TAIPING
Taiping is a beautiful town situated in the state of Perak in Malaysia. Taiping formerly known as Klian Pauh and it was renamed as Taiping to commemorate the end of the Larut war in 1874. With signing of the Pangkor Treaty on the 20th of January 1874,Taiping emerged to be the major town in Perak. Indeed with the decision of the British government to make Taiping into their administrator center. So Taiping became a busy and developed town in that era. Taiping comes from Chinese word Tai-Peng wich means eternal peace. Today after 131 years later, Taiping becomes one of the oldest town in Malaysia. Even before the founding of Kuala Lumpur, Taiping prospered and its distinguished itself by having scored a number of firsts. First museum in the country, first English news paper and even the first swimming pool.
Some of the first in country which is located in Taiping
Post telegraph office at Jalan Stesyen being the first post office in the Federated Malay States. It was build at 1884 and features buttresses on its walls.
King Edward –7 school was built in 1905 with its Tudor arches and wide verandahs was once used as the dreaded ‘kempetai’ headquarters during the Japanese occupation with the classrooms converted into torture cells.
Taiping market a relic of a bygone era should already be beckoning you. Consisting of two buildings the former made of ironwood timber and covered by iron sheet roof was built in 1884.
The clock tower, which formerly known as a police station constructed in 1881. It was once served as fire station.(The first fire brigade of the federal states)
Public library which was housed in a whitewashed building with pillared porch that was constructed in 1882.
Perak Museum at the end of jalan taming sari, first opened in 1883. It houses ceramics, weapons, statue of colonel walker which considered as father of Malay states.
Opposite of Perak Museum is Fort Caranavon. It was built in 1885 which is now known as prison. Name after the earl of Caranavon the building is considered as the first prison in federal states.
Taiping lake gardens is the olest garden in the country. Sprawls over 62 hectares at the foot of the hill resort Bukit Larut. The lakes was formely known as tinner mind.
Taiping Zoo, the oldest zoo in country is another attraction located within the gardens. It was opened in 7 Mac 1964.
Bukit Larut (Maxwell Hill) is a beautifully breathtaking hill resort is formerly known as a Maxwell Hill. It is considered as a first hill resort in country and founded in 1884.
The railway station is the first railway station in country which the railway was built from Portwell to Taiping.
