There’s plenty of things to do in Kuala Selangor in 2021!
In fact, most of the activities listed here can be found very close to or at Bukit Melawati.
So, we’re going to break this post down in a few sections:
- Bukit Melawati
- Nature
- Beaches
- Food In Kuala Selangor
- Seafood
- Sekinchan
- Sky Mirror
- Temples
- Bonus – Banting: Bukit Jugra
Bukit Melawati Kuala Selangor
Bukit Melawati (or Melawati Hill) is a hill in Malaysia near Kuala Selangor that attracts visitors daily, especially on the weekends!
There is no entrance fee and everyone can come and enjoy the scenery and fresh air here!
From the top of the hill, you can see the Straits of Malacca as well as a couple of other landmarks:
1. Tanjong Keramat Fort
In the nearby village called Kampong Tanjung Keramat:
Tanjong Keramat Fort or Bukit Belanda (“Dutchill”) was a 2-storey granite and clay building that was built by Sultan Ibrahim, the 2nd Sultan of Selangor and taken over by the Dutch in 1784.
The walls of the fort and the cannons are not there anymore but you can see the remains of the foundations.
2. Virgin’s Grave (or Makam Keramat Anak Dara)
Also, in Kampong Tanjung Keramat:
A small shine on a hill that has a sad story tied to it. You can read about it from the signboard outside the shrine.
3. War Memorial
Built by the British to commemorate their fallen comrades as well as Malaysian soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and II, visitors can still visit this war memorial today:
Note: The memorial is at the roundabout for Jalan Keramat Tanjong in Kuala Selangor.
However, instead of the original bronze plaques (which were probably stolen), there are now wooden ones that carry the names of the fallen soldiers.
Address: http://bit.ly/memorialkualaselangor
4. Poisoned Well
Have you ever heard of people using itch as a torture method?
In its days of use, the poisoned well supposedly contained liquid rubber and scratchy bamboo shoots.
Traitors were possibly drowned here too.
Note: Please don’t throw your litter down here!
5. Altingsburg Lighthouse
This 27m tall landmark has become the symbol of the town.
Its origins date back to 1907.
Today, it is still lit up from 7pm to 6am and the light can be seen 18 nautical miles away.
Visitors cannot go up the lighthouse without special permission.
The Bukit Melawati tram ride makes a stop here.
And because it is a lighthouse, it has good views of the waterways – Straits of Melaka as well as Selangor river.
6. Historical Museum of Kuala Selangor (Muzium Sejarah Daerah Kuala Selangor)
Admission to this museum is free and it is here that you can learn about the development of the town. And how it served as a trading centre for the tin mining industry.
Did you know that Kuala Selangor was the very first capital of the State of Selangor?
It will likely you take you less than an hour to browse through the dioramas, old weapons and other artifacts.
Address: http://bit.ly/Historymuseum
Opening hours: 9:30am to 5:30pm
7. Silver Leaf Monkeys
These aren’t like the usual brown and bold monkeys that are spread all over Malaysia.
Silver leaf monkeys have dark grey fur and a somewhat gentler disposition (but that doesn’t mean you should let your guard down!).
Bukit Melawati is a great opportunity to see one up close (and for free!). The babies are especially adorable with their persimmon colored fur!
Despite there being many vendors selling food for the monkeys:
Do not feed them as it makes them too dependent on humans!
Note: The practice also attracts the more aggressive monkeys!
8. Batu Hampar
At Bukit Melawati, you will probably wander across this strange stone feature!
It might look like a normal stone bench to you but it has history behind it:
There is a claim that the Sultan sat here in his garden to watch many sunsets on the hill.
Another more gruesome speculation includes the stone being used to behead traitors a long time ago.
9. Melawati Fort (Kota Melawati)
Unlike the Tanjong Keramat Fort mentioned earlier in this list:
You can actually still see some of the walls and plenty of the cannons of Melawati Fort!
Take some time to notice the strategic positions of the cannons that overlook the fort’s surroundings!
10. Melawati Hill Mound
Melawati Mound is also referred to as Busut Melawati.
The 12 foot high mound was where Sultan Ibrahim used to watch cockerel fights!
Built during his reign, the mound is on the flat part of a small hill with an ancient angsana tree close by.
11. Tram Ride At Bukit Melawati
For adults, the ride up the hill may not be particularly exciting. But kids will be thrilled!
You can buy tickets at the entrance of Bukit Melawati at the base of the hill in front of the car park.
