> Source: https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/kota-kayang-museum/ — updated 2026-10-22. Markdown mirror generated at build time from the same content as the HTML page. Title: Kota Kayang Museum 2026: Free Entry, Hours & What to See Asia History & Archaeology ⏱ 1–1.5 hours Free entry # Kota Kayang Museum [Kuala Perlis](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/malaysia/kuala-perlis/) · [Malaysia](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/malaysia/) · Founded 2001 [Baca dalam Bahasa Melayu →](https://worldmuseumguide.org/ms/museums/kota-kayang-museum/) ![Kota Kayang Museum in Kuala Perlis, Malaysia](https://worldmuseumguide.org/images/placeholder.svg) Opened 2001 Galleries 6 Recommended Visit 1–1.5 hours Museum type Perlis state history ## Quick answer Kota Kayang Museum in Kuala Perlis, Malaysia — the Kota Kayang Museum, 4 km from Kuala Perlis and 7 km from Kangar, is the Department of Museums Malaysia's museum of Perlis history, built where a fortified palace of the Kedah-Perlis royal family once stood. Open daily, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Admission: free admission for all visitors. Allow 1–1.5 hours. Visitor information last reviewed 22 October 2026. Check the official museum site for current details. ## Kota Kayang Museum at a glance: hours, tickets and time needed - **Opening hours:** Daily: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM - **Closed:** on the first Monday of each month, the first two days of Hari Raya Aidilfitri and the first day of Hari Raya Aidiladha - **Last entry:** 4:30 PM - **Admission:** Free admission for all visitors - **Booking:** Tickets usually available on the day - **Time needed:** 1–1.5 hours - **Best time to visit:** Any day except the first Monday of the month, when JMM's brochure says the museum is closed; arrive before the 4:30 PM last admission. - **Getting there:** Taxi: Taxi or Grab from Kuala Perlis (about 4 km) or Kangar (about 7 km); JMM recommends taxis, which it says charge reasonable fares - **Address:** Muzium Kota Kayang, Al-Marhum Kayang, 02000 Kuala Perlis, Perlis, Malaysia - **Official website:** jmm.gov.my Checked 2026-10-22 against [the official website](https://www.jmm.gov.my/en/content/kota-kayang-museum). Prices and hours change — confirm before you travel. ## What is Kota Kayang Museum known for? The Kota Kayang Museum lies in the Kayang area of Perlis, among Bukit Kayang, Bukit Lambong Panah, Bukit Jagat Hutang, Bukit Wai and Bukit Menara, close to what the Department of Museums Malaysia (JMM) calls the oldest man-made canal in Peninsular Malaysia. JMM says the site was once a fortified palace where the Kedah-Perlis royal family lived, as shown by remains such as the tomb of Sultan Dhiauddin al-Mukarram Shah, known as Al-Marhum Kayang I. A 2018 FMT review dates the tomb to the 17th century, and a 2017 New Straits Times feature describes the fort's 2.13-metre mud walls and moat and says the museum takes its name from it. Before the museum, the site held a residence used by the British Adviser to Perlis, by the Japanese military administration and a Thai military government during the Second World War, and after the war by the Chief Minister of Perlis. It was demolished in 1991. FMT reports that the present building, completed in 1999, was designed to match the house it replaced; JMM describes its long roof as the style of the traditional Perlis Malay house. Porcelain shards found during construction were traced to Siam, Vietnam, China, India and Europe. The museum opened to visitors in September 2001 and is run by JMM. Six galleries hold several hundred objects. The History Gallery follows Perlis through the Siamese, Japanese and British periods to independence, and the Archaeology Gallery shows prehistoric, proto-historic and historical finds from Kota Kayang and elsewhere in the state, including Neolithic burial pottery and a mould for casting Perlis pitis coins. The Weapons Gallery displays keris, parang, swords and other local weapons. The Royal Gallery traces the rulers of Perlis, which became a separate state from Kedah in 1843 with Syed Hussein Jamalullail as its first Raja, and shows a replica bunga emas. The Cultural Gallery covers farming, fishing, music and traditional games, and a sixth gallery shows gifts received by Perlis Chief Ministers. Entry is free, and JMM lists the museum as open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; its brochure adds last admission at 4:30 PM and closures on the first Monday of each month and over Hari Raya. Volunteer guides lead tours on a set schedule, and school and other groups must book ahead. The grounds cover about 1.94 hectares and include the royal tomb, a royal well, a lake that the New Straits Times says once collected rainwater, a small cave, a recreation park, a car park and a surau. In 2017 the paper also reported official Rolls-Royce cars and old boats from the Perlis River displayed outdoors. Best for: History Enthusiasts · Families · Budget Travellers ## What are the must-see works at Kota Kayang Museum? 