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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Malaysia

46 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Malaysia

Updated January 24, 2023

Cities

Unusual Attractions in Malaysia

Batu Caves, Malaysia

Batu Caves

Holy Hindu shrine in an enormous, monkey-filled limestone cavern.

Bestari Jaya, Malaysia

Kampung Kuantan Fireflies Park

Malaysian fireflies create a dazzling display as thousands light up in unison.

Marudi, Malaysia

The Pinnacles of Gunung Mulu

These jagged limestone blades cut out through the canopy of the jungles of Borneo.

Miri, Malaysia

Niah Caves

One of the largest caverns in the world has a maw large enough to stack cathedrals in.

Langkawi, Malaysia

Langkawi Sky Bridge

This dangerous-looking suspension bridge may have been too unstable to remain open.

Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

BOH Tea Garden and Factory

The largest tea plantation in Southeast Asia supplies gorgeous vistas alongside tea for the surrounding countries.

Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia

Crystal Mosque

Extravagant mosque honors modern Islam.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Bamboo Playhouse

A delightful architectural wonder awaits on a lake island in Kuala Lumpur’s oldest park.

See All 46 Things To Do in Malaysia

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Malaysia

Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

BOH Tea Garden and Factory

The largest tea plantation in Southeast Asia supplies gorgeous vistas alongside tea for the surrounding countries.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Dharma Realm Guan Yin Sagely Monastery Canteen

Come for the chanting, stay for the monastical vegan buffet.

Temerloh, Malaysia

Amani Vanilla

This vanilla farm serves its crops at an on-site café.

Taiping, Malaysia

Antong Coffee Mill

Malaysia's oldest coffee roaster is also a historical landmark.

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Sacred Spaces 6

Museums And Collections 4

Architectural Oddities 4

Burial Places 3

History & Culture 3

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Stories About Malaysia

5 Colorful Stories About the Pageantry of the Lunar New Year

Go behind the scenes of celebration, from molten metal to sticky cakes.

January 24, 2023

A Botanical Mystery Solved, After 146 Years

How a young illustrator’s attention to detail—and a determined Victorian woman's legacy—led to the discovery of a new species in an old painting.

by Gemma Tarlach

In Malaysia, Recycled Fire Hoses Help Make Way for Endangered Langurs

These crossings keep them—and many other species—safe from roadway dangers.

by Kristen Pope

Malaysia Has Turned Lion Dancing Into a Gravity-Defying Extreme Sport

Meet some of the troupes taking an ancient tradition to new heights.

February 9, 2021

The Malaysian Penanggalan Haunts Pregnant Women and Newborns

These provincial specters are as gruesome as they are hungry.

October 29, 2020

The Mesmerizing Geometry of Malaysia's Most Complex Cakes

Bold colors and designs set kek lapis Sarawak apart.

by Samantha Chong

August 10, 2020

How a 'Flying Photographer' Sees the World From Above

The perspective made George Steinmetz an “accidental environmentalist.”

Malaysia Has Good Ghosts, Bad Ghosts, and Gremlin-Babies That Will Steal Your Stuff

Its spirit culture is unlike any in the world.

by Dan Nosowitz

October 24, 2019

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