The ticket price covers the fish park as well (see next item)!
Price: RM5 adult and RM3 child(ages 3-12)
12. Kuala Selangor Freshwater Fish Park (Taman Ikan Air Tawar)
Permanently Closed
3 minutes’ drive away from Bukit Melawati:
This freshwater fish park keeps over a thousand fish of at least 60 local species.
You can also learn more about fishing in Kuala Selangor too:
See the different fishing traps used at the Freshwater Fish Gallery!
Other attractions here include a small aviary and a lotus pond!
Opening hours: 9.30am to 4.30pm
Price: RM2 (adults), RM1 (children)
How To Go To Bukit Melawati
You have 3 options – walk, drive or take the tram up from the entrance to top of the hill!
I. The tram service
Tram Operation Hours: Saturday, Sunday & Public Holiday
Time: 9.00am-6.00pm. The tram doesn’t operate on weekdays.
Ticket Price: Adult – RM5, Children – RM3
Got your own car?
II. Driving your car up
Or visitors can drive their own cars up. You can drive up too on the weekends, outside tram operation hours.
Tip – On a weekend, they let people drive up their cars around 6pm. Officially after 6pm.
But honestly:
III. Using your legs
It’s not a difficult climb up:
The path goes up the road and in less than 10 minutes, you will see the bleached-white lighthouse on top of the hill.
Royal Mausoleum of Bukit Melawati
By the way, as you make your way down from Bukit Melawati, you will see this royal structure!
It’s fenced up to prevent public access but the building is nice to admire!
Address: http://bit.ly/Royalmausoleum
Nature
13. Kuala Selangor Nature Park (Taman Alam)
The 324 hectares sanctuary is managed by the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS).
Because the park consists mostly of mangroves, mud flats and secondary jungle:
You can expect to see many species of birds here (~156 species with 57 migratory types)!
You might even spot otters here!
Some common animals you will probably see are fiddler crabs and monkeys!
Address: http://bit.ly/Naturepark
Opening hours: 9am to 6:00pm.
Entrance fee: RM4 (adult), RM1 (student and children below 16)
Note: Malaysian Nature Society members pay RM2.
14. Kuala Selangor Fireflies
As the evening approaches, tours get geared up to take people out to see Kuala Selangor’s best known attraction: Fireflies!
This is the place to see thousands of fireflies light up the mangroves along the banks of Selangor River!
15. Eagle Feeding
Something else that’s popular around here is:
Is sea eagle feeding!
It might strange to you but this is how it works:
You hop on a boat with other tourists, and the tour company will take you guys along the river.
The beautiful birds will gather soon enough as the tour guides throw out pieces of chicken meat for them to catch!
You can combine this activity with other popular Kuala Selangor attractions (like the fireflies)!
Bonus: 天空号 Boat Cafe @ Sky Mirror
Ever dined on a boat before?
This may be stationary boat but the atmosphere is no less romantic! They have alcohol, cheesecake, and Korean snacks! Certainly not a bad way to end a day of exploring!
You can conveniently time your visit here after a firefly tour too!
Address: 10, Jalan Feri Lama, Pasir Penambang, 45000 Kuala Selangor, Selangor
Opening hours: Weekdays from 3:30pm to 10:30pm and weekends from 11:30am to 10:30pm (Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
Contact: +6016-223 4788
Kuala Selangor Beaches
There are two beaches that you can visit and each are great spots for viewing the sunset!
The beaches are an hours’ drive apart.
And Pantai Redang is up north while Pantai Remis is south, not far from Jeram.
16. Remis Beach (Pantai Remis)
This small beach often has crowds of people on weekends and public holidays.
Even though it is not suitable for swimming!
Popular activities include trying the fresh seafood sold at the beach, flying kites, fishing and watching the sunset, of course!
Note: Parking can be a struggle with limited parking spots!
17. Redang beach (Pantai Redang)
Redang beach may share the same names as Redang Island (Pulau Redang) in Terengganu but:
It is not ideal for snorkeling, diving or even swimming!
However, this is a local hot spot during the evenings.
Occasionally, you might see some migratory birds flying by!
There’s plenty of space for kids to fly kites!
A small Chinese temple and a wishing tree are also close by and worth a quick look!
Note: Parking is frustrating here too.
Food In Kuala Selangor
While Kuala Selangor isn’t famous for its food, it does have a few establishments that have made their own mark on the town.
