[MALAYSIA] Exploring Kampar, Perak

08:00 Travel Bunny 0 Comments


Kampar, once a bustling tin-mining town, has blossomed into a vibrant university town with a charming mix of old-school history and modern-day quirkiness. If you’re looking for a quick, flavourful, and visually appealing getaway in Perak, a day trip (or an overnight stay!) to Kampar is an absolute must.

Here is a peek into our Kampar itinerary, following our visit to Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredger No.5 and Kinta Tin Mining Museum in the previous post.

Our first stop in Kampar is the fascinating Ilham Seni Kampar. Tucked away in the back alleys of the old town's shophouses on Jalan Gopeng–Kampar, this expansive mural project has transformed mundane corridors into a captivating open-air gallery.

As you wander the 250-metre stretch, you’ll be treated to over 20 artworks that beautifully depict the history, culture, and local legends of Kampar and Perak. From the iconic tin-dredging industry to traditional games, the murals are vibrant, educational, and absolutely perfect for an Instagram-worthy photo session. 

Look out for the QR codes next to the art, which provide more context on the stunning visuals you are seeing!

Ilham Seni Kampar
Open 24 hours, free admission

Kampar is famous for its traditional confectionary: Chicken Biscuit or also known by its Cantonese name Kai Chai Paeng. We bought some as souvenirs at CB Kampar. Despite the name "Chicken Biscuit," the original recipe generally does not contain chicken! The Kampar version is thin and crispy. It has a distinctive, complex flavour that is savory, sweet, and spiced.

Claypot Chicken Rice is one of the signature dishes in Kampar, along with Curry Chicken Bread and Kampar-style Chee Cheong Fun. 

No visit to Kampar is complete without tasting its most famous dish: the Curry Chicken Bun (Curry Chicken Bread). We tried it at Yau Kee Restaurant.

This dish features rich, aromatic chicken curry baked inside a giant, soft, fluffy bread loaf. The warm, slightly crispy crust of the bread is the perfect vehicle for soaking up the savory and fragrant curry gravy. They also offer a less spicy herbal chicken option, but the curry chicken bun is the iconic choice you simply must try!

We ended the day with a comfy stay at the Vista Hotel Kampar. Clean, comfortable, and conveniently located, it was the ideal place to recharge for the next day's adventures.

We started our second day the local way with breakfast at the bustling Kampar Food Centre. This is a quintessential Malaysian hawker experience where you can sample a wide variety of local morning favourites.

Whether you crave a bowl of piping hot congee, a plate of crispy chee cheong fun (rice noodle rolls), or a traditional wanton mee or fried kuey-teow, this food centre is the place to be for an authentic, energetic, and affordable meal.

Before heading north, we made one last photo-stop at the whimsical Disney Avenue (Bandar Agacia).
This commercial area is famous for its rows of charming, brightly coloured shop lots built in a unique, almost Victorian-meets-Disneyland style, leading to the "Disney" nickname. Due to various factors, many of the shop lots are unfortunately unoccupied and vacant.


Disney Avenue

We also stopped by the Kampar campus of TAR University. The university campus began operations in May 2007 and is known for its large, scenic environment with lakes. 

Kampar is a small town with a lot of character, offering a blend of artistic discovery, culinary delights, and unique photo opportunities. It's the perfect destination to slow down and savour the local charm!

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