Klang
Discover Klang
Klang, also spelled Kelang, is the royal town of Selangor, on the west coast of peninsular Malaysia besides Shah Alam. The town is named after the Klang River, which cuts the town in half, and sits at the western end of the Klang Valley.
What to Experience in Klang
Taste of Klang...
Klang is the original home of bak kut teh ("pork rib tea"), the Hokkien-style dish of pork ribs cooked in a strong, dark herbal stock, served with tea on the side. This is considered a breakfast dish here and family get-togethers on Sundays for bak kut teh are particularly popular. There are many famous shops in Klang, and if you ask two locals for the best you'll probably get three answers, but here's a sampling. One of the best kept secrets of Klang, the seafood in Telok Gong, Klang is arguably the best in the Central region, if not the whole country. Tucked in the obscure vicinity within Pulau Indah, Telok Gong is only reachable by car or taxi as no other forms of public transportation make their way to this former coconut plantation. This does not deter customers who come from as far afield as Johor Bahru and Singapore to sample the fresh and tasty seafood delicacies. Some of the signature dishes include Wong Kam Crab (crab cooked with duck egg yolk) and Marmite Crab. Singaporeans may disagree with this, but 'apart from that the next best Chilli Crab is available here. Bamboo, or razor clams and any dishes with prawns are generally very good as well. Along with the seafood offerings, a must try is the toddy, or fermented coconut juice. It is an alcoholic drink with a slightly sweet flavor. Not everyone's cup of tea (or beer). In certain instances, mixing a glass of toddy with a little bit of Guinness, seems to appeal to some. An acquired taste.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThere are 3 major highways linking to Klang. The North Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE) links the Bukit Raja toll plaza in Klang to the North-South Highway. Visitors from Shah Alam, Subang, Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur can use the Federal Highway to reach Klang. Visitors can also use the Shah Alam Expressway (KESAS highway) to reach Klang South. Alternatively, Klang is also accessible via coastal roads from Banting and Sepang (south) or Kuala Selangor and Sabak Bernam (north). Klang's railway station is located at Jalan Stesen in the part of town south of the Klang River. KTM Komuter, Klang Valley's commuter train network, connects Klang directly with Kuala Lumpur (RM3.60, 50 minutes) and Port Klang (RM1.00, 20 minutes). There are several famous bak kut teh (see below) restaurants near the station. The Klang bus and taxi terminal has been moved to Klang Sentral, which is about 8 km away from the town centre....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Generally it is more convenient to drive around Klang as public transportation is limited. Taxis are available for hire outside the railway station at Jalan Stesen. In Klang, getting a metered taxi is not convenient - expect to pay RM10-15 per taxi ride. Most travel brochures do not list Klang as one of the "must visit" places in the Klang Valley as it has no architecture wonders like those of Kuala Lumpur nor the natural attractions of Kuala Selangor. Klang is more widely known for its mouth-watering dishes instead of its sights. However, in the town (where bloody civil wars were fought and tin was traded in the past), Klang offers some sites and buildings that are of historical value. The Little India enclave along Jalan Tengku Kelana, Klang is the biggest Indian street in Malaysia.
Where to Stay
Klang is easily covered in a half-day trip from Kuala Lumpur, but you can find some good hotels including:
Money & Budget
The Little India enclave along Jalan Tengku Kelana, Klang is the biggest Indian street in Malaysia. Fierce competition among shop owners translate into cheaper prices for consumers, and people are literally spoilt for choice amidst the rows of shops on the left and right sides of the road, with stalls spilling onto the sidewalks and backlanes. Myriads of items such as saris, colorful accessories such as bangles and necklaces, textiles, stainless steel pots, Indian delicacies, gold and flowers are sold here. During Deepavali, the street is transformed into a colorful spectacle of light and sound befitting the "festival of light". Most shop owners pool their resources together to decorate the street and the walkways of their shops.
Language & Talk
As with anywhere else in Malaysia, Malay is the lingua franca, and upper-class people are usually able to speak English as well. Hokkien is the main language spoken by the ethnic Chinese community, though most ethnic Chinese are also able to speak Cantonese due to the proximity to Kuala Lumpur, with a significant number able to speak Mandarin as well. Tamil is the main language spoken by the ethnic Indian community. There are 3 major highways linking to Klang. The North Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE) links the Bukit Raja toll plaza in Klang to the North-South Highway. Visitors from Shah Alam, Subang, Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur can use the Federal Highway to reach Klang. Visitors can also use the Shah Alam Expressway (KESAS highway) to reach Klang South.
Safety Information
Glimpses of Klang
A mosque from far.
fishing and sunset.
Meat Stew
a drone on the asphalt.
silhouette of palm trees near body of water during sunset
red and white concrete building
Father and sons resting next to a giant bookshelf in a bookstore.
The Cruise
a close up of a speaker on a table
person fishing on sea during sunset
A mosque from far.
fishing and sunset.
Meat Stew