We receive a lot of positive feedback with our A to Z Guide To Bako National Park, and so, we decided to make 'it' a thing in our blog from now on!
Our A to Z Travel Guide will have the answer to all questions about any destination. In this case, we shall start with, Perlis - The northernmost state of Malaysia that is close to Langkawi but is often overlooked.
Perlis - A Brief Introduction
Perlis, also known by its honorific title Perlis Indera Kayangan located at the northern part of the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and has the Satun and Songkhla Provinces of Thailand on its northern border. It is also bordered by the state of Kedah to the south.
Fact : Did you know that Perlis was originally part of Kedah ? It occasionally came under rule by Siam or Aceh. Perlis was historically an important realm within the Kingdom of Kedah.There are 12 town in Perlis starting from :
Arau ( Royal Capital)
Beseri
Chuping
Kaki Bukit
Kangar (Capital)
Kuala Perlis
Mata Ayer
Padang Besar
Pauh
Sanglang
Simpang Empat
Wang Kelian
Each of the area mention above has their own uniqueness and trust me, there is a lot to see in Perlis!
A to Z Travel Guide To Perlis :
A
Attraction In Perlis
Airport
B
Beach
Best Place In Perlis
C
Capital City Of Perlis
Cafe In Perlis
F
Flag
Food Of Perlis
Floating Market Perlis
G
Getting To Perlis
H
Hotel In Perlis
Hiking Spot
J
Jetty
R
Resort In Perlis
Restaurant
S
Shopping Mall
Snake Park
A
Attraction
Perlis can be said has a vast paddy fields spread as far as the eyes can see and jutting limestone hills that stood as a beautiful backdrop! Not only that, there is a lot of attraction in Perlis that you can go to. There are something for any type of traveller.
Say, if you want adventure, you can experience Gua Kelam or hike up Bukit Chabang, Bukit Tok Dun, Bukit Keteri and more!
If you want nature, you can explore Taman Negeri Perlis, Taman Rekreasi Bukit Ayer or even learn about all the herbs in Taman Rimba Herba. Have a look at the Nature Spots To Check Out While In Perlis.
Airport
As of now, there is no airport in Perlis although there is a plan to build it in Chuping back in 2015.
The nearest airport will be the Sultan Abdul Halim Airport in Alor Setar, 35 kilometres from Kangar or the Langkawi International Airport in Langkawi.
B
Beach
Beach in Perlis is one of the most searched / asked questions.
The answer is yes, Perlis do have a beach.
The Perlis beach stretches over 17 kilometres, from Kuala Perlis to Kuala Sanglang, but famous spots are in Kuala Perlis, Kurong Tengar and Kuala Sungai Baharu.
But; if you are looking to enjoy clear blue waters and white, sandy beaches, the Perlis beach may disappoint you. The beach may be muddy, but the view is priceless!
Thousands will throng the beach every day for its breathtaking view, particularly during sunset. It is also a favourite playground for the local children.
Best Place
Since there are so many attractions in Perlis, it's hard to determine what's best and what's not. We believe, there is something interesting and suits your preference.
Nevertheless, we list rank down 'the top 5 best place' in Perlis according to TripAdvisor's Traveller Favourites.
#1. Padang Besar - You can get almost everything you want here. Do note that;because of the closure of Thailand's border; the market activity is limited to Friday, Saturday, and maybe Sunday.
Tasik Melati Recreational Park - The park is famous for its lakes and its recreational facilities.
Rimba Herba Perlis - Among the interesting activities that can be carried out are guided tours and self-guided tours to nature trails, foot immersion in herbal oil, visits to orchid sites and sale of trees, especially herbal products. Apart from that, visitors can also enjoy the herbal oil massage and try the herbal drinks offered here.
Taman Eko-Rimba Bukit Ayer - This recreational park is located 12 km from Kangar City and is close to the Perlis Snake Farm and is located in a very natural and attractive forest area for a variety of recreational activities. The chilly, clear waters of the tropical rainforest, and its waterfalls diverge into the pool below, making it an ideal location for picnics and relaxation
Al-Hussain Mosque ( Floating Mosque) - This mosque is located next to the Kuala Perlis Jetty and is said to be an iconic mosque in Perlis.
C
Capital
The capital for Perlis is Kangar, andand it is the largest town in Perlis.
Kangar existed from about 350 years ago, and the name Kangar was derived from a type of tree
Cafe
Same like other places in Malaysia, Perlis have few interesting cafés for you to try on too!
