Taiping Lake Gardens is one of the oldest in Malaysia and is often regarded as the most beautiful lake garden in the country. Before becoming a public garden, the area surrounding the lake witnessed significant historical events.
In 1861, Bukit Larut was at the centre of the Larut Wars, conflicts between Chinese factions over tin mining rights. The wars ended with the Pangkor Treaty, which brought peace and prosperity to the region. The name Taiping means great peace in Chinese.
By 1884, the area had transformed from swamps and abandoned mines into the gardens we see today. Chinese Capitan Chung Keng Kwee donated the land to the Perak government, and the gardens were officially opened by Frank Swettenham, the British Resident of Perak.
“Taiping was a sweet place to live, and anyone who didn’t think so was free to live elsewhere. Taiping was still the Pensioner’s Paradise; the Nicest Hometown in Malaysia,” wrote Rehman Rashid in his seminal memoir, A Malaysian Journey.
Whenever we are in this wettest town in Peninsular Malaysia, Taiping Lake Gardens is a must-visit. It’s a beautiful place with plenty of family-friendly activities. This place is also a haven for photographers. We took some of our Raya pictures here. There’s also a playground, which we wrote about in a previous blog post.
You can also enjoy a fun bicycle ride around the lake, with rentals available at CycleDios. Additionally, there’s a boating activity that costs RM10 for two adults for a 30-minute ride. For a 60-minute ride, it’s RM10 for two people, with each additional person costing an additional RM4.
Finally, there is the Raintree Walk, a 650-metre pedestrian path lined with Samanea Saman trees, some of which are over 120 years old. This path has become an iconic feature of Taiping. It starts at the roundabout on Jalan Saw Ah Choy and ends at the intersection of Jalan Maharajalela. Previously open to cars and motorcycles, it is now reserved for pedestrians, making it a safer and more enjoyable experience.
Lastly, Zoo Taiping is nearby. Also known as Taman Mergastua Sultan Idris Shah, it is the oldest zoo in Malaysia. Established in 1961, the zoo is situated within the natural surroundings of Taiping Lake Gardens, near the foothills of Bukit Larut. The zoo is open every day from 8 AM to 11 PM, except on Sundays and public holidays. Thank you for reading. All pictures were taken 1–2 years ago, except for the Raya photos.
References:
Taiping Lake Gardens: Resilience over Histories | IFLA Asia-Pacific. (n.d.). https://iflaapr.org/news/taiping-lake-gardens-resilience-over-histories
Taiping Lake Gardens, oldest in Malaya (1880). (2022, September 13). Malaysia 1786 – 1957. https://britishmalaya.home.blog/2022/07/14/taiping-lake-gardens-oldest-in-malaya-1880/
Raintree Walk – Taiping. (2022, July 19). Taiping. https://www.taiping.my/places/taiping/attractions/raintree-walk/
