Kellie's Castle

Back in December last year, I have the chance to visit one of the historical places in Malaysia - Kellie’s Castle. The sole reason I visited the place because I have been through it for a few times in the past every time I am fetching my sister at UiTM Seri Iskandar.

Kellie’s Castle is located in Batu Gajah, which is about a two-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur, and a 30-minute drive from Ipoh town to Jalan Gopeng. You can also take the Electric Train Service from KL to Ipoh.

The unfinished, ruined mansion known as Kellie’s Castle was built by William Kellie Smith, a Scottish planter from Scotland. Smith builds the building as a symbol of love for his beloved wife. Some sources said it is a gift for his son.

The unfinished mansion consists of two houses, which is, Kellas House and Kellie’s House. However, only Kellie’s house was able to finish the constructions before the death of Smith.

The building consists of rooms, wine cellar, elevator shaft and six storey tower. Some of the rooms have been fitted with furniture so you get to see what they would have been like if the construction had been completed.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Kellie's Castle is now a popular local tourist attraction, with some believing it to be haunted situated beside the Raya River (Sungai Raya), which is a small creek to the Kinta River.

From the entrance, you will be greeted by a few stalls selling craft, souvenir, and foods. There will be also huge logo written ‘Kellie Castle right before the entrance to the castle.

To get to the main building visitors have to pay entrance fee which is RM5 for Malaysian adult and have to climb the stairs to reach the main site of the house.

The mansion became tourist attractions because of the architecture and since it is believed to be haunted. Both the castle interior and gardens are also good for taking your pre-wedding shots so it might appeal to couples and photography fans, too.

EXPECTATION VS REALITY

I am not going to lie that I was a little disappointed when I reach the historic site. It is good enough because the place not just become the hot attraction for Malaysian but also foreign tourist. What disappointed me was the place did not maintain very well.

Yes, I agree that it is a historic place and perhaps one of the reason the authority keeping in that way was to make visitors feel the horror atmosphere because the castle is associated with many ghost stories. Aside from being mentioned in the history books, there is nothing much to see in the mansion itself. With lots of spider web in every single room and some of the areas such as the living room where people cannot access, there is nothing more.

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