When you have the opportunity; drop by in any of the 'Top 5 Café in Perlis' - of course, we ranked them according to the reviews in TripAdvisor.
#5. Koffee Kitchen (Kangar)
Operation Hour : 12 PM - 9 PM
Location : No 27 Jalan Guar Syed Alwi, Kangar
#4. BIG tas'TEA (Arau)
Operation Hour : 1 PM - 10 PM
Location : Bumbung Lima, Batas Liku, Arau
#3. Clover Cafe (Kangar) - Non-Halal
Operation Hour : 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Location : No. 57 Jalan Jubli Perak, Kangar
#2. Pelo Kitchen Yibin Food and Beverages (Kangar) - Pork free
Operation Hour : 7:00 AM - 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Location : 315, Tingkat Bawah,Taman Pengkalan Asam, Jalan Kangar - Alor Setar
#1. Blackwood Coffee & Chocolate (Kangar & Arau)
Operation Hour :12 PM – 11.00 PM - Arau / 12 PM – 11.30 PM - Kangar
Location :
6/8 Persiaran Jubli Emas Galeri 28, Kangar - Kangar Outlet
Tingkat Bawah, Lot 3968, Kompleks Arau - Arau Outlet
F
Flag
The flag of Perlis consists of a horizontal bicoloured flag with equally proportionate bands of yellow on the upper half and dark blue on the lower half.
The yellow band represents the Raja of Perlis, while the blue represents the people; with the yellow band over the blue band, the flag attempts to signify the close relationship forged between the Raja and the people of Perlis.
Food
While some foods are generally loved throughout the country (like nasi lemak), each of the 13 states in Malaysia actually have their own unique dishes for which they are famous for.
So, what's the famous food of Perlis?
Ikan Bakar and Pulut Mempelam!
Ikan Bakar or simply; grilled fish is what Perlis are well known for (other than their Harum Manis Mango) obviously. The dish usually served with air asam (a spicy, sour dipping sauce) and special Perlis chilli sauce, made with various herbs and spices.
Pulut Mempelam or Mango Sticky Rice is 'a thing' over here. Yes, due to the distance with Thailand, it does incorporate some Thai influence in its food. This is most apparent with pulut mempelam, sticky rice with mango. The twist here is pulut mempelam is served only with local mempelam mango which is sweeter and much more fragrant.
Floating Market
Floating market would usually remind you of Asian countries like Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia but wait, Perlis has a floating market too!
Perlis floating market or locally known as Pasar Terapung JPS Perlis located at Kompleks JPS Perlis, Pengkalan Asam and it's open on Saturday and Sunday from 7.00AM -7.00PM.
The place has a beautiful lake with floating boats that vendors use as a stall to sell things from street food to drinks that can quench your thirst, you can get to buy them near the boat and have the same experience as when you visit a floating market in Thailand!
G
Getting To Perlis
For this guide, we use the starting point of the journey from Kuala Lumpur and end at Arau or Kangar. In this case, there are few options getting to Perlis from Kuala Lumpur.
Recommended : Train from KL Sentral - Arau.
The journey by train (ETS) would take about 5 and a half hour (max) and it cost RM76+/- (ETS Gold) or RM102+/- (ETS Platinum).
For both train, there are 2 departure time. 0705 hrs and 1033hrs for ETS Gold. 0920hrs and 1825 hrs daily.
Buy Train Ticket To Perlis Here
Cheaper Option : Bus from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) - Kangar.
Getting to Perlis is a cheaper option, but it consumes more time since the journey will take roughly about 7 hours depending on the bus you take.
There are 4 options or company that run trip from KL to Perlis; Transnasional, 4 times daily trip (~RM48), Plusliner, two trip per day (~RM52), Mayangsari, two trips per day (~RM53) and E-Mutiara Express, one trip daily (~RM50).
Alternative Option : Drive
If you have your own car, or want to take a road trip, you can always drive to Perlis. The distance from Kuala Lumpur to Perlis is about 485km, and it would take about 5 hours plus, depending on the speed you are driving at.
For petrol, again, it will depend on what car you are using. But it will be roughly around RM90 per trip. For toll, roughly around ~RM45
H
Hotel
For this part, we refer to the listing in Agoda.com, and and we found out that there is about 72 properties listed and out of the number, only 15 marked as hotel.
