Top 9 Places to Visit in Klang

Top 9 Places to Visit in Klang through Royal Klang Town Heritage Walk (Free Guided Walking Tour)

The Royal Klang Town Heritage Walk is a program jointly organized by Tourism Selangor and Klang Municipal Council. Known as one of the oldest towns in Malaysia, Klang is rich in history, tradition and customs. The town began at the southern bank of the Klang River, which has been known about throughout the world in producing tin as early as the 15th century. Klang became the royal capital before it was changed to Kuala Lumpur. The Royal Klang Town Heritage Walk (RKTHW) is a free guided walk tour aims to highlight Klang’s charm, character and unique attractions including clusters of colonial sights, places of worship, a school, fire station, royal gallery, and warehouse built by a local Malay chieftain.

Here I listed a few interesting places one should not miss when joining the Royal Klang Town Heritage Walk :

1. Sultan Abdul Aziz Gallery

The gallery is about the former Selangor Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah. The museum building was initially constructed as Sultan Sulaeman Building in 1909. 

During the British Malaya, the British government used the building as the land and administration office. During the Japanese rule of Malaya, it was used as war headquarter. After the independence of Malaya in 1957, it was used as Klang District office. The museum was initially opened in 1988 as the Memorial Museum. The gallery was officiated on 19 October 2007 by Sultan Sharafuddin.

Strangely, I found a pair of marble lion in the gallery compound which is uncommon since the lion usually found at Chinese place. Well, according to the record, the marble lions were given by Chinese Dato of Selangor to the late Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Alam. They were then relocated to here by Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah on January 2007. The right one is a female with a cub below its paw and the left is a male with a ball below its paw.

The replica model of the palace was presented by Royal Pewterer in 1996.

Raja Saidatul Ihsan is the first wife of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz and mother of current Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah. She passed away at 88 years old.

A wooden chair of Philippines. A rooster used for cock fighting would be kept under the chair. Cock fighting is still a popular traditional game in that country. 

Visiting hours for the gallery: 

Tuesday - Sunday (10am -5pm) ~ closed on public holiday

2. Chartered Bank

The old Chartered Bank of India, Australia & China began financial business in Singapore in 1859 and Penang 1875. As such, the Dutch styled building could have been built about the late 1800’s as it housed the Chartered Bank branch in Klang Town.

European Style had influenced the architecture of Malaya especially the styles that were modified according to the tropical climate and combined with architecture influence of Malay, Classical Portuguese, Dutch and English. 

The  so-called Chartered Bank is no more available. Chennai Silk Sarees took over the place. The building main structure is remained but some being modified for business purpose. I have no idea how the building looks in original way but the ceiling of the basement fitting room looks grand.

The main building could have been used for the banking business, with covered footbridges connected to an annex which could have housed the living quarters of the employees and stables for horses and carriages – as observed from its carriage house type of doorways.

This building certainly has Dutch influences with unique Dutch Gables. (A Dutch gable or Flemish gable is a gable whose sides have a shape made up of one or more curves and has a pediment at the top).

Opening hours:

Daily (9am- 10pm)

3. Royal Klang Club

Reliable sources stated that Klang Club was founded in 1901, at the present location, for the purpose of the social and recreational activities of the colonial members mainly British and European civil servants and businessmen. 

During the Japanese Occupation (1942-45), the Klang Club was used as a recreational mess for Japanese army officers stationed in Klang and Port Swettenham. Fortunately, it survived the ravages of war and escaped without any damage for the duration of the war. 

Following the return of the British in 1945, it became once again the centre of European leisure time activities in Klang. Up to the attainment of independence by the Federation of Malaya in 1957, it remained a “European Only” club whereby the members were European planters, businessmen and professionals and British Civil servants and military personnel. 

Beginning from 1957, the “Europeans only” policy was gradually changed and carefully selected Malaysians were admitted as members.

Royal Klang Club is located at the hillside before we reach Alam Shah Palace. It does not look grand and like a normal building from its exterior. However, the property is gated and guarded. The club membership fee is RM10k + for the first timer. Outsiders are not allowed to enter. 

But if you join the Royal Klang Town Heritage Walk jointly organized by Tourism Selangor & MPK, you are granted permission to enter in group. Royal Klang Club consisted of the old main building. This consisted of a hall including lounge area, and an office, small dining area, bar and billiards room downstairs.

There are antique which we never see before found in this place. The big creature above is a compass used in a ship in old days.

And I like this antique chair which can rotate 360 degree. It was said that the chair is created for businessmen to sit and chat around without having to turn the chairs over.

I was told that the floor was actual installment of an old ship. The place used as a dining area for the club members. The red and green lamp as marine navigation lights were hang at the left and right side of the vessel to avoid collision especially during night time.

4. Alam Shah Palace

Alam Shah Palace is an official palace of the Sultan of Selangor, located in southern Klang. The palace was built in 1905 during the rule of Sultan Sir Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah, who was the fifth Sultan of Selangor. The Sultan went on to live in the palace for 35 years until his death in 1938. The palace has 15 rooms and was built using wood and marble.

