Taiping Clock Tower

The Clock Tower in Taiping is a historical landmark situated in the town’s heart. Originally built in 1881, it was initially constructed of wood and timber but rebuilt with bricks in 1890. Although there were many similar buildings in Penang and Kuala Lumpur, this is the oldest clock tower in Malaysia. The clock tower was originally shaped like a square fort but it has been demolished now. It is located at the Jalan Kota area of Taiping. Today, it is a tourist information centre offering maps and details of Taiping.

There is no provision to get to the top of the tower but the building is admirable from outside. Since it was built in the British empire, there is a replica of the medieval red coloured telephone booth, now used as a kiosk just outside the visitor center. The 20 metre high tower has a brick coloured pyramid-shaped roof with carefully chiseled archways, capped by a small weather vane in the form of a rooster. The middle of the building has a spacious and open balcony like structure, decorated with flags, right above the main entrance which indeed has two red doors on each side.