18. Auntie Foo Cafe
This quaint cafe is a popular spot for breakfast and is housed in a heritage building in the middle of town.
Popular menu items include their homemade ice-cream!
Western dishes are available on the menu too.
Another must-try at this cafe is the cendol.
They also sell dried local seafood and other souvenirs.
And if you need a map on local attractions, you can pick up one here!
Or use their complimentary WiFi to do some research!
Address: 1, Jalan Raja Abdullah, Kuala Selangor, 45000 Kuala Selangor, Selangor
Opening hours: 8:30am to 6:30pm
19. Auntie Kopitiam
A bit closer to Bukit Melawati is the sister of Auntie Foo:
The theme at this cafe is the classic old-style Malaysian coffee shop (kopitiam)!
In fact, it is a typical Hainanese coffee shop. With early opening hours.
You can expect to find these items on the menu:
- Toast with homemade kaya
- Nasi lemak
- Hainanese chicken chop
- Curry mee
Address: C-3, Jalan Sultan Ibrahim, 45000 Kuala Selangor, Selangor
Opening hours: 7am to 4pm (Closed on Sunday)
20. Café Lumière
If you want something a little fancier and closer to Kuala Lumpur, then this cafe might suit you better:
Besides the delicious western food, you will not fail to appreciate the decor!
They have daily specials here like bangers and mash, sticky lemon chicken and spaghetti bolognese!
The coffee will not disappoint! If coffee is not your thing, they have specialized tea and Kombucha!
Address: 50, Jalan Stesen, Kuala Selangor, 45000 Kuala Selangor, Selangor
Opening hours: 12pm to 7pm (Closed on Tuesdays)
Note: For a small town cafe, it might come across as pricey.
21. Cendol Bakar at Kampung Assam Jawa
If you feel like having some cendol to beat the heat, you can try this one:
Cendol Bakar is a typical Malaysian roadside stall.
The word “Bakar” (which means burnt in Malay) comes from the gula melaka used in preparation of this particular cendol.
You can get other Malay dishes here like mee undang here!
Address: Lot 170, Batu 25 1/4, Jalan Klang, Kg Assam Jawa, 45700 Kuala Selangor, Selangor
Opening hours: 11am to 7pm (they open earlier at 10am on Saturdays and Sundays!)
22. Kedai Kopi Shin Lok 新乐茶室
If you were thinking of checking out Remis Beach (Pantai Remis) anyways, then it’s worth stopping here for the steamed buns!
Note: This is a 20 minute+ drive from Bukit Melawati!
Different types of pau are sold here:
- Red bean
- Vegetable
- Chicken
- Peanut
Vegetable is one of their more popular flavors and sell out pretty quick!
They also have other snacks here like taro dumplings and curry puffs.
Coffee is pretty great too!
And if you’ve never tried kaya made with coconut jam and duck eggs before, here’s your chance!
Call ahead to check what paus are still available!
Address: 1, Jalan Kenari 1, Taman Kenari, Sungai Sembilang, 45800 Jeram, Kuala Selangor, Selangor
Phone: +603-3264 7591
Business hours: 7am to 5pm (Closed on Mondays)
23. Beggar Chicken in Ijok
30 minutes’ drive from Kuala Selangor is the small town of Ijok.
The reputable restaurant that sells the dish “beggar chicken” is found in an unlikely place:
A house hidden near an oil palm plantation! The tables are within the compound of the house. There’s no air con here!
Note: Make a phone reservation first before dropping by!
You can order other Chinese dishes like:
- Stir-fried cos lettuce (yau mak)
- Tofu
- Glutinous rice (八宝饭) – beware of the large serving! Fit for 6-8people!
- Pork maw soup
- Braised pig trotters
Don’t forget to try their signature, home-made kumquat (金桔) drink!
Note: The beggar chicken made here is not too dry and has a strong taste of Chinese herbs.
New Beggar’s Delicious Restaurant (新家乡美味叫化鸡)
Address: Lot 894, Jalan Harmoni 2, 45620 Ijok, Selangor
Phone: +6019-317 3687 (Ask for Mr. Tee)
Opening hours: Every Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday, and Public Holidays from 1 pm onwards
Kuala Selangor Seafood
You can find tonnes of fresh seafood all along the coastline in Kuala Selangor.
Dried seafood products can also be bought at shops easily throughout Kuala Selangor too!
