Taman Tasik Taiping, The Oldest Public Garden in Malaysia
If you are visiting Taiping, your trip is incomplete without visiting the beautiful Taman Tasik Taiping. Known as the oldest garden in Malaysia, this park is truly a very calming place that soothes the soul and offers breathtaking scenery.
In this article, orangperak.com will explore the history of this lake garden for your knowledge. Taman Tasik Taiping is the first public garden established during the British administration in Malaya. The park is located near Bukit Larut and Zoo Taiping. Taman Tasik Taiping was originally an abandoned tin mining site before being converted into a public garden in 1880. The idea to create a public park for the residents of Taiping originally came from Colonel Robert Sandilands Frowd Walker.
Charles Compton Reade
He was also the individual responsible for establishing the "Malay States Guide" or
The Malay States Guides
.
Colonel Robert Sandilands Frowd Walker
The development of Taman Tasik Taiping was carried out by Charles Compton Reade (1880–1933), who was also responsible for planning the construction of the Kuala Lumpur Garden (now the Perdana Botanical Garden) together with Lady Swettenham.
The abandoned tin mine was donated by Chung Thye Phin to be used as a recreational area for the public. In 1884, the lake garden was planted with grass, flowers, and ornamental trees, with parts of the park fenced off to prevent cattle from entering. The 64-hectare (160-acre) area was the first public garden in Malaya and is prized for its beauty, which has been meticulously maintained since it opened.
There are 10 ponds and small lakes that further enhance the park. Along Jalan Residensi, which runs through the park, many Angsana trees (
pterocarpus indicus
) have been planted. In George L. Peet’s journal titled "
A Journal in the Federal Capital
", when he visited Taiping in 1933, he said, "I do not know if there is a more beautiful place in this country than the Taiping Gardens when the sunlight shines through the bamboo leaves, palms, and trees scattered on the islands (in the Lake Garden) in the vast expanse of water. One will gain a valuable experience during the half-hour spent passing through those beautiful lights, which cannot be obtained in England".
There are several private and government-owned houses around the lake garden. Among the residences there are the Old Residency (the Resident Secretary's residence), the Raja's House at the intersection of Jalan Birch and Jalan Residensi, and the military officer's residence on Jalan Batu Tugih. The beauty of the park is so striking that it has attracted many travelers to write about its splendor.
To get to Taiping from the North-South Expressway (PLUS), you need to exit at the Changkat Jering junction and head to Jalan Simpang before turning right towards Taiping. Taman Tasik Taiping is easily accessible via Jalan Istana and Jalan Kelab Baru. Taiping is also well-connected to the rest of Peninsular Malaysia via express buses, which arrive and depart from the express bus stations in Kamunting (6km from the city center) and Simpang (7km from the city center).
Buses also depart directly from Taiping to Singapore and Hat Yai in southern Thailand. Southbound buses depart from Kamunting and stop at Simpang (Medan Simpang) to pick up passengers before heading to the highway via the Changkat Jering junction. Bus tickets are sold at counters located at Medan Kamunting and Medan Simpang. If you choose to travel by train, Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) operates a number of services along the north-south route that stop at the Taiping station.
Let's visit Taman Tasik Taiping with your family. Besides relaxing and clearing your mind, it can also expose your children to the beauty of the environment and instill a sense of appreciation for nature. It will certainly be a beautiful memory that you will never forget.
