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

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. 

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. 

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.

The poison well at Bukit Melawati

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.

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.

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.

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.

Royal 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.

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.