Perak Museum

Perak Museum – The Background

This museum is the oldest museum in Peninsular Malaysia. It is located in the town of Taiping, about 85 km from Ipoh, the capital of Perak. It is also near the Taiping Jail and about 3 km from town. Most of the museum’s earlier collections are ethnological and anthropological items. Geological, botanical and enthamobological collections make up additional specimens.

To date, the total of accumulated collections is 8,474, consisting of 5,074 cultural collections, 523 nature collections and 2,877 miscellaneous collections, including archaeological items. The Perak Museum is rich in ethnological, historical, archaeological and ethamobological collections.

Some of them are classified as rare collections over a hundred years oTaiping Lake Gardens, Perak Malaysiald such as animal species like the “benturong” and “pulasan”, skeletons and scores of animal skeletons and smoked clay which are either extinct or extremely hard to find. Most of these collections and artifacts are displayed in the museum’s four main galleries housed in an almost 120-year-old building.

It was built in 1883 and maintains an ancient British architectural concept of the Art Dico kind.

Collections and Galleries in Perak Museum

The Nature Gallery exhibits all kinds of animal, bird, fish, snail and herberium species, all of which are housed in unique exhibition cases aged over a hundred years old. They are also placed in various kinds of dioramas which records a British-style presentation method while retaining a wild habitat environment that is both interesting and full of great ecstatic elements.

The Cultural Gallery displays collections and artifacts from various types of handiworks, handicrafts and weavings of the Malaysian people, especially from Perak, such as a unique weaving made by the Sultan of Perak’s mother. Weavings of the “tudung saji” (food cover), “tikar pandan dan mengkuang” (pandan and mengkuang mats) as well as baskets reflect the artistic finesse in these handiworks.

They are also unique, fascinating and full of ecstatic values that are increasingly hard to find this decade. The Clay and Indigenous People Gallery is an abundant source of collections and artifacts. Perak is one of the states which is home to a lot of indigenous people from the Proto Malay, Senoi and Negrito tribes.

The Indigenous People Gallery in this museum is a window to displaying the great handiwoking skills of the aforementioned tribes. Of note is their astonishing display of creating clothes from wood pulp, their traditional musical instruments as well as their great sculptures and crafting arts such as mannequins and masks, adaptated countless times in medical and magickal ceremonies.

Clay works displayed by the museum are traditional industrial products such as “labu”, “geluk”, “belanga”, “pasu bucung”, “buyung”, “kukusan” and “perasapan” all of which are well over 100 years old. The museum also organizes moving exhibitions, especially to schools around the Taiping township and nearby towns, usually upon request by schools who are interested.

Among presented topics are Glorious Taiping and The Perak Sultanage.

Perak Museum Visiting Hours

Opens Tuesday to Sunday from 9.00 am – 5.00 pm

Closed on Monday, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Aidil Adha.

Perak Museum Entrance Fees

• Tickets are priced at RM2.00 for adults. It can be purchased at the ticket counter.
• Free admission for children below 12 years old and children in school uniforms.

Transportation

By bus Board city bus from Taiping Bus Terminal By taxi Board taxi from Taiping Bus Terminal For service, call +605 808 1691 or +6019 569 6182. Fare is RM5.00

Perak Museum Nearby Accomodations

1. Hotel Seri Malaysia – Tel: +605 806 9502 Fax: +605 806 9495
2. Hotel Panorama – Tel: +605 808 4111 Fax: +605 808 4120

Perak Museum Nearby Attractions

Visitor statistics throughout the year 2000 was 613,456 people consisting of 554,477 domestic visitors, 55,601 students and 3,378 foreign visitors.

Other Facilities

Muslim prayer room, public washroom and library. Guided tour is available upon request.