Have you ever wanted to do something out of the ordinary out of Kuala Lumpur? Something really off the beaten path? Well, you are in luck as Kuala Lumpur does have some uncommon places worth visiting.
Kuala Lumpur or KL as it is commonly called sits in the middle of the Klang Valley, which is the core of Selangor. As you may already know the regular touristic or Instagram worthy places, this list takes you to the next level.
Getting to some of the places mentioned here requires you to either rent a car or take a private car service for your transportation. Some of them can be done in a few hours while others may require a full day exploring.
Uncommon Places to Visit around Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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| Tanjung Sepat fishing village in Selangor |
A quaint little fishing town located in the Sepang area is one of the Selangor's little hidden secret. Here, you can literally explore Tanjung Sepat on foot as it is quite a small village.
Located about 1.5 hours from KL Sentral by car or 60 minutes from KLIA, the best time to explore here is in the mornings.
Located about 1.5 hours from KL Sentral by car or 60 minutes from KLIA, the best time to explore here is in the mornings.
When you get here, the first thing you can do is wander around the main town area and you will find the famous local Seafood Bak Kut Teh restaurants. This is one of the recommended places to have your brunch or lunch.
After your food, take a walk and look for the local coffee roaster, which is located in a wooden house. They are open to visitors and you can see how they roast the coffee inside. When don, buy some of the locally processed coffee beans as souvenirs.
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| A beautiful sunset at Tanjung Sepat. Photo by Aqmal Riezal. |
Your next stop will be the local Bao (Pau) factory, where you can see how these traditional Chinese buns are prepared. They have a small cafe where you can buy different types of Baos to sample. After this, head to the jetty area for a view of the Straits of Melaka. There is a wooden lovers bridge located here.
For further information, you can read my other article on what to do in Tanjung Sepat as I have narrowed down almost everything there is to do there.
Tanjung Sepat
Address: Jalan Besar, Selangor, Pekan Tanjung Sepat, 42800 Tanjung Sepat, Selangor
Open: All day/night
Best Time To Visit: Day Time
Tanjung Sepat
Address: Jalan Besar, Selangor, Pekan Tanjung Sepat, 42800 Tanjung Sepat, Selangor
Open: All day/night
Best Time To Visit: Day Time
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| The historical brick chimney at Batu Arang Town |
Once a colonial coal-mining town, this place dates back over a century ago when mining was at its peak in the early 1900s.
Now almost forgotten, remnants of the glory day are left standing. An old brick factory chimney stands majestically, towering over this quaint town in Selangor.
Now almost forgotten, remnants of the glory day are left standing. An old brick factory chimney stands majestically, towering over this quaint town in Selangor.
Visiting Batu Arang on a weekend is probably the best bet as you get to see how a laid back local life goes about on autopilot.
A Sunday outdoor market sells necessities versus modern-day bazaars, and you can find some stalls selling traditional cakes and food.
A Sunday outdoor market sells necessities versus modern-day bazaars, and you can find some stalls selling traditional cakes and food.
After arriving here, you can simply walk around, speaking to locals and savouring old world coffee shop food and drinks.
At one particular coffee shop, an Indian lady is seen making the famous Malaysian roti canai or flatbread.
Batu Arang is more of a place to discover what old towns used to look and feel like. Buildings and homes from decades ago still stand strong and you can easily spot the British colonial charm here.
This place is best visited with a local or someone who knows the area. Alternatively, you can drive here and venture with friends.
At one particular coffee shop, an Indian lady is seen making the famous Malaysian roti canai or flatbread.
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| One of the abandoned houses with character at Batu Arang. Photo Ah Pek Biker. |
This place is best visited with a local or someone who knows the area. Alternatively, you can drive here and venture with friends.
To get here, it takes about one hours drive from Kuala Lumpur. And you can also continue towards Kuala Selangor for some seafood on the same day.
Batu Arang Town
Address: Jalan Stesen, Batu Arang, 48100 Batu Arang, Selangor
Open: All day/night
Best Time To Visit: Day Time
Sekinchan Old Town
Batu Arang Town
Address: Jalan Stesen, Batu Arang, 48100 Batu Arang, Selangor
Open: All day/night
Best Time To Visit: Day Time
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| The colourful fishing village in Sekinchan |
Quite popular among the locals, Sekinchan is a coastal town near the border of Selangor and Perak. Many come here for the beautiful paddy fields when they are in the harvesting season. This is when the entire paddy fields are bright green in colour.
Usually, the visit here is best done in the mornings as you can spend more time exploring the paddy fields and then the old town area before heading to the beach area.
I would recommend renting a bicycle and cycling around the area is this would be the best way to see the entire Sekinchan village.
I would recommend renting a bicycle and cycling around the area is this would be the best way to see the entire Sekinchan village.
The beach is called Pantai Redang or Redang Beach and this is where you can find a Chinese temple with a special wishing tree.
Visitors can give a small donation for some red ribbons and you write your wish before throwing it up on the wishing tree.
For food, there are some seafood restaurants to try and for the photographers, there is a unique 100 feet watchtower overlooking the town and sea.
Climbing up here allows visitors to see the seascape and also the fishing village in the opposite direction.
Visitors can give a small donation for some red ribbons and you write your wish before throwing it up on the wishing tree.
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| A beautiful sunset at Sekinchan, Selangor. Photo Zhai Genji. |
Climbing up here allows visitors to see the seascape and also the fishing village in the opposite direction.
For the curious, visit the Sekinchan paddy processing factory where you can see how the entire process is done. Quite a learning experience if you ask me.
