citizenship are privileges that are often taken for granted. The country’s periphery, however, is dotted with sleepy towns and desolate villages whose people, simply by having more in common with citizens of neighbouring nations than with their own, have to prove their Indian identity every day.

It is these specks on the country’s map that Pradeep Damodaran rediscovers as he travels across India’s borders for a little more than a year, experiencing life in far-flung areas that rarely feature in mainstream conversations.

In Borderlands, he recounts his encounters with the war-weary fishermen of Dhanushkodi at the southernmost tip of Tamil Nadu, who live in fear both of the Indian Coast Guard and the Sri Lankan navy; farmers in Hussainiwala, a village on Punjab’s border with Pakistan, who are unwilling to build concrete houses for fear of them being destroyed in an ever looming war; Tamil traders of Moreh, a town straddling the Manipur–Myanmar border, who pay bribes to at least ten different militant organizations so they can safely conduct their business; and ex-servicemen in Campbell Bay who were resettled there three generations ago and have long been forgotten by the mainland.

From Minicoy in Lakshadweep to Taki in West Bengal, Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh to Raxaul in Bihar, Damodaran’s compelling narrative reinforces the idea that, in India, a land of contrasts and contradictions, beauty and diversity, conflict comes in many forms.

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Amritsar to Lahore: A Journey Across the India-Pakistan Border – Stephen Alter

“During the course of my journey, many of the people I met in Pakistan and India expressed a curious combination of affection, indifference, and animosity toward their neighbors across the border. . . . The border divides them but it is also a seam that joins the fabric of their cultures.”

On 15 August 1947, in what some have argued was the final, cynical act of a collapsing empire, the British left India divided. Arbitrary borders that have profoundly affected the recent history of the subcontinent were drawn upon the map of India. In the violence that accompanied Partition, it has been estimated that close to a million people were killed and more than ten million uprooted and displaced. The hatreds created by what was one of the largest mass migrations in history only exacerbated the religious tensions that originally led to Partition. Since then, India and Pakistan have fought three devastating wars, and the danger of armed conflict is constant.

A sensitive and thoughtful look at the lasting effects of Partition on everyday people, Amritsar to Lahore describes a journey across the contested border between India and Pakistan in 1997, the fiftieth anniversary of Partition. Setting out from and then returning to New Delhi, Stephen Alter crossed the border into Pakistan, retraced the legendary route of the Frontier Mail toward the Khyber Pass, and made his return by bus along the Grand Trunk Road, stopping in major cities along the way.

During this journey and another in 1998, Alter interviewed people from all classes and castes: Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs, men and women. In candid conversation, the older generation who lived through the events of 1947 shared their memories and opinions of that pivotal moment of Partition, while youths who have inherited the fragments of that past reflected upon the meaning of national identity. In an engaging account of peoples and places, Alter documents in evocative detail his meetings with varied individuals. He recalls the Muslim taxi driver who recognizes an air of confidence with which men in Pakistan walk the streets dressed in salwar kameez; the brigadier who saved the brass insignia of the British crown from Lord Mountbatten’s Rolls Royce; gold merchants, customs officers, fellow travelers, musicians, and many others.

Alongside these diverse and vivid interviews, chance conversations, and oral histories, Alter provides informed commentary to raise questions about national and individual identity, the territorial imperatives of history, and the insidious mythology of borders. A third-generation American in India, where he has spent much of his life, Alter reflects intimately upon India’s past and present as a special observer, both insider and outsider. His meaningful encounters with people on his journey illustrate the shared culture and heritage of South Asia, as well as the hateful suspicions and intolerance that permeate throughout the India-Pakistan frontier. Also woven into the narrative are discussions of the works of South Asian novelists, poets, and filmmakers who have struggled with the issue of identity across the borderlands.

Ongoing battles in Kashmir and nuclear testing by both India and Pakistan may prove that peace in this region can be achieved only when border disputes are resolved. Offering both the perspective of hindsight and a troubling vision of the future, Amritsar to Lahore presents a compelling argument against the impenetrability of boundaries and the tragic legacy of lands divided.