Taiping Lake Gardens – What Are The Highlights Worth Seeing?

Taiping Lake Gardens is the pride of Taiping, the former capital of Perak. And at one point, all of Malaysia!

Hence, it would be a shame to miss out on this exceptionally beautiful lake garden of Taiping, Perak:

Especially if you happen to be in Ipoh for a while! As it’s only a short drive away from Ipoh! There’s also plenty else to do in Taiping. So stick around this post and find out!

Table of contents:

• Taiping Lake Garden Map
• History Of Taiping Lake Garden
• Facilities And Attractions
• Attractions Nearby Taiping
• Taiping Lake Garden Hotel
• How To Get To Taiping

Taiping Lake Garden Map

The garden itself is quite large (close to 65 hectares) so you might want to have a look at a map first!

History Of Taiping Lake Gardens

From the map, you’ll notice the unusual splotchy shape of the lake in Taiping Lake Gardens.

And it’s by no means, a coincidence:

In fact, the whole place used to be a tin mine site. Like Froghill in Penang.

After the mine was abandoned, the gardens were developed and finally opened in 1880.

Taiping Lake Gardens was the very first public garden of the then-Malaya (i.e. when Malaysia was still under British rule).

A golf course?

Within the lake gardens, there was the first golf course in Malaysia too!

But as you can imagine, that was kind of dangerous for anyone taking a stroll in the garden. So the golf course was closed in 1995.

In its place, there are now plants and some playgrounds.

Around the gardens, are some heritage buildings as well:

• Old Residency – home to the Secretary (to the Resident)
• The Raja’s House
• And some residences that belonged to former army officers

Read more: 5 Theme Parks To Check Out In Ipoh & Perak

Facilities And Attractions At Taiping Lake Garden

It’s common to see families having picnics here during the weekends. And every evening, there will be people having their daily round of exercise.

Not a bad place to walk off a heavy meal after trying some Taiping food!

Occasionally (and not surprisingly), you’ll see someone having their wedding photos taken here!

To fully enjoy Taiping Lake Gardens, try to come in the cool of the early morning or evening:

Attractions:

• Rain trees on Raintree walk – You can’t miss these majestic ancient trees which are over a century old! With their large arching branches that just dip into the lake!

• 10 scenic lakes (with lovely bridges) and ponds including a lotus pool at the entrance
• A Japanese Garden
• Bird watching – if you have binoculars, you may be able to spot some migratory birds that frequent this area

Facilities:

• Jogging tracks
• Reflexology tracks
• Some outdoor gym equipment
• Playgrounds
• Roller-skating rink
• Paddleboats for rent rides

Attractions Nearby Taiping Lake Gardens

First, here’s a map of the places to see in Taiping:

Click on it to adjust the route accordingly to your preferences.

1. Taiping zoo

Pay a visit to Taiping zoo. Feeding time is typically between 10am to 12pm. The zoo is also open at night for the Night Safari after 8pm.

You can book your tickets here. It’s RM16 per adult. Or RM20 per adult for the Night Safari.

If you’ve never seen a mouse deer (Malaysia’s national animal, the kancil), here’s a great opportunity!

2. Burmese Pool In Taiping

Cool off at the Burmese pool in Taiping. The water temperature can be colder than you expect!

There is a fee of less than RM5 for the carpark. The toilet is free to use. And there is a store at the car park in case you should want snacks.

Be careful to keep valuables out of sight in your car. And to keep food hidden from monkeys!

Read also: Kuala Sepetang Charcoal Factory – Must-See Kuala Sepetang Attraction!

4. Maxwell Hill

Another cool place you should visit is Maxwell Hill (Bukit Larut). The gate is open from as early as 6:30am and closes at 8pm.

This is a good nature spot. And a great deal less crowded alternative to the super popular Cameron Highlands.

Once you are up here (either by jeep or by hiking), you’re on your own. There’s only a toilet, playground, and a scattering of picnic tables. But the cafe has recently closed.

Note: Jeep service may be closed due to landslides. Call the admin office (+605-807 7241) ahead before going.

5. Unique Coffee At Restoran Kakak

Try some a unique coffee at Restoran Kakak in Taiping.

Ask for the “Kakak” coffee. This is coffee served with barley water instead of milk.

For something to eat, you can’t go wrong with their curry noodles! And gai se hor fun!

6. Aun Tong Coffee Mill

See how coffee is made at Aun Tong Coffee Mill in Taiping:

You get to taste a variety of coffee here (even durian coffee) and see part of the actual production line.

There is a visitor shop where you can buy their coffee from too. You will probably only spend less than an hour here.

There is an antique shop next door though if you have some time to spare.

Plenty of parking at Aun Tong Coffee Mill but watch out for busy traffic which can make it hard to enter.

Speaking of coffee, here are some Taiping cafes that are worth checking out.

Read also: Orangutan Island: A Hidden Orangutan Sanctuary In West Malaysia

7. Spritzer Eco Park

Spritzer EcoPark is a recreational park built by Spritzer Sdn Bhd:

It features:

• an 18-hole mini golf course,
• discovery tunnel,
• cactus rock,
• Kids Zone,
• product shop,
• and STG Cafe (Sabah Tea Garden) with scenic river deck

Visitors can choose to take a guided tour of the mineral water bottling plant which is opposite from this Eco Park.

