ONE of the most developed states in the country, Selangor is centrally located, sharing a border with Perak to the north, Pahang to the east and towards the south, Negeri Sembilan.
About half an hour’s drive away from Kuala Lumpur city centre, Selangor is filled with beautiful and amazing places of interest.
1. Tan Boon Chia Building, Rasa
With wooden doors and sliding grille, this gated old mansion with its traditional Chinese architecture belongs to the late Tan Boon Chia.
Once a tin miner, Tan later became one of the most influential businessmen in the early 1900s. Born in the small town of Fong Lai in the Anxi province in China, Tan came to Malaya as a child with his father.
His venture into rubber plantations, in addition to owning several mines in the then Malaya, made him very rich.
When the Japanese occupied Malaya, the Japanese Imperial Army seized his mansion and made it their headquarters.
It was believed that many local Chinese residents in Rasa were captured, tortured, killed and buried in the mansion
grounds.
2. Raja Mahadi Fort, Klang
Located on top of Bukit Kota in Klang, this fort was built by Raja Mahadi in 1866. In the mid 19th century, civil war broke out
between Raja Mahadi and Raja Abdullah. Known as the Selangor Civil War, it was later joined by Tengku Kudin as well as rival leaders from the Malay and Chinese fractions.
Leaders from both factions fought for control of Sungai Klang, one of the major transportation hubs in transporting tin and other resources. Tengku Kudin and Abdullah’s son Raja Ismail eventually claimed victory over the war, which lasted seven years.
3. Dutch Hill, Kuala Selangor
Located on a slope, close to the Selangor River, this fort was originally built by Sultan Ibrahim. It was later captured by the Dutch, led by Captain Van Brac, who renamed the hill Fort Utrecht.
The two-storey structure was built using granite and clay, its walls fortified with cannons. Once overgrown with grass, the fort is now cleaned up and visitors can drop in to admire the beautiful scenery.
4. Malawati Hill, Kuala Selangor
As the sun sets, grab a seat here and get your camera ready. On a good day, one can see the expanse of Kuala Selangor as the sun sets on the horizon.
When the Dutch took over Kuala Selangor, they named it Fort Altingburg due to its strategic location.
There’s a lighthouse which can be seen even from afar. However, it is not accessible to the public due to safety reasons.
5. Museum Kuala Selangor, Kuala Selangor
Located 40km from Klang, there is a lot of new knowledge that visitors can pick up from their visit to this unassuming museum.
Once the official resident for the Kuala Selangor district officer, it was later converted into a gallery and museum, where many history enthusiasts converged.
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