5 Best Places To Start Learning About The History of Selangor

The history of Selangor is a captivating tale of transformation and growth, reflecting Malaysia’s journey from ancient times to modernity.

Before we start exploring the 5 best places, let’s learn more about the most progressive state in Malaysia – Beautiful Selangor.

Where is Selangor?

Selangor is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

The state borders are Perak to the north, Negeri Sembilan to the south, Pahang to the east, and the Strait of Malacca to the west.

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What is the capital of Selangor?

Kuala Lumpur is the national capital of Malaysia, and Putrajaya is the administrative capital.

Both Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya were once under Selangor’s territorial sovereignty. Federal Territories of Malaysia.

The Federal Territories in Malaysia comprise three territories—Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya—governed directly by the Federal Government of Malaysia.

And Labuan is an offshore international financial center.

You can make Kuala Lumpur your base and travel anywhere around Malaysia or head to other Southeast Asia countries.

There’s a highway and railway that connects Malaysia to Singapore and Thailand.

If you dream about a multi-country road trip – one of the best things you can do for a three-month visit is to have your base in Kuala Lumpur.

You can travel around Peninsula Malaysia and fly to Sabah and Sarawak. You can include side trips to Thailand and Singapore while you’re here.

 

So, how did Selangor begin?

Some believe that ‘Selangor’ is the shortened enunciation of ‘Kuala Mentangau’ – a mangrove swamp frequented by early seafarers.

Over time, the area evolved into a settlement called ‘Kuala Selangor.’

Kuala Selangor was the old royal capital of Selangor.

The capital of Selangor was moved to Klang, then Kuala Lumpur, and Shah Alam.

Kuala Selangor, ruled under the Malacca Empire, had settlements from as early as the 16th century.

Amazing Tale of Selangor’s History

During the Majapahit Empire in the 14th century, two Malay leaders, Tun Jana Khatib and Tuan Jajahan Buguran, met with with the ruler of Singapore, Paduka Seri Maharaja.

Selangor was the tin’s primary producer and trade center, with Chinese laborers brought in to work in the tin mines.

The Klang River was crucial in the export of tin to western traders that Chinese miners had acquired.

Admiral Cheng Ho, a Chinese sailor, was the first to recognize the Klang River in maritime navigation.

Maritime History of Selangor

Malaysia’s strategic location between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea has a meeting place for traders and travelers from east and west.

Historically, Selangor benefitted from its location along the narrow Straits of Malacca.

Maritime attractions and activities in and around the cruise ports of Malaysia began in the 14th century with Admiral Cheng Ho’s voyages from China to Melaka.

Selangor’s history and those of the straits settlement states of Penang and Melaka were formed by interaction with other cultures and religions.

Selangor’s heritage runs over a century before the Malay Sultanate of Malacca (1400–1511).

Port Klang, Selangor

Following the arrival of the railway from Kuala Lumpur, Port Klang expanded swiftly.

The Klang Town Council was founded in 1954, while the Klang Town Authority was founded in 1945.

Northport, Southpoint, and West Port are the three Port Klang areas that are governed by the Port Klang Authority, which was established in 1963.

History of Selangor: a progressive state to a trailblazer of Malaysia

Selangor became part of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963, and its capital, Kuala Lumpur, became the administration center in trade, commerce, and banking.

In 1974, Selangor handed Kuala Lumpur to the federal government, and Shah Alam became the new capital.

In 2001, Putrajaya joined Kuala Lumpur as a Federal Territory.

Let’s Visit the Top 5 Destinations In History Of Selangor

Towns and cities have often had a long history, with many tales of the origins of how these ancient settlements first started.

Kuala Kubu Bahru – Selangor

In Selangor, the original town of Kuala Kubu was well-known for its tin mining operations.

Raja Mahadi’s fort at Kuala Kubu Bharu was occupied from 1867 to 1874 by the Civil War.

Early British residents like President Frank Athelstane Swettenham oversaw Kuala Kubu Bharu.

About 80 years old, Kuala Kubu Bharu is located 50–60 km from Kuala Lumpur.

It will take about an hour to get here from Kuala Lumpur via the old Rawang trunk road.

Kuala Kubu Town and the Killing of a White Crocodile

According to legend, In 1883, Sir Cecil Ranking, the district officer of Kuala Kubu, shot and killed a white crocodile living in the river.

The white crocodile was considered the town guardian by the people of old Kuala Kubu.

That very night, a heavy downpour caused the river to swell, breaking its embankment.

Hundreds perished in flood, including Ranking, and the town was destroyed.

Ranking’s grave is inside a school compound next to Millenium Park (Taman Millenium).

Years later, a new settlement was built and named New Kuala Kubu (Kuala Kubu Bahru).

There are several locations, including the Kuala Kubu Bharu Historical Gallery, where you can immerse in the history of the old town.

Old buildings built during the British ruling era, including the Police Station, Post Office, and the Clock Tower, still stand today.

Local authorities are in the process of mapping Kuala Kubu Bharu Town as a World Heritage Site by The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to be better-known at the international level.

You can explore heritage sites in Kuala Kubu Bahru.
• Paul’s Church
• Clock tower
• KKB Masjid lama
• Kuala Kubu Historical Gallery
• Bukit Kutu Bungalows

Royal Klang Town, Selangor

One of Malaysia’s oldest cities is Klang. History claims that Klang was inhabited more than 2,000 years ago.

