Kota Kayang Museum, Perlis Overview

Surrounded by the Kayang, Lambing Panah, Wai, Minera and Jahat Hutang limestone hills in the Kayang region of Perlis, the famous Kota Kayang Museum of Malaysia depicts historical, cultural, and archaeological artefacts of Malaysian civilization with its pristine glory. Upgraded as the Kota Kayang museum in 1991, the former building was the official residence of the British advisors before independence. The 4 hectares gigantic land of the museum houses three main galleries with artefacts from the Neolithic era and has above 300 unique collections.

The single storied three-building structure depicts the Perlis-Malay architecture style with a touch of modernization. The wickerwork walls along with the beams and carvings on the doors are a semblance of traditional existing Malay homes. The tomb of the 15th Sultan of Kedah still lies on the grounds of the museum. Besides the galleries, the outside recreational garden is refreshing, offering a magnificent view for the tourists to stop by.

Galleries of Kota Kayang Museum

Archaeology Gallery - Bunch of textbooks can be found in the Archaeology Gallery, providing descriptions of the historical artefacts of Perlis and the Malaysian civilization from the time of inception. The headstones, broken ceramic remains, and other significant results of the recent Kota Kayang excavation are all displayed.

General Gallery - The primitive lifestyle in Perlis is depicted, vividly. From agriculture to fishing to carpentry, all the instruments and tools used are displayed in the gallery with proper descriptions. Kedah crafts are also displayed here. Traditional Malay weapons for different shapes, sizes, and materials can be witnessed in this gallery.

Kedah and Perlis Gallery - The royal telly, an old kerosene fan, and some old photographs of royal ceremonies are displayed in this gallery. Stories of British imperialism and Japanese militarism can be found in plenty inside the museum, along with few rifle specimens used in the army of bygone days.

How to Reach Kota Kayang Museum

You can reach Perlis from Kuala Lumpur via train or bus which takes around 6-7 hours. The fare price for both will be around RM 85 to RM 140. The nearest airport to Perlis is Alor Setar, as no direct flight to Perlis is available. From Alor Setar, you can hire a taxi and reach Kanagr in an hour. Head east towards Jalan Tun Abdul Razak until Kangar State hospital and you will reach Kota Kayang Museum, located at the junction.

History of Kota Kayang Museum

During the 19th century, Raja Syed Alwi gifted Syed Salim land to make his residence in the Kayang region where now stands the Kota Kayang Museum. From 1910 to the 1950s, the residence witnessed mastery of the British Malaya advisors, Japanese and Thai military administrative domination. With independence, it became the Perlis Chief Minister’s residential place. In the fleeting years of the twentieth century, the entire building structure was demolished and the new identical building was formed as the Kota Kayang Museum. Excavation of recent years reveals that a river used to dwindle around the paths where the19th century building once stood, however the course of the river has changed by 100 M from now, away from the building complex.