ATTRACTION, ATTRACTION, ATTRACTION..!!!!!

Let explore ATTRACTION in PERAK..!!!!!

1) Kellie Castle

Kellie's Castle was meant to be a home away from home for Scottish Planter, William Kellie Smith in the 20th century. Being far away from home, Kellie desired his new residence to be reminiscent of his home back in Scotland. The castle is perched on top of a hill in what used to be a rubber estate. William Kellie Smith was an interesting man who was popular with his South Indian workers. Kind at heart, he erected a Hindu shrine for his workers on the castle premises. As a token of appreciation, his workers erected a statue of Kellie complete with a white suit and hat.

Construction of this unique castle began in 1915. However, it came to an abrupt halt with Kellie's sudden death in 1926. The solitary castle, looks almost surreal in these wild plantations of Perak, it projects a strong personality and an aura of mystery. Recently, efforts have been made by the Perak State Government to rescue this magnificent structure from the encroaching foliage. Besides being haunted, the castle is believed to have hidden rooms and secret underground tunnels.The road that leads to Kellie's Castle follows the contours of the land in a dizzying, maze-like fashion, adding to the mystery and romance of the place.

2) Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary

Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary is at the northern tip of Matang Forest Reserve while Bagan Panchor is to the south. This small but active fishing village, about 50km from Taiping, covers both an inter tidal and mangrove habitat. Close by is an island called Pulau Kelumpang, which is completely surrounded by newly formed mudflats where the seedlings of the mangrove trees Avicennia spp have grown successfully. This is a valuable roosting site for waterbirds and nesting ground for resident birds. Most birds can be viewed from a boat.

During the migration season between August and April every year, more than 200,000 migratory birds representing some 50 species are estimated to stop over here. The Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary has won the "Best Tourist Attraction (Natural Attraction)" category during the Malaysia Tourism Awards, a prestigious award presented to agencies and organisations which contribute to the development of tourism in Malaysia.

3) Perak State Museum

    
This museum is the oldest museum in Peninsular Malaysia. It is located in the town of Taiping, about 85 km from Ipoh, the capital of Perak. It is also near the Taiping Jail and about 3 km from town. Most of the museum’s earlier collections are ethnological and anthropological items. Geological, botanical and enthamobological collections make up additonal specimens. 

To date, the total of accumulated collections is 8,474 , consisting of 5,074 cultural collections, 523 nature collections and 2,877 miscellaneous collections, including archaeological items. The Perak Museum is rich in ethnological, historical, archaeological and ethamobological collections. Some of them are classified as rare collections over a hundred years old such as animal species like the "benturong" and "pulasan", skeletons and scores of animal skeletons and smoked clay which are either extinct or extremely hard to find. Most of these collections and artifacts are displayed in the museum’s four main galleries housed in an almost 120-year old building. It was built in 1883 and maintains an ancient British architectural concept of the Art Dico kind.

4) Pasir Salak Historical Complex

Located about 70km from Ipoh, the Pasir Salak Historical Complex pays tribute to warriors such as Dato' Sagor and Dato' Maharaja Lela. This is the place where the flames of Malay nationalism had first stirred. When the then British Resident of Perak, J.W.W. Birch was assassinated on the bank of Sungai Perak (Perak River), tension between the British colonial administration and the Malays rose. It escalated into open conflict which eventually led to the country's declaration of independence.

Other attractions at the complex include the J.W.W. Birch Monument, the grave of Sipuntum (the alleged assassin), Datuk Maharaja Lela's fort, the Lela Rentaka cannons used against the British colonial army, and two Rumah Kutai (Perak traditional house) filled with local historical and cultural artefacts.

5) Menara Condong

The leaning tower of Teluk Intan is the Malaysia equivalent of the world famous Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. It is located in the centre of the town of Teluk Intan, Perak. The tower is slanted leftward, similar to the Tower of Pisa. It is 25.5 metres tall and, from the outside, looks like an 8 storey building, though inside it is actually divided into 3 storeys. The tower is located in the center of a square surrounded by Jalan Pasar, Jalan Selat, Jalan Bandar and Jalan Ah Cheong.

The tower was built under the guidance of contractor Leong Choon Chong in the late 19th century. However, it was claimed by a Briton, Neol Danison, and then the Japanese during their occupation of Malaysia in 1941. During this time, the tower became the Japanese’s watch tower. After Independence, in the year 1957, the tower became an official national monument. The reasons why the tower leans are the soft ground on which it was built, as well as the weight of the water in the water tank, which causes it to lean towards the southwest