For one-stop convenience, head over to Pasir Penambang Jetty which has more than a few restaurants to choose from.
Some recommended seafood restaurants:
24. Medan Ikan Bakar Pantai Jeram
This is a halal seafood restaurant at Pantai Jeram.
And they have a surau (or prayer room) for their Muslim patrons and a playground for kids!
Good food at reasonable prices!
- Chili crab
- Grilled fish/ squid
- Tomyam soup
Address: Jeram, 45800 Jeram, Selangor
Contact: +6012-236 2467
Opening hours: 4.30pm to 12am (Closed on Tuesdays)
25. Restoran Tian Wai Tian (天外天海鲜餐室)
This Chinese restaurant might look a bit old from the outside but it serves up some pretty delicious food!
Recommended dishes:
- Lemon chicken
- Crab with rice noodles
- Tofu soup
- Curry fish head
Note: It’s best if you have someone in your group who can converse in Chinese easily.
Expect slower service on the weekends as they are usually packed!
Address: 143, Taman Pinggiran, Pasir Penambang, 45000 Kuala Selangor, Selangor
Contact: +603-3289 2507
Opening hours: 11.30am to 3.30pm, and again from 5.30pm to 11pm (Closed on Thursdays)
26. River View Seafood Restaurant
Popular for the food as well as its view over the river, this Chinese restaurant is also halal!
Dishes to try:
- Spicy crab
- Claypot crab rice
- Salted egg crab
Note: Make a reservation first if you have a big group!
Address: No. 1 Jalan Besar,, Pasir Penambang, 45000 Kuala Selangor, Selangor
Contact: +603-3289 2238
Opening hours: 11am to 9:30pm
27. Sekinchan
Want another reason to visit Kuala Selanogor?
Check out why so many people flock to Sekinchan to see its rice fields.
Places to see in Sekinchan:
- Sekinchan Paddy Factory Tour
- Sekinchan Padibox
- Sekinchan Wishing Tree
- Fishing Village
28. Sky Mirror
Often called the Salar de Uyuni of Malaysia for its resemblance to Bolivia’s Uyuni salt flats:
The Sasaran Sky Mirror of Kuala Selangor is a sight you do not want to miss! Because the sandbar only appears during low tide, there are limited tour slots!
In fact, these tours only run a few times a month, depending on the tide. So make sure you book early!
29. Kuala Selangor Temples
Temples are aplenty around Kuala Selangor:
Take your pick and try to squeeze at least one into your trip!
Qi Jian Xian Shi Fo Zu Gu Miao
A small and colorful Taoist-Buddhist temple but you can get a good view of the sea from the top!
Address: Jalan Feri Lima, Bagan, Pasir Penambang, 45000 Kuala Selangor, Selangor
Monkey God Temple (Xi Ling Gong)
You can also get a good view of the surrounding area from atop this colorful temple.
Take some time to admire the images – some feature the many levels of hell!
Address: No. 24 Tokong Jalan Bagan, Pasir Penambang, 45500 Kuala Selangor, Selangor
Sri Shakti Devasthanam Temple
It’s best to stop here on your way to Kuala Selangor. Or when you’re making your way back down to Kuala Lumpur.
This stunning temple is one of the finest Hindu temples in Malaysia with its intricately carved sandstone walls!
Besides this, all manifestations of 51 Shakti Peedam (collected from 51 holy sites across South Asia) are here!
If you drop by at night, the temple is lit up too!
Address: Jalan Kuala Selangor, Bukit Rotan, 45700 Bukit Rotan, Selangor
Note: Any photography of the inside is strictly not allowed!
Bonus – Banting: Bukit Jugra
This is a good spot for hiking or …paragliding!
To get to Bukit Jugra will involve some weaving through a small kampung (a.k.a village/rural) area.
You can hike or cycle up this hill as some people chose to do.
Or you can drive up. It’s quite steep but you do not need a 4-wheel drive just yet.
Conclusion
You don’t really have an excuse not to visit Kuala Selangor if you have your own car and a free weekend! Even one day would suffice to see some of the best that Kuala Selangor has to offer.
It’s only an hour’s drive away north of Malaysia’s capital city of Kuala Lumpur and 2.5 hours’ drive south from Ipoh!
- Learn how to get to this hidden gem near Penang – Frog Hill, Penang
- Plenty of options here if you’re planning a road trip to Pahang
- Go to Taping to see the largest traditional charcoal factory (Kuala Sepetang) in Malaysia