About 600 years ago, during the Majapahit Empire, the first entry was written about Klang.

The final Indonesian kingdom to become Indianized was the Majapahit Empire, which ruled over eastern Java from the thirteenth to the sixteenth centuries.

Indian culture, language, and religion had a significant influence on the historical states that became known as the Indianized kingdoms of South East Asia within the Indosphere.

Following Sultan Muhammad’s death, Klang was designated as the capital of Selangor.

Kuala Lumpur became the capital of Selangor much later.

In Selangorean history, Klang served as the front line in the Civil War between Raja Mahadi and Raja Sulaiman.

Apart from the Sultan of Selangor’s Palace, Klang has many iconic buildings built during British colonial rule.
• Chennai Silk Palace Klang
• Church of Our Lady Lourdes
• King Abdullah’s Building
• Klang Bridge
• Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery

You can explore via Royal Klang Town Heritage Walk Tour and take in the sights of Klang’s heritage trail on foot.

The Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery displays private collections and exhibits of the Selangor Sultanate.

Kajang Town, Selangor.

Kajang’s first settlement was established in 1709.

After the Klang War in 1807, Kajang Town was made the district capital of Hulu Langat.

The rise of Kajang as a modern town is primarily due to the coffee estates that sprung up all around it in the 1890s.

Over 200 years ago, the people of Mendaling, Rawa, Minangkabau, and a few Sumatra-born Kampar immigrants founded the tin mining district that is now known as Kajang town.

The historical buildings in Kajang include
• Shen Sze She Yar Temple
• Old Post Office
• Masjid Jamek Kajang

You can join the unravel Kajang’s past heritage via the Kajang Heritage Trail that takes you to Jalan Mendaling, Jalan Tengah, Jalan Besar and Jalan Tukang — situated around Kajang’s old quarters.

Other must-visit locations include the Tan Boon Chia Building used as the residence for mine owners before becoming the headquarters for the Japanese army.

The Kajang Heritage Center is worth a visit if you are interested in viewing artifacts, tools, and historical documents related to Kajang town.

Kuala Selangor Old Town, Selangor

Kuala Selangor was the old royal capital of Selangor before moving to Klang, to Kuala Lumpur, then to Shah Alam.

According to Selangor’s history, Kuala Selangor has had settlements from as early as the 16th century.

Kuala Selangor was the former capital of Selangor and was ruled by the Malacca Empire.

Originally settled in the 17th century AD were seafarers who made their living as fishermen in Kuala Selangor Old Town.

The Bugis people were the early population.

There is a bay called Teluk Penyamun.

It was a location where robbery often happened.

Jeram, an area in Kuala Selangor, is said to be where Sultan Mansur Syah Melaka (r. 1459 to 1477) inaugurated his Prince, Paduka Seri Cina.

To uncover the history of Kuala Selangor’s old town, you can visit Kuala Selangor District Historical Museum.

Due to the historical background of Kuala Selangor, Kuala Selangor possesses many historical sites that exist on Bukit Melawati.

Bukit Malawati is worth a visit. You can behold the Batu Hampar, Perigi Beracun (poisonous well), and Meriam Penggawa (Penggawa cannon), where each has its own unique story.

Jugra Town, Selangor

Jugra is a scenic and peaceful area in the Kuala Langat district of Selangor state, just an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur and about 8km from the more developed town of Banting.

In 1875, Jurga was the royal town in Kuala Langat District, Selangor.

Historic Jurga town was first opened in the 18th century by Bugis people from Johor for trading activity with Malacca.

Jugra was a become popular destination among traders of tin products.

According to legends associated with Jugra, the heavy-footed print of Malaysian folk hero Hang Tuah is found at Jugra Hill.

Historically, Jugra was the administrative area of the Selangor State Government after moving from Kuala Selangor in 1859.

The small town was a strategic location and later became a residential, business, and commercial area.

Paragliding is the most exciting attraction with Jurga’s flat countryside, and favorable sea winds make it ideal for Paragliders.

You will find these attractions with historical details and stories about the town’s legend for history buffs.
• Long Puteri Palace
• Bandar Palace
• Jugra Insitu Museum
• Alaeddin Mosque
• Hang Tuah’s Footprint – Batu Hampar

The History of Selangor is within reach.

Getting to historical attractions in Selangor is easy enough.

You will enjoy the tourist attractions of old towns away from the hustle and bustle of the Federal Territory metropolitan cities in the Klang Valley.

There are many other famous sights in Kuala Lumpur steeped in history that you can visit.
• Selangor Turf Club
• Selangor Golf Club
• Kuala Selangor Fire Flies
• Sultan Aziz Shah Airport

Malaysia has one of the best networks of tarmac in the world, ranked 19th, to be precise.

Malaysia’s superior quality expressways connect Kuala Lumpur with Singapore and with major seaports and other destinations you want to visit.

Each destination in Selangor listed above witnessed historical events in the past.

Some of the remains still stand strong ’till this day or well-exhibited, which allow our new generation to learn from them.

See you soon in the heart of Malaysia – Historical Selangor!

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Resources:
The 21st Century Maritime Silk Road
History of the Selangor Sultanate