Taiping Lake Gardens is historically and culturally the most popular location in Taiping.
A favorite spot for:
- photography buffs
- jogging, brisk walks, and fitness training
- romantics
- amateur and professional historians
- travelers
- revelers
- locals
A vacation in Taiping is incomplete without a short drive, ride, or walk along the roads that circle the lake, which are naturally shady thanks to canopy provided by the ancient rain trees that surround the compound. These trees are probably older than most of the current townsfolk, and are truly a beautiful sight anyone can appreciate. The Victorian-style garden has many terraces, carriageways, and pathways that lead you through the foliage into 10 different sections of the garden with fountains, gazebos, and other lawn ornaments. A central lawn connects the many pathways that snake through the gardens and is now a popular spot for fitness buffs. The walkways that circle the lake are peppered with benches and vantage points for taking in the view.
The boat house is a great place to stop by for a bit of fun, or if you inevitably need a break from exploring the gardens. (It’s huge). Called the Ride & Cruise, there are bikes, boat rides, and pedal-boats available at very fair rates. The patio dining area is a great place to enjoy a meal and relax while the kids have fun on the pedal-boats or try to chase down the (rather docile) monkeys that live in the gardens.
HISTORY
Taiping Lake Gardens is a beautiful garden compounds built to complement a large lake that was originally a mining pool during British Colonial times. It is the first public gardens established during colonial rule in Malaysia, and have been immaculately maintained through the years. It is a splendid example of Victorian garden design, and many of the original features of the garden have either been preserved or restored in more recent times.
Colonel Robert Sandilands Frowd Walker, effectively the chief of police in Perak at the time, came up with the idea of re-purposing an old tin mine as a park for the public. The land was donated to the city by Chung Thye Phin, a wealthy Hakka community leader at the time. Mostly built by members of the Perak Armed Police and Walker’s own 1st Perak Sikhs regiment, the 158 acre site was slowly landscaped and planted with trees and shrubbery to create a distinctly English garden design with local foliage. Rain trees (“angsana” in Malay language) were planted surrounding the perimeter of the lake and have now grown to be truly outstanding specimens of the species.
SURROUNDING AREA
The Lake Gardens are located halfway between the administrative center of the city and Taiping Zoo.
Several hotels surround the vicinity of the lake, and are the most sought-after accommodation for vacationing families during the holidays.
Taiping Prison, the State Museum, the former British Resident’s quarters, and many popular eateries are within walking vicinity of the lake.
