Klang Travel Diary
Whenever the locals mention Klang, you’ll probably hear them talk about how crowded and over-populated the town has become, along with an unpleasant pollution index. It isn’t a surprise — Klang has been a major trading port of Malaysia since the past 200 years. But being a port city also means it has a population made up of a mix of races and religions. Consequently, Klang is a little bit of a haven when it comes to cultural heritage and authentic local food.
So if you happen to find yourself travelling through Klang, don’t be so sure there isn’t anything worth enjoying. I visited Klang with my family and ended spending a bit more time exploring as we uncovered more and more interesting nooks and crannies. Here are some places to visit in Klang and where to go for some Malaysian makan.
Best Places to Visit in Klang
Pulau Ketam, Port Klang
Photo Credit: @cassandra_ngim
Pulau Ketam is an island located 30-minutes by boat drive from the Port Klang jetty. It isn’t a beach castaway or swimming heaven, but the local life of this island is something beyond typical vacation trip. Majority inhabited by Chinese, Pulau Ketam is a unique discovery of fisherman’s village life. Our trip here was meant to be a short day trip, but my family and I ended up booking a guesthouse for an overnight stay.
For an easier exploration throughout the island, rent a bike to observe around the temple in this very small island. We got bikes for the whole family, cycled through the wet market, alleys and unique houses, passed by the fisherman’s boats port, the Buddhist temple and the local shop life.
Not to forget, do try their fresh and cheap seafood in any stall around here. Well, that’s the perk of being a fisherman’s village!
Royal Klang Heritage Area
Recently, Tourism Selangor has organised a free tour guide for visitors in Klang on every weekend at 9.00 a.m. We managed to see the other side of Klang we never knew. There were plenty historical and old heritage buildings that were the origin of the three primary races and religion of Malaysia. The 2.5-hour walk covered most landmarks in Klang — Klang Railway Station, Royal Gallery Sultan Abdul Aziz, Old Chartered Bank Building (now converted into saree shop), Sri Nagara Thendayuthapani Temple, Sultan Suleiman Royal Mosque, Kuan Yin Temple, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Raja Abdullah Warehouse and Alam Shah Palace.
Always remember to bring shades or umbrella as Malaysia’s heat is too much to handle!
Little India
We had some free time to ourselves during the day tour, and we spent it to explore Little India. This place is the heaven for shopaholics especially those who are looking for sarees, be it for personal use or as souvenirs. We also found lots of accessories, jewelry as well as Hindi arts along the rows of shops. Tucked between these shops were some hipster cafés, which served good cups of coffees.
Chong Kok Kopitiam
Located in front of Klang Railway Station, Chong Kok Kopitiam has always been my family’s favourite breakfast spot. It is not uncommon to see this kopitiam swarmed by customers from early morning till evening. What is best here is their roti bakar, half-boiled eggs, and nasi lemak served with your favourite kopi with a distinct blend.
What sets this kopitiam apart from the regular ones is the traditional charcoal stove they use to toast the bread and to cook their dishes!
Photo Creidt: @azalanshah
Nasi Kandar Tepi Sungai, Klang River
How about lunch? Nasi Kandar Tepi Sungai is always the to-go place for my family and me whenever we visit Klang. Located along the Klang River (opposite the center of the Klang Heritage area), this place offers an alfresco dining experience with an excellent view of Royal Klang Mosque across the river. The famous dish that attracts the long queue every day is their Curry Fish Head, and it is probably the best you can get in Klang. So, don’t miss it!
Photo Credit: @shurraj
AEON Bukit Tinggi, Klang
After the heavy lunch, we headed to Jusco Bukit Tinggi, which was also known as AEON Mall. It is one of the largest shopping centres in Klang with lots of food outlets, apparel retail stores, cinema and more. At first, my family and I just wanted to chill after the meal, and we needed a cooling place especially in the hot weather. Nevertheless, we ended up walking around the shops and getting some clothes and bags. They did offer a lot of varieties there!
Bamboo Biryani “Taste and See”, Taman Sri Andalas
Photo Credit: @iamjustinprabakaran
Photo Credit: @iamjustinprabakaran
I never heard about biryani rice cooked in a bamboo, until my family decided to check this place out. It was quite a distance from Klang Centre, but after trying the food, I would not mind spending the time and energy to go there again. There are a few options for the biryani: chicken, fish, and mutton — each type of meat is seasoned with different recipes of spice paste. Steaming the rice and meat in the bamboo does make a difference to the biryani as the rice soaks all the spices and meat juice during the cooking process. Definitely worth a return visit!
Need a Place to Stay?
For those of you who want to spend a few days in Klang, Premiere Hotel may be a good choice. It is strategically located in the center of Klang, and it offers a few dining options as well.