Ipoh, the capital of Malaysia’s Perak state, is the country’s fourth-largest city and serves as the gateway to the cool peaks, waterfalls and tea plantations of the Cameron Highlands. While many travelers head out of Ipoh almost as soon as they arrive, it’s worth taking a day or two to enjoy this colonial city.
Ipoh’s excellent collection of British colonial architecture is a testament to the city’s wealth, which developed thanks to a tin-mining boom in the early 1800s. Walk the streets of Ipoh’s Old Town and you’ll also see one of the country’s most extensive areas of Chinese shop-house architecture.
Foodies will find that Ipoh is also famous for having one of Malaysia’s best regional cuisines, with specialties like chicken with bean sprouts and crispy golden kaya puffs.
Practical Info
Ipoh is located 126 miles (203 km) northwest of Kuala Lumpur and can be reached by a two- to three-hour train ride or by taking one of the twice-daily flights.