Read also: Bukit Merah Laketown Resort – Affordable Family Fun Theme Park

8. Perak Museum

The oldest museum in Malaysia which was established since 1886 by the British:

Until today, the museum still preserves its original colonial architecture and has about 8,500 items on display!

It’s a mere 5 minutes’ walk from Taiping Lake Garden too!

Want more things to do? See more Taiping attractions.

Or check out the nearby fishing village of Kuala Sepetang.

Taiping Lake Garden Hotel

Want to stay in a hotel close to the lake gardens?

Check out these options:

Note: For other hotel accommodations around Taiping, our article on the best hotels in Taiping should help you in picking out the right one!

1. Flemington Hotel

Fancy a view of the lake gardens right from floor-to-ceiling windows in a comfortable contemporary bedroom?

Then, this is the hotel for you!

What you’ll like (besides the view):

• Rooms have coffee/ tea making facilities
• Swimming pool
• Free parking
• Free WiFi
• Room service
• Bar
• Breakfast available
• On-site restaurant/ cafe

Good to know:

• Front desk offers bicycle rentals
• Taiping Express bus station is 5 minutes’ drive away
• 5 minute’ walk to Taiping Zoo
• 4 minutes’ drive to Taiping Mall

2. Novotel Taiping

Just across from the Taiping Fire and Rescue Station:

You’ll also get some good views of Taiping Lake Gardens here.

And the surrounding mountains!

What you’ll like (besides the views):

• Modern and clean rooms
• 2 minutes’ walk from eateries and Taiping Mall
• Swimming pool (and kid’s pool)
• Free WiFi
• Free parking
• Bar
• Breakfast buffet available
• Fitness center
• Polite and helpful staff

Good to know:

• 15 minutes’ walk from Taiping Lake Gardens
• Swimming pool closes at 10pm
• Hotel car park is on level 6

3. Hotel Grand Baron

A fairly new hotel that’s close to Bukit Larut and the lake gardens, Hotel Grand Baron has rooms with panoramic views of Bukit Larut.

What you’ll like:

• Family rooms
• Swimming pool
• Free parking (but not many)
• Free WiFi
• Breakfast available
• Balcony
• On-site restaurant
• Bar
• Quiet surroundings
• Superb cleanliness

Good to know:

• Big rooms but small beds
• Basement parking is quite dark
• Not easy to get a taxi
• Need 5-10 minutes’ drive to Taiping Lake Gardens or eateries
• Don’t leave your windows open! Monkeys will find their way in.

4. Hermitage Boutique House

This particular hotel lies within a residential neighbourhood:

Within the compound, are a cluster of low-rise apartments with glass fronts that surround the main swimming pool.

What you’ll like:

• Polite and helpful staff
• Spacious and clean rooms with high quality furnishings
• Swimming pool
• Beautiful modern design
• Smart TV available
• Fridge and kettle
• Option for breakfast
• Covered car park at entrance

Good to know:

• Less than 5 minutes’ drive from Taiping Lake Gardens and Taiping Zoo
• Can be tricky to find this hotel
• You can book units with kitchens
• 6 minutes’ drive to Taiping Mall

5. Taiping Homestay

Need a larger space for your group?

You can rent out this entire apartment that can fit up to 8 people!

What you’ll like:

• Free private parking
• Well-equipped kitchen for guests to use
• Wonderful view of Taiping town
• Apartment is spacious and clean
• Kid-friendly swimming pool
• Free WiFi
• Washing machine
• Balcony
• Fitness center
• Helpful and understanding host

Good to know:

• 7 minutes’ drive to Taiping Lake Gardens
• Short drive (6 minutes) to town and Taiping Mall

For other homestay recommendations, check out our curated list of Taiping homestays for the best ones!

How To Get To Taiping

Taiping is highly accessible even though you cannot fly there!

From Penang: 1.5 hours’ drive south via the North-South Express Highway

From Kuala Lumpur: ~3 to 4 hours drive up north via the North-South Express Highway.

But let’s focus on how you can get there from Ipoh:

1. Ipoh To Taiping By Private Tour

Taking a tour may seem over the top for a little town like Taiping. But it takes a local to show you around places and things you might miss if you go on your own!

With a tour, you can take the opportunity to explore other attractions close to Taiping! Or combine this together with your Ipoh itinerary or Cameron Highlands trip!

And you don’t have to worry about navigating!

The tour service we’re recommending is RayTheTour. Book through us on Facebook or WhatsApp.

Duration: 1 hour drive from Ipoh

Distance: ~68.6km

2. Ipoh To Taiping By Train

It’s definitely possible to take the ETS train from Ipoh Railway Station directly to Taiping!

Trains run on a daily basis.

Duration: 45 minutes

Price starts from: RM20 per adult

Book a ticket for the ETS train to Taiping.

3. Ipoh To Taiping By Bus

Of course, you can always take a bus from Ipoh to Taiping!

Buses depart daily at hourly intervals from 6:15am to 10:00pm from Ipoh AmanJaya station.

Bus operators are Perak Transit and Starmart Express.

Duration: 53 minutes to an hour

Price starts from: RM10 per person (adult/ child)

Read also: Penang Botanical Gardens – Visit The Green Lungs Of Penang!

Conclusion

Nature lovers will not want to miss out on the impressive Taiping Lake Gardens in Perak!

If you’re making a trip to Ipoh, consider going because it only takes less than an hour to get there!