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Bukit Malawati Hill in Kuala Selangor

Bukit Malawati Hill in Kuala Selangor

kuala-selangor-bukit-malawat-hill-light-house-lighthouse Bukit Malawati Hill in Kuala Selangor

Bukit Melawati Hill is located in the coastal town of Kuala Selangor in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. 

This hill which some refer to as Bukit Selangor is well known as in the late 1700s, the second Sultan of Selangor state, had this fort built on top of the hill to protect the state from intruders.

There were also cannons places along the Melawati Fort which the main purpose was to defend Selangor from the invading Dutch.

The irony was that the Dutch did invade and take over the fort and reinforced it by placing better Dutch made cannons which you see there now.

This place was also once called Fortress Altingsburg when the Dutch were in power a few hundred years ago.

Bukit Malawati Hill in Kuala Selangor

kuala-selangor-bukit-malawati-hill-tram-ride Bukit Malawati Hill in Kuala Selangor
The tram ride up the hill on weekends

Getting up to the Malawati Hill can be done via booking the tractor-tram ride or walking on weekends. On weekdays, you can simply drive all the way up there.

Well, for my visit here, I decided to walk up as it only took about 10 to 15 minutes to reach the top plus I needed the exercise. It would be much better to walk up as there is much to see along the way. 

kuala-selangor-bukit-malawati-hill-graveyard Bukit Malawati Hill in Kuala Selangor
Traitors grave at Bukit Malawati Hill
While walking up, I saw much much more than the tram ride. I came across a graveyard which I am still unsure if this is the ‘Traitors Grave’ as it is called.

Back then, this was the site where traitors and enemies were captured and beheaded in the Sultanate era. However, there is little information on this here. 

kuala-selangor-bukit-malawati-hill-amphiteater-stage Bukit Malawati Hill in Kuala Selangor
Outdoor Amphitheater at Bukit Malawati

There was also an amphitheater there which was recently built in the last few years. Nothing special was happening so I moved on to the Poison Well. I think you can see from the picture of what the Poison Wells purpose was.

kuala-selangor-bukit-malawati-poison-well-pirigi-racun Bukit Malawati Hill in Kuala Selangor
The poison well at Bukit Melawati
kuala-selangor-bukit-malawati-hill-poisoned-well Bukit Malawati Hill in Kuala Selangor
Bukit Malawati Poison well information

On reaching the top of Bukit Melawati, you will be greeted by a beautiful lighthouse called Altingsburg Lighthouse and no one is allowed inside unless you apply for a special permit.

This beautiful lighthouse was built in 1907 and named after the then Dutch Governor. It is also surrounded by a fence and the lighthouse is still in use till today.

There is also the lookout point where you are supposed to see the beautiful coastline of Selangor in the distance.

kuala-selangor-bukit-malawati-old-fort-cannon-kota-diraja Bukit Malawati Hill in Kuala Selangor
Dutch Cannons wrapped in yellow cloth

When I visited this place on June 2009, the current Sultan of Selangor was undergoing an operation in the United States of America.

And because of this, it was instructed that all places in the state of Selangor would have to bear yellow cloth as a symbol of respect and well wishes for the Sultans speedy recovery.

So all the Dutch cannons in Bukit Melawati were wrapped in yellow cloth which is the royal color for 44 days.

kuala-selangor-bukit-malawati-hill-map-guide Bukit Malawati Hill in Kuala Selangor
Bukit Melawati map

There is a map of the entire Malawati Hill at the lookout point and there are some vendors selling drinks and snacks on weekends too. It can get crowded on Saturdays and Sundays.

kuala-selangor-bukit-malawati-mausoleum-makam-diraja-selangor-kota Bukit Malawati Hill in Kuala Selangor
Bukit Malawati Royal Mausoleum

There is also the Royal Mausoleum in Bukit Melawati where the 3 graves of the first 3 Sultans of Selangor are buried. I did not go in as they were closed for the day at 5.00 pm.

kuala-selangor-bukit-malawati-royal-mausoleum-makam-diraja-sultan-selangor Bukit Malawati Hill in Kuala SelangorRoyal Mausoleum information

One last attraction up here at the Malawati Hill is the Kuala Selangor History Museum which I did not visit too. Not much of a museum fan.

Other than that, there is generally not much to do up here so many locals and some tourists will visit this place for about an hour or two. Mostly in the evenings, you may see some locals walking or jogging there.

The star attraction of the Melawati Hill is actually the Silver Leafed Monkeys that loiter around the area seeking food from the visitors.

silver-leafed-monkeys-kuala-selangor Bukit Malawati Hill in Kuala Selangor
Silverleaf Monkeys at Bukit Malawati
So my next blog will be about this strange Silverleaf monkeys that make Bukit Melawati their home were hanging around at the right times will get them free food. What an easy life!

