Selangor surrounds the capital city of Kuala Lumpur with green suburban arms and industrial tracks and a large proportion of Selangor's population lives around the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.
Selangor is dominated by fishing villages on the coast and the Kampung inland. It is also famous for the extraordinary Batu caves and the Genting Highlands-one of the finest hill stations of Malaysia.
History
Selangor's history dates to the 16th century, when rich tin deposits were found in the region. The area's natural wealth, along with its relative freedom from the presence of the Dutch, attracted miners, immigrants and colonizers. One especially important group of settlers was the Bugis-Malay people from Macassar in Celebes.
Bugis were renowned
for their capabilities as sea traders and warriors and they soon rose to
prominence in Selangor. By 1700 they dominated the state both
politically and economically and had established the present Sultanate
of Selangor.Over the course of the eighteenth century, Selangor extended its sphere of influence to become a regional political power. As the western colonial presence increased over the following century, infighting between the Bugis, Chinese and Malay nobility forced Selangor to accept the presence of a British Resident in 1874. In 1896, the British included Selangor in the Federated Malay States, at about the same time that rubber cultivation began in Malaysia. In 1948 the state joined the Federation of Malaya.
In 1957 the Federation became an independent state within the Commonwealth of Nations. In 1974, the country's capital city of Kuala Lumpur and some of the surrounding areas were ceded to the Federal Government for the establishment of Wilayah Persekutuan, a Federal Territory.
Climate
Selangor's climate is characterized by warm, sunny days, and cool nights all year round and occasional rain in the evenings. Temperature ranges from 23°C to 33°C. Humidity usually exceeds 80%. Annual rainfall is 2,700 mm. Although rain falls throughout the year, December to February are said to be the wettest months.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Selangor is from April to October.
Tourist Attractions / Places to See
Shah Alam: Shah Alam, Selangor's new capital, is a showpiece city and its careful planning is evident everywhere. It is dominated by the enormous minarets and gleaming blue dome of the State Mosque, Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah. The enormous aluminium dome is reputed to be among the largest in the Islamic world. Located halfway between Kuala Lumpur and Port Klang, the city is just 15 minutes from Subang Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Hutan Kanching: Hutan Kanching, a forest reserve, located 21 km north of Kuala Lumpur offers refreshing waterfalls and lush jungle greenery that abounds with butterflies and plant life.
Batu Caves: The Batu Caves are a series of tall limestone caves, home to a Hindu temple that lie 13 km north of Kuala Lumpur. … (More)
Genting Highlands: Genting Highlands is a hill top resort near Kuala Lumpur, famous for its casino, and golf course. … (More)
Malaysia Agriculture Park: Just 10 minutes from Shah Alam is the 1,258-hectare Malaysia Agriculture Park, the largest agro-forestry park in the world. The park contains samples of virtually every agricultural resource in the nation, including oil and coconut palms, paddy fields, fruit trees, and rubber trees, all set in the midst of a luscious rain forest.
Gedung Raja Abdullah: It is located at the center of Klang, the former capital of Selangor. The Malay-style Gedung Raja Abdullah is the town's oldest building, erected as a warehouse by Raja Mahdi in 1856. It now serves as a historical museum, with interesting exhibits on the bygone days of this former capital.
Kuala Selangor: Kuala Selangor was once home of the Selangor Sultanate. There are two fortresses atop the town's two hills. The larger one on Bukit Melawati has now been converted into a royal mausoleum housing the remains of Selangor's early Bugis rulers.
Taman Alam: At the foot of Bukit Melawati lies the nature reserve of Taman Alam, covering 240 hectares. Taman Alam has well-marked jungle trails for trekking as well as observation hides for birdwatchers. The reserve's abundant birdlife is due largely to the mangrove swamp in the vicinity, which is frequented by hundreds of thousands of migratory birds.
Mimaland: Mimaland, a recreational resort situated 18 km northeast of Kuala Lumpur, sprawls over twelve hectares of Gombak's hilly grounds, lakes and mountain streams. Visitors can fish and boat, trek in the surrounding jungle, or swim in the largest pool in Southeast Asia.
Sunway Lagoon: Sunway Lagoon, located in Petaling Jaya, is the first international standard water theme park in Malaysia. Within the park are water-based attractions like giant waterslides, twin speed slides, a double twister, a wave pool et al.
The Mines Wonderlands: Located at Sungei Besi, the Mines is a modern recreational park built on the site of what was once the world's largest opencast tin-mining lake. Its attractions are both natural and man-made. The most famous of these is the Musical Fountain, which emits enormous multicolored sprawls of water carefully coordinated to harmonize with accompanying music.
Shopping
Selangor is fast gaining recognition as a shopper's paradise due to the number of shopping malls that have mushroomed all over the state, especially the Klang Valley. Night markets or 'pasar malam' are a special feature of local life. Designated areas are used for these night markets on fixed nights of each week.
How to Reach Selangor
Selangor is accessible internationally through Port Klang and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah International Airport. The North-South Highway provides convenient access to Selangor from Thailand, Singapore and all parts of the peninsula. Buses are also a practical way of getting about within Selangor, with bus stations at all main towns.