The palace is bit hidden from the roadside by the tall trees and plants.

Julie told us that this is where the old palace, Mahkota Puri Palace was built and demolished by Sultan Hishamuddin Alam Shah to build the new Alam Shah Palace. But he passed away before its completion.

The helicopter, plane and war truck belongs to Sultan are parked at the park in front of the palace.

The main entrance of Alam Shah Palace looks quiet without any sight of tourists taking pictures at the front gate.

5. Klang District Hospital (former)/ Jogging Park (now)

The "old" Klang District Hospital near Istana Alam Shah was a place one would send his enemies to in case of an emergency. It was under-staffed, over-crowded and the facilities were wanting. Over the years, it made headlines for all the wrong reasons including the delivery of a baby in a garage meant for ambulances. 

Things were so bad that the late Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah made periodic visits to the hospital, unannounced to check on the conditions there. "On each visit, I would find myself there and hear the dressing down he gave the hospital director" (source online). Even after becoming a "general hospital", it continued making news for wrong amputations and for plaster casts on the wrong leg. It was the Sultan’s concerted effort that brought about the brand new hospital in Jalan Banting in the eighties. Its status was upgraded and it is now called the Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, named after the Sultan’s wife.

The hospital was demolished and transformed into a park. All trees at the park are labeled with QR code. The information about the plant will appear once scanned.

6. Church of Our Lady of Lourdes

This church is located at Jalan Tengku Kelana, Klang. The design of the church follows the style of a Roman-Gothic architecture. At initial stage, the church was mainly to serve Catholic Indian migrant who worked in rubber plantation, tin mining, railway construction and public sector. Before the church is built, the pilgrims need to walk down the road to a wooden hut which the priest would come to serve the mass every month from Kuala Lumpur St John Church.

In 1923, Father Souhait was directed to take charge of the spiritual needs of the Catholic residents in Klang and surrounding districts. He was soon aware of the need of a permanent church buildings and set about to acquire the present site. Eventually he succeeded in getting the land where the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes and Sekolah Menengah Convent now stand reserved for worship. 

Father Souhait was a student of architecture before taking up Holy Orders. He played a large part in the design of the church building, modelling it on the pilgrimage church in Lourdes, France.

According to Julie, the floral design in the middle is built according to France design.

7. Convent School

Also operating within the same compound are Sekolah Kebangsaan Convent (1) & (2) Klang, the two primary schools which act as feeders for the secondary school. It was a co-ed school before transformed into a girl school in 1930. It is said to have a similar design with Bukit Nanas Convent School and built in a cross shape. The school does not have any chapel as the church next to it serve as one.

8. Little India

A shopping haven especially for Indian community where items imported from India are sold.

Indian shop

Indian gold jewellery

Indian traditional wear - saree

Palm reading and fortune reading (with the use of a bird) by an old Indian man at the balcony. However, the Indian man can not converse in English, therefore we need to find a translator if we wanna try the service.

9. Southern Klang Fire Station

Dating back to the 1890s, Klang Fire Station is the first fire station in Klang. This vividly red-and-white-striped fire station has occupied the same Victorian-style building.

The beautiful Victorian-style construction was built primarily to safeguard the town from fires. It is located at the junction of Jalan Tengku Diaudin and Jalan Tengku Kelana, overlooking the bridge on the latter road. Today, the building still serves as a fire station. Though it has been renovated throughout the years to accommodate modern use, the main structure and architectural design features are well maintained, keeping intact the way it looked a hundred years ago.

There is a small museum here dedicated to the history of Klang’s fire service. There are exhibitions featuring old sirens, uniforms, firefighting equipment across the ages and other memorabilia.

The wind-up siren from 1945 that could made a very loud noise when someone spins it.

The mystery safe box placed at the small museum here is waiting for "Sherlock Holmes" to unlock it one day. The box has been used since 1920 and the key is lost until now. What contains inside becomes a mystery!

The  Royal Klang Town Heritage Walk journey starts from the Royal Gallery of Sultan Abdul Aziz, following by the visit to the old building of Chartered Bank, Royal Klang Club, Alam Shah Palace, the site of demolished Klang Hospital, Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Convent High School, Little India, and finally fire brigade. 

FREE-GUIDED WALKING TOUR: ROYAL KLANG HERITAGE WALK

Discover over 9 places of interest. Entry to exclusive venues only on this walk
Duration: 2.5 hrs walk

Time: 9.00am – 11.45am
Language: English
Day: Every Saturday and Sunday
Admission: FREE!


Meeting point & Registration:
Royal Gallery Sultan Abdul Aziz (9.00am – 9.15am)


How to get there:
- By car (Search Royal Gallery Sultan Abdul Aziz)
- By train, stop at KTM Komuter Klang Station & walk about 100m to the Royal Gallery Sultan Abdul Aziz
* Walk conducted by professional Tourist Guides


For pre-registration & group registration, please contact:
1) Phone:
Tourism Selangor (Product Department)
+603-55132000

• Person in charge:

1) Mr Fadhirul Anuar Salleh (Project Manager)
2) Mrs Sarimah Hashim


2) Email:
product@tourismselangor.my