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Ipoh

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Ipoh is the capital city of the Malaysian state of Perak. It is located in the central part of Peninsular Malaysia. The city sits within the karstic Kinta Valley region. This area is defined by its unique limestone landscapes. Ipoh lies on the banks of the Kinta River. It is also near the confluence of the Sungai Pinji and Sungai Pari rivers. Geographically, it is positioned north of Kuala Lumpur. It is also southeast of George Town in the state of Penang.

IPOH TOWN
IPOH TOWN

The physical landscape of Ipoh is shaped by dramatic geological features. Large limestone hills known as mogotes surround the city. These outcrops appear to the northeast, east, and southeast. The Keledang mountain range also defines the city's borders. This range stretches from the north to the west. It runs parallel to the Bintang mountain range. The Pelus River, a tributary of the Perak River, interrupts this range to the north. The climate in Ipoh is a tropical rainforest climate. It is also described as an equatorial climate. This is because the city is influenced by the Intertropical Convergence Zone. Temperatures remain very consistent throughout the year. Rainfall is high, with October being the wettest month. January is typically the driest month.

Ipoh is famous for its limestone caves and temples. These caves are located within the mogotes. Some people have built Buddhist temples inside these natural structures. Notable examples include the Sam Poh Tong Temple and Kek Lok Tong. Kek Lok Tong is also called the Cavern of Utmost Happiness. Other significant cave temples are Ling Sen Tong, Nan Tian Tong, Kwan Yin Tong, and Perak Tong. South of the city, there is Gua Tempurung near Gopeng. This is a large show cave that is popular with spelunkers. It is over 3,000 meters long. The cave contains five large chambers. These chambers are filled with speleothems, which are mineral formations like stalactites and stalagmites. A river passage runs through about 1,000 meters of the hill.

The history of Ipoh is closely tied to the mining industry. Originally, Ipoh was just a small village. This changed in the 1880s when huge tin deposits were discovered nearby. The Kinta River valley was very rich in tin. This discovery caused the settlement to grow rapidly. In 1892, the Great Fire of Ipoh destroyed over half of the town. This disaster led to a new, orderly grid pattern during rebuilding. By 1895, Ipoh was the second largest town in the Federated Malay States. This group included Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, and Pahang. The city grew again during the tin rushes of the 1920s and 1930s. In 1937, Ipoh replaced Taiping as the capital of Perak. During World War II, Japanese forces invaded on 15 December 1941. After the British liberated Malaya, Ipoh remained the state capital.

The economy of Ipoh has shifted significantly over time. In the past, the city was one of the richest in Southeast Asia due to tin. However, tin prices collapsed in the 1970s. This caused the city to suffer from decades of decline. Many people left to find work in other Malaysian cities. Today, tourism is a main driver of the local economy. People visit to see the colonial-era architecture and the food scene. Ipoh is also a corporate hub. It hosts the headquarters of several large companies. These include Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad and the pharmaceutical company Hovid Berhad. The food giant Old Town White Coffee also originated here. Many foreign multinational companies also have Malaysian headquarters in the city.

Ipoh is a major transportation hub in West Malaysia. It is positioned between the large cities of Kuala Lumpur and George Town. The North-South Expressway cuts through the city. The Malayan Railway's West Coast Line also serves the area. Travelers can arrive by air at the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport.

Sultan Azlan Shah Airport
Sultan Azlan Shah Airport

The Ipoh Railway Station is a very grand building. Locals often call it the "Taj Mahal of Ipoh."

Ipoh Railway Station by Fairus Khafiz Photo
Ipoh Railway Station by Fairus Khafiz Photo

The modern Electric Train System (ETS) connects Ipoh to Seremban. This service can reduce the travel time to 120 minutes. For bus travel, people use the Amanjaya Integrated Bus Terminal.

Ipoh-amanjaya-bus-terminal
Ipoh-amanjaya-bus-terminal

The city is also served by the Medan Kidd terminal near the railway station.

The city has a diverse and large population. As of the 2020 census, Ipoh had 759,952 residents. This makes it the ninth-largest city in Malaysia. It is also the fourth most populous state capital. The urban structure is polycentric and decentralized. This means the city is spread out across many neighborhoods. The historic Old Town is the cultural and heritage core. It features many heritage streets and cafes.

Concubine Lane 1
Concubine Lane 1

Other major activities happen in suburbs like Greentown and Bercham. Because the city is spread out, it is largely car-dependent. The population is ethnically diverse. In 2010, the largest group was Chinese at 44.11 percent. The Bumiputera group made up 38.55 percent. Indians accounted for 14.07 percent of the population. This diversity is reflected in the local cuisine, which includes Malay, Chinese, and Indian dishes.

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🖼️ Images & Media (8)
File:IPOH TOWN.png
IPOH TOWN.png
File:Ipoh City Council.jpg
Ipoh City Council.jpg
File:Concubine Lane 1.jpg
Concubine Lane 1.jpg
File:Sultan Azlan Shah Airport.JPG
Sultan Azlan Shah Airport.JPG
File:Ipoh Railway Station by Fairus Khafiz Photo.jpg
Ipoh Railway Station by Fairus Khafiz Photo.jpg
File:Ipoh-amanjaya-bus-terminal.jpg
Ipoh-amanjaya-bus-terminal.jpg
File:BAS.MY Ipoh Launching Ceremony - ANS 4958 (250224).jpg
BAS.MY Ipoh Launching Ceremony - ANS 4958...
File:PerakStd.jpg
PerakStd.jpg
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