I had the opportunity to visit and explore Klang through The Royal Klang Town Heritage Walk (RKTHW) Merdeka Merdeka Edition program jointly organized by Tourism Selangor, Klang Municipal Council (MPK), Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery and Keretapi Tanah Melayu Railway Berhad (KTMB) on my birthday last weekend and it was a real blast.

If you followed me on my Facebook, you’ll probably know that the entire KTM coach celebrated my birthday for me and sang me a birthday song and it rendered me speechless. Now, that’s really something that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. Talk about hospitality, theirs definitely exceeds expectations. Thank you KTMB and Tourism Selangor for that arrangement. It means a lot to me.

Anyway, my family and I have been to Klang a couple of times, as we have family and friends living in Klang, but certainly not via KTM Komuter. My husband and I usually drove over whenever we’re visiting our family or friends in Klang.

Traveling via train to Klang is quite an eye opening experience for me. Unlike driving, I find that traveling via rail is much more relaxing and I can see sceneries that I’ve never seen before while on the road. Truly inspirational, I must say. Having said that, I’ll be making a point to travel by rail more often from this moment onwards.

The journey to Klang KTM station from KL Sentral takes just about 1hour. In case you’re wondering, the train fare was RM4.50 for one way trip if you use Touch&Go and RM5.20 if you pay cash. Considering the distance, I must say that the trip was really worth your money. To plan your trip via KTM Komuter, hop over HERE.

Klang, or officially Royal Town of Klang, is a royal town and the former capital of the state of Selangor, Malaysia. Klang is commonly known for it’s food and cultural diversity among the locals, but there’s more to Klang than just its’ seafood or the well known Bak Kut Teh or “Meat Bone Tea”.

The district of Klang existed even before Malacca and was part of the colonial Sri Vijaya and Majapahit governments. The name originated from the Mon-Khmer language “klong” which means warehouse. Klang became important only after the decline of Kuala Selangor following the death of Sultan Muhammad in 1857. In 1875, Klang was chosen as the capital city of Selangor but was replaced by Kuala Lumpur in 1880.

Historical sites in the oldest part of the royal town of Klang in Selangor are covered in the Klang Heritage Walk. During the walk you will be able to see clusters of colonial sights, places of worship, schools, fire station, royal gallery, and a warehouse built by a local Malay chieftain.

As a royal town and former capital of Selangor, Klang is characterized by historic buildings and quaint, traditional structures. Here’s sharing with you some historic sites that are covered in the Klang Heritage Walk:

1. Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery

The Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery. The gallery is about the former Selangor Sultan, the 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 displays the history and heritage of Sultanate of Selangor since 1766 with more than 2,000 artifacts.The gallery is opened everyday except Mondays from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Location Address: 3, Jalan Stesen, Kawasan 1, 41000 Klang, Selangor

2. Old Chartered Bank/Chennai Silk Palace

This building used to be a bank in the olden days. The Chartered Bank. Old Chartered Bank no more though. It is now the home to the Chennai Silk Palace, an Indian boutique shop right in the heart of Klang. Yes, people. This is where you can find latest fashion trends from Bollywood before anywhere else. And the best part of it all? They offer really competitive price.

Location Address: No. 1, Jalan Istana, Selangor, Jalan Istana, klang, Kawasan 1, 41000 Klang, Selangor

3. The Royal Klang Club

Third checkpoint during heritage walk is the Royal Klang Club. Head out of rhe Old Chartered Bank Building (the Chennai Silk Palace) and walk over the slope along Jalan Istana, you’d find yourselves in front of the Kelab Diraja Klang (Royal Klang Club). The Royal Klang Club is a social and recreational club established back in 20th century for the British expats in the then Malaya. The place was exclusively for Brits only back then, but access to the Club these days is opened to everyone. While access to the Club is granted only to members, The Royal Klang Heritage Walk participants will get to have a sneak preview of what’s inside the main building of the Club. There’s more than the meet the eyes, this one. You got to enter the building to see for yourselves what’s inside.

Location Address: Jalan Istana, Kawasan 1, 41000 Klang, Selangor

4. Istana Shah Alam

Next, the tour will bring you to Istana Alam Shah, the official palace for Selangor’s royal ceremonies and investitures. The palace was built in the mid-20th century and is open to the public twice a week for a visit. The visits usually includes includes a guided tour of some rooms and halls in the Palace building, Muzium Bolasepak (Football Museum) Istana Alam Shah and a tour of the Royal Automobile Gallery. The Palace tour, however, is not covered during Royal Klang Heritage Walk though. You will need another arrangement for that.

Location Address: Jalan Istana, Kawasan 1, 41000 Klang, Selangor

5. The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes Klang.

This Gothic, Notre-Dame looking- architecture is known as Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, a Catholic church built in the early 20th century initially to cater for the Indian Catholic community who have settled down in the area. Right next to the church is a school building that is home to 3 different convent schools established just a few years after the church was built.

