24 Hours in Kangar

Kangar, the state capital of Perlis, sits just 33km south of Thailand (entry via Padang Besar Check Point) and 50km from Alor Setar, the capital city of Kedah. Depending on who you talk to, the origin of the town's name changes. "It was named after a tree, where 16th-century sea traders took a respite from deal-making under its massive boughs. "Not true! It was named after a unique type of hawk, found only in this part of the country". And so on.

But the one consistent theme in all the stories is their ties to nature. Located on the northernmost point of Malaysia, Perlis is a frequently overlooked outdoor holiday refuge, which is a shame as this is where you'll be able to spot rare wildlife like the Robinson's banded langur and the endangered Sunda slow loris, which live in the humid jungles of Perlis State Park.

Within the 5,000-hectare park, you'll find majestic limestone caves and rock formations forged in the late Triassic era, approximately 200-250 million years ago.    

The irony of planning a 24-hour itinerary in Kangar, where much of its traditional Malay village charm and pace are retained amidst modernisation, is that it's too easy to forget time. The best mode of transport is by motorbike, for an easy hop-on, hop-off experience when checking out places in Kangar.

Written for Malaysia Airlines inflight magazine. Read more here.