From the data, we can say that most of the hotel either located in Kangar or Arau, we didn't see any out of the two area (maybe we overlooked it too).
Here are the 'Top 4 Hotel In Perlis' :
Putra Regency Hotel, Kangar - 4 star
Seri Malaysia Hotel, Kangar - 3 star
Ants Hotel, Kangar - 3 star
Putra Brasmana Hotel, Kuala Perlis - 2 star
Hiking
Apart from being famous for its natural beauty, rice fields and other attractions, Perlis has always been a destination for hikers.
Among the famous trails are the Bukit Keteri, Bukit Chabang, Bukit Tok Dun, Pintu Wang Gunung and Bukit Lagi.
J
Jetty
Kuala Perlis Jetty or Terminal Feri Kuala Perlis is strategically situated within the town area that requires a short walking distance from Kuala Perlis Bus Terminal, which can be very convenient for travellers to get around town.
The Jetty connected Kuala Perlis to Langkawi and there are three ferry operators available in Kuala Perlis Jetty. These ferry operators are Langkawi Ferry Service, Langkawi Ro-Ro, and Langkawi Auto Express.
Ferry ride from Kuala Perlis takes up to 1 hour and 10 minutes and there are 7 trips daily. Schedule might be differ according to the dates of travelling but, the first ferry will depart at 7 am and the last one will leave Kuala Perlis at 7 pm.
R
Resort
Before we go further, do you know what is the different between a resort and a hotel?
Technically both are suitable facilities for temporary guests. The difference, in most cases, is that what is called Resort usually has additional sports and leisure facilities, framed in a natural environment and that attract the visitor beyond the room.
If we agree on this, there is only few accommodations in Perlis that can be consider a resort.
Tasoh Lake Resort & Retreat
Teratai Putih Restaurant Resort
Terinai Lakeview Resort
Restaurant
In Malaysia, there is something you don't need to worry about - FOOD!
As explained earlier, all states have their own unique food, desserts and more. As for Perlis, here are the top recommended restaurant.
1. Medan Ikan Bakar
Location: Kuala Perlis, Perlis, Malaysia
The Ikan Bakar in this stall is definitely one of the must-try dishes in Perlis. Besides of the well-cooked homemade Ikan Bakar, the stall also serves you various side dishes which you can eat together with the main course.
2. Hai Thien Seafood
Location: Kuala Perlis, Perlis
This restaurant is famous for the fresh seafood dishes it serves along with the reasonable price you will be paying for. The restaurant is particularly famous for its Thai style steam fish, which you must not forget to try when you are here!
3. Restaurant Anjung Keli
Location: Kangar
Craving for local Malay cuisines in Perlis? This is the restaurant you must go to. The restaurant offers different kinds of food mostly cooked with the Malay cooking style.
One of the best recommended foods in the restaurant is the ikan/keli sambal, which you will definitely put two thumbs up at the end of the meal!
S
Shopping Mall
If you are looking for a convenient and easy-to-access mall in Perlis, the Kayangan Square Mall would most probably meet your expectations. Bearing a long history in the city, the mall has been serving its customers for a long period of time.
Address: Kayangan Square Shopping Complex Jalan Penjara 01000 Kangar
Or you can go to Padang Besar. It is not a shopping mall, but it is one of the best places in Perlis if you intend to get yourself some of the unique local made products as a remembrance of your visit to the state.
This is also a place in which you will experience a totally different type of shopping experience when instead of seeing the usual stores and outlets, you will be expecting to see stalls after stalls blanketing the entire area.
Snake Park
The Snake and Reptile Farm in Perlis is the only Snake Farm ever built in Malaysia.The Snake and Reptile Farm in Perlis is the only Snake Farm ever built in Malaysia.
The main objective of the establishment of the Snake and Reptile Farm is to aid in the research in the production of anti - venom for local consumption by the Institute of Medical Research in Malaysia.
It was established with a showcase of about 200 snakes of 34 different species from Malaysia and also the other parts of the world including King Cobra and python.
The research facility and exhibition, 12 acres Snake and Reptile Farm of Perlis is surrounded by the Bukit Bintang Forest Reserve. It is located at Sungai Batu Pahat, in Perlis, Malaysia.
That's all about A-Z Questions frequently asked on the internet and mark the end of our A - Z Travel Guide To Perlis.
Hopefully we answer all your questions and if you are looking for travel and holiday packages to Perlis or anywhere else, you can always check our packages or contact us, we can arrange it for you.
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