Why Kangar
Kangar serves as the state capital and largest urban area of Perlis, situated at the northernmost edge of Peninsular Malaysia near the Thailand border. Positioned along the banks of the Perlis River, it holds the distinction of being the smallest state capital in the country. The town covers an area of 2,619.4 hectares and has a population of 48,898, with inhabitants primarily working as civil servants or farmers. Beyond its administrative role, the town functions as a central collection hub for paddy rice cultivated in the surrounding region, while supporting industries such as cement, timber milling, rubber, paper, and the processing of sugar and prawns.
The history of Kangar date back to around 1653, when Kota Sena was established as the administrative center for the 14th Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Muhyiddin Mansor Shah. During this period, the settlement operated as a land port where rivercraft anchored at a junction along the Perlis River. Commercial exchanges took place under the shade of a large Pohon Kangar tree at the port. Visiting merchants regularly referred to the site as the Pohon Kangar Port in reference to the tree, eventually giving the town its permanent name.
Democratically and culturally diverse, Kangar is populated by several communities speaking distinct languages. The primary language among residents is Perlis Malay, a local variation of the Kedah Malay dialect. The local Han Chinese community mostly speaks Hokkien, which acts as a common language alongside widespread knowledge of Mandarin and English. Other languages spoken across the town's Indian and Siamese communities include Tamil, Telugu, Malayali, Punjabi, Hindi, and Southern Thai.
Downtown Kangar is characterized by a mix of historic and contemporary shophouses, alongside a 1930s clocktower and an elegant colonial State Secretariat Building. Modern developments include the PKENPS Tower at K-PARC Kangar, which is the tallest structure in the state. Cultural and historic landmarks inside the town include the 1910 Alwi Mosque, the State Museum and Heritage Hall, the Perlis Craft Cultural Complex, the Malay World Weaponry Museum, Dato' Wan Ahmad's House, the Mini Putrajaya State Assembly Building, and the Perlis State Library.
Visitors to the area can explore outdoor and regional sights, including Kubu Hill Recreational Park, Medan Mountain, Bukit Ayer Recreational Park, and the lookout point at Gua Cenderawasih Park. The surrounding municipal zone features attractions such as the Gua Kelam cave in Kaki Bukit, the Snake Farm in Sungai Batu Pahat, the border area of Wang Kelian, the duty-free Padang Besar Shopping Arcade, the Royal Palace of Arau, and the Fish Grill Food Court in Kuala Perlis.
01 Weather
87°
81°
☔ 100%
90°
83°
☔ 100% 
86°
78°
☔ 47%
86°
78°
☔ 51%
86°
78°
☔ 34%
80°
79°
☔ 100%