How To Go To Bukit Malawati Hill? 

Driving to Bukit Malwati Hill

  • To Self Drive there – Head to Sri Damansara or Sungai Buloh road.
  • Use Waze or Google Maps or any other GPS system.
  • There are signboards along the main route to Kuala Selangor.
  • From KL city, head to Jalan Kuching, turn off at Jalan Ipoh/Kepong turning and keep left. Passing Jinjang, Kepong then Sri Damansara. Head towards Sungai Buloh and follow Kuala Selangor.
  • From PJ city, head on the LDP Highway to Sri Damansara passing 1Utama, Curve, Toll, keep left to Sungai Buloh and head to Kuala Selangor.

An alternate way to Bukit Malawati

  • An alternate way would be from to drive from Klang and head towards Kapar, and then to Kuala Selangor.
  • Best is to self-drive here unless you are a tourist, there are travel agents who have packages that visit here.
  • Use Waze or Google Maps to find Bukit Malawati.
  • This place is child-friendly as I see many families here with children.
  • Great place to expose your children to nature especially the monkeys. But keep an eye on them.
  • If you are coming all the way to see this, then make additional plans like going for a seafood dinner in Kuala Selangor or Kampung Penampang village.
  • Also, make a stop to purchase some fresh seafood or dried seafood goods from Penampang Village.

Bukit Malawati Ticket Information

  • There is no entrance charge to visit Melawati Hill.
  • Tram Ride Tickets on weekends:
  • Adults: RM 2.00
  • Children: RM 1.00
  • Opening Times: 9am to 4.30pm
  • But you can stay there after 4.30pm to catch the sunset
Conclusion

This place is great to visit on the weekends, as a day trip before heading to see the Kuala Selangor Fireflies. Around the main area here, you can also visit the fishing village of Kuala Selangor. 

For visitors to Malaysia, a recommended option is to take a day trip from Kuala Lumpur to Bukit Melawati Hill in Kuala Selangor, and many tour companies offer this package.

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Borneo Falcon

I read stories that this place is haunted

comments user
MsXeRoZ Nicole

Haunted by a bunch of monkeys that will horde you when they see FOOD!!!

Hey, you make the place look so clean and beautiful..hahas

comments user
Anonymous

Thanks for sharing this. Have never heard of this place. Another interesting place to check out in the future.

To get there one has to drive from KL/PJ towards Klang and on to Kuala Selangor?

comments user
Malaysia Asia

BF, really, I must have missed that. Usually I talk to the vendors selling stuff, no mention of it.

Nicole, LOL you make it sound like I cleaned it up before photographing the place. No lah, it was quite clean when I got there.

Mei, It is, but go to check out the FireFlies at Kampung Kuantan after this place.

Actually, you take the Sri Damansara-Sungai Buloh road, from there head to Kuala Selangor. Lots of road signs along the way. I should update this in the blog too. Thanks!

David

comments user
CathJ

Nice photo.. I visit this place twice but never covered all..lol..

Thanks for sharing ^_^

comments user
haan

first photo is very nice!!

comments user
louisebah

hi David! so glad i found your blog; am thinking of paying a visit to the lighthouse!

comments user
raja zahar

In 1950/60 I use to live in the house now converted to museum. I was 9 years old then but I can still remember…had no friend but a faithful Alsatian dog named 'baby'. The lighthouse, cannons,head chopping block, poison well and the beautiful garden surrounding the hill was our playground. In the day time we roam all corners of the hill and chasing the silver-leaf monkey (lotong) manacing my mother's kitchen. The place back then was a 'botanical garden' with colourful flowers all over. Varieties of butterfly can be seen at its natural state. At night it was no fun for me. I had to sleep alone in the end large room. Often I cried in my blanket, afraid of the sound of the night and shadows created by the passing light from the lighthouse. There were 'stories' about the house and that disturb my mind further. There use to be a track with 100 steps at the back of the hill leading to the town. I hike up and down this step with 'baby' to the bus and to school. At that time there was no bridge but a tug-boat ferry. The public had to wait and queue and this contribute to the 'happening' in town. Bukit Melawati then, was an attraction not only because of its fence less beautiful garden but also because of its Government Rest house that served delicious and quality Western and Chinese food. Service was then like 5 star rating because its customers were mostly VIPs. If the local authorities then can put Bkt Melawati as 'THE' attraction, why not now?

comments user
Durango

Its not all of the cannons is dutch.Some of them is Malay cannons including the Penggawa Cannon.

comments user
balqisfz

every time i go to my grandparent's house at kuala selangor, we will visit this place. again & again 🙂

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