To get to Sekinchan, you can either self-drive for about two hours from Kuala Lumpur or take a special tour from some of the travel companies in Kuala Lumpur.
Sekinchan Address
Pekan Sekinchan, 45400 Sekinchan, Selangor
Open: All day/night\
Best Time To Visit: Day Time
To get to Sekinchan, you can either self-drive for about two hours from Kuala Lumpur or take a special tour from some of the travel companies in Kuala Lumpur.
Sekinchan Address
Pekan Sekinchan, 45400 Sekinchan, Selangor
Open: All day/night\
Best Time To Visit: Day Time
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| Dong Zen Temple in Jenjarom, Selangor |
For cultural lovers, this is one of the beautiful Buddhist temples that are off the mainstream tourist radar. FGS stands for Fo Guang Shan and this is probably one of the largest Buddhist temples in Malaysia with an area of 16,000 square feet.
Visitors that come here are usually locals but there has been a slight rise in foreigners also visiting here. Mainly, they want to see a more natural temple in Kuala Lumpur apart from the usual commercial places.
At FGS Dong Zen Temple Jenjarom, you can spend almost half a day here exploring this massive religious place. The main hall houses the largest copper Buddha statue in Malaysia which is 18 feet high.
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| Dong Zen Temple decorated during festivals |
An art museum called Buddha Guangyuan is also available for those who want to explore the local artist work.
Outside in the temple grounds, you can find a replica of the Lumbini Park, where it is said that Prince Siddhartha was born under a Bodhi tree at the original park.
Exploring further, you will come across a beautiful 25 feet high glass pagoda which is very special. This glass structure symbolizes bringing light to all things in the universe and eradicating darkness. A huge 4,200 feet lotus pond is also in the vicinity, allowing visitors to take photos here.
Outside in the temple grounds, you can find a replica of the Lumbini Park, where it is said that Prince Siddhartha was born under a Bodhi tree at the original park.
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| A lotus pond with statues at FGS Dong Zen Temple |
After spending a day exploring this place, there is a Chinese and Western vegetarian restaurant called Drip where you can have your meals, or just sit for a cup of Chinese tea.
There are many other attractions at the Dong Zen Temple which I have not listed as it is best to explore on your own. To get here, you need to rent a car and drive here, and it takes about two hours from Kuala Lumpur city.
FGS Dong Zen Temple, Jenjarom
Address: PT 2297, Jalan Sungai Buaya, Kampung Jenjarom, 42600 Kuala Langat, Selangor
Hours: 10.00 AM to 6.00 PM (Closed Monday)
Phone: +6 03 3191 1533
Best Time To Visit: Day Time, and night time during festivals
FGS Dong Zen Temple, Jenjarom
Address: PT 2297, Jalan Sungai Buaya, Kampung Jenjarom, 42600 Kuala Langat, Selangor
Hours: 10.00 AM to 6.00 PM (Closed Monday)
Phone: +6 03 3191 1533
Best Time To Visit: Day Time, and night time during festivals
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| Waterfalls at Sungai Tekala Forest Reserve |
One of the lesser-visited forest reserves is the Sungai Tekala Forest Reserve, located about one hours drive from KL city centre. This beautiful rainforest dipterocarp forest boasts of crystal clear waters, lush greenery and minor wildlife.
One thing great about this forest reserve in KL is that the place is quite well maintained with proper walkways and basic facilities.
However, the bad side is visiting this place on weekends or school holidays as it can get really crowded with locals.
I would highly recommend visiting the Sungai Tekala Recreational Park on a weekday to avoid any crowds, and if you want some peace and quiet hiking or trekking here.
The park is open from 7.00 AM to 6.00 PM and is free admission, but one website stats there is a minimal fee of RM1.00 per person. Check out the 1.5 km jungle trek and also the local waterfall when you visit here.
To get here, you can either book a tour from the local tour companies in KL, or best is by renting a car and self-driving here.
Sungai Tekala Recreational Park
Pejabat Hutan Daerah Selangor Tengah,
KM11(Batu 7), Jalan Cheras,
43200 Cheras, Selangor.
Tel: 603 – 9075 2885
Best Time To Visit: Day Time
One thing great about this forest reserve in KL is that the place is quite well maintained with proper walkways and basic facilities.
However, the bad side is visiting this place on weekends or school holidays as it can get really crowded with locals.
I would highly recommend visiting the Sungai Tekala Recreational Park on a weekday to avoid any crowds, and if you want some peace and quiet hiking or trekking here.
The park is open from 7.00 AM to 6.00 PM and is free admission, but one website stats there is a minimal fee of RM1.00 per person. Check out the 1.5 km jungle trek and also the local waterfall when you visit here.
To get here, you can either book a tour from the local tour companies in KL, or best is by renting a car and self-driving here.
Sungai Tekala Recreational Park
Pejabat Hutan Daerah Selangor Tengah,
KM11(Batu 7), Jalan Cheras,
43200 Cheras, Selangor.
Tel: 603 – 9075 2885
Best Time To Visit: Day Time
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| Rainforest at Sungai Tekala, Selangor. Photo MyItchyBackside. |
Conclusion
The above information has been compiled personally by me, the writer and have been to these places, I can say that I have experienced all of these uncommon places around Kuala Lumpur.
This is also created for those wanting to do something out of the ordinary, or visit some off the beaten path places in Kuala Lumpur, which is not mentioned in travel guide books.
Most visitors would always want to visit the common and popular tourist places, and you can find quite a lot of information on them, but it is the uncommon places around Kuala Lumpur that makes it much more interesting.