Location Address No. 114, Jalan Tengku Kelana, Kawasan 1, 41000 Klang, Selangor

6. Little India(Jalan Tengku Kelana)

A short straight walk along Jalan Tengku Kelana from the church and the convent schools will bring you to Klang’s Little India. There’s something really ironic about this place. The Little India, which is one of Malaysia’s largest Indian street, actually grew out of an old Chinese settlement. Be prepared. Once you’re here, you’ll have sensory overload. There are loads of dazzling sarees, spices, Indian desserts, snacks and whatnot. And oh, you’ll be hearing Bollywood hit songs in the air as well. You will be treated to the scent of spices, flowers from the garlands, and perhaps curries from the many restaurants that scattered on the street. Shophaholics will take pleasure in this place too. Discounts on goods aplenty. However, the The Royal Klang Town Heritage Walk (RKTHW) is not meant for a shopping trip nor a food hunting trail. Should you want to indulge yourselves in a shopping spree or a food hunt at the Little India, plan another independant trip another time.

Location Address: Jalan Tengku Kelana, Klang, Selangor 41000

7. Masjid India/Masjid Tengku Kelana

Located nearby Little India is a mosque. The mosuqe is commonly known as Masjid India Klang or Klang Indian Mosque. The mosque was established in the early 20th century for the Indian Muslim community in the area.

Location Address: Jalan Tengku Kelana, Kawasan 1, 41200 Klang, Selangor

8. Klang Fire Station/Muzium Balai Bomba

Klang Fire Station is housed in a small, white & red Victorian building that was built in the late 19th century. The colour scheme reminds me of the Japanese flag. Initially I thought it was a little souvenir left by the Japanese following their occupation back in the 1940s but there’s nothing Japanese anout this as it was built at late 19th century and it is actually a methaphor for the sun never sets on the British Empire. In this Fire station, there is a small room that has been turned into a little gallery of some sort. The room was filled with exibits about the fire brigade and the building itself. There’s one mysterious exhibit inside that caught my attention. It’s a a British-made locked safe cabinet, which has not been opened in decades since the key was nowhere to be found. Made me wonder if there’s treasure, secret documents or even some mummy inside of it. All right, don’t let me scare you. Go and see the stuff for yourself.

Location Address: Jalan Gedung Raja Abdullah, Kawasan 1, 41000 Klang, Selangor

9. Gedung Raja Abdullah

Gedung Raja Abdullah built in 1857, it was the residence of Raja Abdullah the Chief of Klang at the time with his family. This is one of the oldest Malay buildings that are still standing in Selangor. The ground floor, however, was used as a warehouss for weaponry, ammunitions, tin ore, mining implements and supplies. The place had also served as the HQ for the first British Resident, state treasury, as well as survey, land and post office. In 1880 this building has became a police station and had remained so for almost a century. Subsequently in 1985, about a decade after the police station moved out, the building was turned into a museum, but sadly, there’s nothing for us to see inside the building right now as it has been closed to the public for a few years now for restoration work.

Location Address: Jalan Gedung Raja Abdullah, Kawasan 1, 41200 Klang, Selangor

If you like doing touristy things like exploring the town and taking some pretty pictures while learning some history bits, this guided tour is definitely for you. The nearly three-hour tour kicks off at 9am from The Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery every Saturday and Sunday. Walk-ins are welcome, but participants are encouraged to register with Tourism Selangor – joint organisers of these tours with the Klang Municipal Council. You may do so HERE.

However, do keep in mind that The Royal Klang Town Heritage Walk is meant for you enjoy sightseeing and not for you to indulge in leisurely shopping or a foodie hunt. So if you want to explore Klang town independently without tour guide and take your own sweet time to explore, fret not. Royal Klang Town Heritage Walk has been selected to be converted on LocoMole to allow both tourist and locals alike to download and explore the rich history and culture of Royal Klang Town independently. LocoMole is kinda like Waze and Google map guids, but for you to explore certain places of interest. You may download the apps at Playstore HERE. Through the apps, you’ll be able to see suggested list of activities at each point of interest in RKTHW walk trail.

So, what are you waiting for? Explore Klang today and be amazed by what the quaint town had to offer.

Tips you might want to follow prior to participating in The Royal Klang Town Heritage Walk:

1. Wear comfortable clothes and footwear. They will be very helpful throughout the 3 hours walk. I wouldn’t encourage high heels or platforms for the ladies. You feet will be killing you by the end of the tour. Flats or sports shoes are a better choice for this.

2. Bring some mineral water or drinking water with you to keep hydrated. The weather in Malaysia can be rather hot at times and Klang is no exception.

3. Use sunblock to keep yourselves from being sunburn.

4. Wear minimal makeups. As mentioned earlier, the weather can be hot and humid and thick makeups tend to melt away and you won’t look good in pictures if that happen.

5. Last but not least, bring some spare cash with you, in case you’d like a quick shopping along the way.