If you are looking for a place with delicious seafood and hidden gems, Kuala Selangor is the place to visit. Located where the Selangor River meets the sea, foodies, history and nature lovers will enjoy a trip here, especially with the many Kuala Selangor attractions to check out. Below are some of the places that you should visit here.
The remnants of this fort, also known as Bukit Belanda (meaning “Dutch Hill”), are situated on a low hill near the Selangor River’s mouth. Sultan Ibrahim, the 2nd Sultan of Selangor, who reigned from 1782 until 1826, designed it. In 1784, the Dutch conquered it and renamed it Fort Utrecht. The fort was a two-story building made of granite and clay with cannons mounted on its walls. One entrance was on the north side, and the other was on the east side. The site is now covered with grass, leaving only mounds where the walls once stood as evidence of the construction.
Makam Keramat Anak Dara, or Virgin’s Grave, is a shrine on a small rocky hill that is revered by the people. A shaky wooden staircase leads up to it. Outside, there is a sign telling the tale of a young religious girl who was forced to marry a man she didn’t love. She vanished while washing in the river the morning before her wedding. She later appeared to her parents in a dream, requesting that they not search for her because she had discovered a better place. Her clothing were discovered on a tree the next day, and her parents chose to erect a shrine where they were discovered.
The ancient hill of Bukit Melawati, located in the town centre, is sprinkled with various interesting landmarks. This hill, which was built in the 18th century as a point of defence against enemy armies, is now a popular tourist destination and home to cheeky silvered leaf monkeys. The best thing is that admission is free, so tourists can come at any time to take in the pure air from atop the hill.
The graves of the first three Sultans of Selangor are located in this royal burial cemetery. The Penggawa (Chief) Cannon, covered in yellow fabric, is located on the grounds of the mausoleum. In 1966, a cannon was discovered on the banks of the Buluh River, 12 kilometres south of Kuala Selangor. Petoi Boga, which translates to “White Princess,” is another name for the cannon.
Kuala Selangor’s most prominent landmark and symbol is the Kuala Selangor Lighthouse. Built in 1907 and formerly known as Altingsburg Lighthouse, this lighthouse stands 27 metres tall and emits a light that can be seen from 18 nautical miles away. While you can view it from the outside, visitors are prohibited from entering the premises.
In front of the lighthouse is a modern pavilion that was erected expressly for the purpose of sighting the new moon in order to identify the start and finish of Ramadan and other Islamic calendar celebrations.
Kuala Selangor Historical Museum (Muzium Sejarah Daerah Kuala Selangor) gives information on the town’s development and surrounding area, as well as its function as a trading centre for the collection and export of tin. The museum describes three probable explanations for the name Selangor, the most colourful of which is that it is derived from the words salang and jemur, which refer to two methods of torture that may have been used here. There are dioramas, displays of historic weaponry, specimens of old currencies, and other artefacts in the museum. The museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day (closed on Mondays).
The ‘Salar de Uyuni of Malaysia’ is a hidden jewel in Kuala Selangor, named after its unusual mirror-like reflection of the sky and dubbed the ‘Salar de Uyuni of Malaysia’ due to its mysterious appearance that mimics the Bolivian salt flats. The Sky Mirror is a seafloor that comes above water during low tide, exposing a vast sand flat the size of a hundred football fields. It only occurs for a few days each month and for a few hours each day.
Want to surround yourself with flora and fauna spanning 290s-hectares?Head over to the Kuala Selangor Nature Park. The park is home to over 150 bird species, with 57 of them being migratory. We recommend visiting between September and April, since the area will be frequented by these birds migrating from countries like Russia. In addition to otters, fiddler crabs, and monkeys, the beautiful green land is home to a variety of other wildlife that you can see while you’re here.
The fireflies are a must-see Kuala Selangor attraction after dark. The mangrove swamps along the Selangor River’s banks are one of just a few areas on the planet where fireflies congregate in such large numbers. A firefly is a sort of small beetle that attracts mates by flashing its tail on and off at night. Boats are taken out every night to witness the firefly illuminations in Kampung Kuantan and the Firefly Park Resort.
Another spot worth seeing is the Selangor River in Kuala Selangor, where you may see the surreal blue tear phenomena. The Selangor River is home to small aquatic animals that, at dark, emit a stunning blue-green light, providing you with an outstanding sight. The best time to witness the “blue tears” here in Kuala Selangor is on the first three days of the lunar month, because the sky’s the darkest at this time.
Bukit Rotan’s Sri Shakti Devasthanam Temple is well worth a visit. This majestic Hindu temple, located on the outskirts of Kuala Selangor, is enclosed by large, sculpted sandstone walls and an amazing 5-tiered gopuram, with 51 lovely statues of the goddess Shakti along their hallway inside. In fact, the temple is the only one in the world containing manifestations of each of the 51 Shaktis.
If you have your own car and a free weekend, there’s no reason not to visit Kuala Selangor. Even one day would be plenty to experience some of Kuala Selangor’s top attractions. Those who come will undoubtedly be left wanting more.