|
KANGAR
Kangar is the capital of Perlis and the seat of government. It is
located in the heart of the country's "rice bowl" area and depending on
the season, is surrounded by lush green fields or golden yellow paddy,
ripe for harvest. Although new buildings can be seen, Kangar retains
much of its old world charm.
A small town, with
everything within walking distance, Kangar is not lacking in amenities
and facilities. The major landmark of the town is the state mosque,
Masjid Alwi.
ARAU
The royal town of Arau is located 10 kilometers from Kangar on the
Peninsula's main railway route extending northwards into Thailand. Of
interest here is the imposing Istana Arau or Royal Palace with its
classic architecture and the Royal Mosque.
Arau is the
disembarkation point for visitors travelling on the rail route from
Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi. From Arau, taxi services are available to
Kuala Perils, the take-off point by ferry to Langkawi.
HUTAN LIPUR BUKIT AIR
(BUKIT AIR RECREATIONAL PARK)
Just a few kilometers north of the Golf Club and the Snake and Reptile
Farm is the Bukit Air Recreational Park. Cool streams meander through
rich tropical forest and waterfalls cascade into rocky pools. Well
defined paths allow easy access through the park where the sights and
sounds of tropical rainforest await visitors. An excellent location for
picnics, the park also provides a camping ground, car parking facilities
and all the basic amenities.
MUSEUM KOTA KAYANG
This new museum is situated close to what was historically a fortified
area. In fact, the word 'Kota' translates as fort in English. The area
is also the burial ground for two 16th century Sultans of Kedah with the
remains of a palace surrounded on three sides by limestone outcrops.
The site is marked by two
simple mausoleums with gravestones and the remnants of timbers that
demarcated the burial sites.
While excavation works
were going on during the ground works for the new museum, artifacts from
what appear to be the late Neolithic era were found. A bell-mouthed jar
of red slip ware, cord marked style, signifying the Ban Kao Neolithic
culture of southern Thailand and Malaya was found fairly intact. A
similar splayed foot beaker and two excellent polished stone adzes all
corresponding to other similar finds in northern Malaya probably date to
around 2,000 to 2,500 years in age.
Also found at the same
site is what appears to be a die or mould of Indian origin. Other
artifacts of Indian origin have been found in the northern regions,
especially pottery, and dates back to 2,600 to 2,200 years,
corresponding with the finds of the museum site.
KUALA PERLIS
Located at the mouth of the Perlis River, the town of Kuala Perlis is
the major ferry terminal for visitors departing for the enchanted isles
of Langkawi. Themajor activity of Kuala Perlis is fishing and many
superb sea food restaurants can be found in this small fishing town.
PADANG BESAR
Padang Besar is a bustling border town with a profusion of colours,
sights and sounds. It is also a major stopover along the rail route
between Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
The elongated railway
station is manned by Malaysian officials at one end and their Thai
counterparts at the other end.
Padang Besar is a bargain
hunters' paradise and boasts duty free shops and a variety of produce,
souvenirs and artifacts that bear testimony to the rich cultural legacy
of the state.
 CHUPING
The town acquired its name from a limestone hill known locally as Bukit
Chuping. The surrounding landscape is characterised by lush green sugar
cane plantations covering some 22,000 hectares. |
TASIK MELATI (MELATI LAKE)
Located just 8 km north of Kangar, this shallow lake provides a respite
for boating, picnics and relaxing walks. More than 150 sandbar islands
dot the lake and can be reached by rowing boat or sampan. Elevated
walkways across the lake provide vantage and rest points.
THE SNAKE AND REPTILE
FARM
Surrounded by the Bukit Bintang Forest Reserve near Sungai Batu Pahat,
10 kilometers north of Kangar, is the Snake and Reptile Farm. The Snake
Farm is a research facility set up to develop serums for snakebites.
Housing more than 20 species of snakes as well as crocodiles and monitor
lizards, it is the only snake farm in Malaysia. The farm has natural
open air enclosures as well as closed exhibits. Handlers will assist the
public to take photographs with safe snakes.
PUTRA GOLF CLUB
Close to the Snake and Reptile Farm is a challenging par 72, 18-hole
golf course. The Putra Golf Club is reputed for its technically
difficult and challenging course.
GUA KELAM RECREATIONAL
PARK
The peaceful town of Kaki Bukit is home to Gua Kelam, literally
translated as the 'Dark Caves'. The 370- meter long cave passage is
well-lighted and is believed to have been hollowed out from the
limestone massif by an underground stream over many eons. A wooden
walkway suspended along the entire length of the cave allows visitors to
view the magnificent stalagmite and stalagmite formations. The original
cave was enlarged in 1935 by a resident Englishman to serve as a route
for the transportation of tin ore. It is now a convenient way for local
folk travelling on motor cycles to get from Kaki Bukit to the Wan Tangga
Valley and vice versa.
TAMAN HERBA (HERB
GARDENS)
Adjacent to Bukit Air Recreational Park, on 12 hectares of land, are the
Herb Gardens. Created in 1998, these gardens now contain over 6,000
species of herb, spice and traditional medicinal plants. Both local and
exotic species from other countries are grown and visitors to the
gardens can learn their uses and how to care for such plants.
PERLIS STATE PARK
 Perlis State Park
is located along the north-western part of the Thai-Malaysian border.
Straddling the Nakawan Range, the longest continuous range of limestone
hills in the country, the park consists of the Mata Ayer Forest Reserve
and the Wang Mu Forest Reserve comprising a total area of around 5,000
hectares.
The Nakawan Range has
rich heavily forested slopes, extensive cave systems, sheer cliff faces
and numerous cascading jungle streams.
There is a rich
bio-diversity in these limestone based forests with rare species of
ginger, ferns and balsams that are found nowhere else. It is also the
only place in Malaysia where the Stumped-Tail Macaque is found.
All visitors to the park
must register at the Park Visitor Centre. The centre houses an
exhibition on the park and audio visual facilities. Those who wish to
visit the Wang Burma Cave and Gunung Perlis can book their guides at the
centre. Park accommodation facilities are based at Wang Burma, about 1.2
km from the visitor centre.
 Various
nature trails have been laid out to provide easy access and trail R-15
to Wang Kelian offers a commanding view of the surrounding countryside,
including Timah Tasoh Lake and the unique twin peaks of Bukit Chabang.
Wang Kelian houses a
popular Sunday market where visitors can cross the Thai-Malaysian border
without the use of passports, provided they remain within the market
area. |