5 highlights that define the collection: King Chulalongkorn's letter of appreciation, Perlis pitis coin mould, Neolithic burial pottery and more. 1 ### King Chulalongkorn's letter of appreciation Royal letter from Siam to Raja Syed Hussein of Perlis A letter of appreciation from King Chulalongkorn of Siam to the ruler of Perlis, Raja Syed Hussein, named by JMM as one of the museum's most prominent collections. 2 ### Perlis pitis coin mould Perlis currency-making · historical period 📍 Archaeology Gallery A mould used to cast pitis, the small coins of Perlis, pictured in JMM's brochure with rows of coin shapes branching from a central channel. 3 ### Neolithic burial pottery Neolithic Perlis 📍 Archaeology Gallery Clay pottery that formed part of a Neolithic burial, one of the prehistoric finds that open the museum's story of Perlis. 4 ### Tomb of Sultan Dhiauddin al-Mukarram Shah Royal tomb · 17th century 📍 Museum grounds The tomb of the ruler known as Al-Marhum Kayang I, which JMM cites as evidence that a royal fort and palace once stood on the site. 5 ### Acehnese tomb markers Aceh · some from the 15th century Carved tomb markers from Aceh, some dating from the 15th century, linked to the arrival of Islam in the region (reported by the New Straits Times in 2017). ## Collections and highlights - • History of Perlis from the Siamese period to independence - • Prehistoric and proto-historic archaeology of Perlis - • Keris, parang, swords and other local weapons - • Royal genealogy of Perlis and a replica bunga emas - • Farming, fishing, music and traditional games - • Gifts received by the Chief Ministers of Perlis ## Tips for visiting Kota Kayang Museum 1. ### Best time to visit Any day except the first Monday of the month, when JMM's brochure says the museum is closed; arrive before the 4:30 PM last admission. No Friday midday closure is published. 2. ### Tickets & booking Free; individuals need no booking. Groups and school parties must book volunteer-guided tours in advance on 04-977 0027 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM). 3. ### Accessibility No accessibility information is published. The New Straits Times describes the main building as a single-storey complex, but contact the museum before visiting if you have mobility needs. 4. ### Photography rules JMM publishes no photography rules for this museum; ask staff before photographing the galleries. The grounds, tomb and lake are outdoors. ## How do you get to Kota Kayang Museum? - taxi Taxi or Grab from Kuala Perlis (about 4 km) or Kangar (about 7 km); JMM recommends taxis, which it says charge reasonable fares - car Drive to Al-Marhum Kayang on the road between Kangar and Kuala Perlis; the museum has its own car park Address: Muzium Kota Kayang, Al-Marhum Kayang, 02000 Kuala Perlis, Perlis, Malaysia ## Sources we checked Visitor facts and history on this page come from these sources, checked on the dates shown. 1. [Kota Kayang Museum](https://www.jmm.gov.my/en/content/kota-kayang-museum) — Department of Museums Malaysia (JMM), checked 22 October 2026 2. [Muzium Kota Kayang](https://www.jmm.gov.my/ms/content/muzium-kota-kayang-0) — Jabatan Muzium Malaysia (JMM), checked 22 October 2026 3. [Muzium Kota Kayang / Kota Kayang Museum (brochure)](https://www.jmm.gov.my/files/brosur/MKK.pdf) — Jabatan Muzium Malaysia (JMM), checked 22 October 2026 4. [Inside the historical Kota Kayang Museum in Perlis (28 November 2018)](https://freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2018/11/28/inside-the-historical-kota-kayang-museum-in-perlis) — Free Malaysia Today, checked 22 October 2026 5. [GO: Big in history (November 2017)](https://www.nst.com.my/amp/lifestyle/jom/2017/11/306556/go-big-history) — New Straits Times, checked 22 October 2026 6. [Kota Kayang Museum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kota_Kayang_Museum) — Wikipedia, checked 22 October 2026 ## Kota Kayang Museum: frequently asked questions ### How much is the entrance fee for the Kota Kayang Museum? Entry is free for every visitor, according to the Department of Museums Malaysia (JMM), which runs the museum. Museum volunteers lead guided tours on a set schedule; school parties and other groups must book in advance by calling 04-977 0027 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM) or emailing the museum. Individual visitors can simply walk in. ### Where is the Kota Kayang Museum and how do I get there? The museum is at Al-Marhum Kayang in Perlis, about 4 km from Kuala Perlis and 7 km from Kangar, the state capital. JMM recommends taking a taxi from either town, and Grab is an alternative. If you drive, the museum has its own car park, along with public toilets, a surau and a recreation park in the grounds. ### How long should I spend at the Kota Kayang Museum? Plan 1–1.5 hours for the highlights of Kota Kayang Museum. Add extra time for temporary exhibitions, the shop and the café. ### What are the highlights of the Kota Kayang Museum? JMM singles out a letter of appreciation from King Chulalongkorn of Siam to the ruler of Perlis, Raja Syed Hussein; a mould for casting Perlis pitis coins in the Archaeology Gallery; and Neolithic clay pottery that formed part of a burial. A 2017 New Straits Times feature also noted Acehnese tomb markers, some from the 15th century, and old boats recovered from the Perlis River. ### Can I take photos inside the Kota Kayang Museum? JMM does not publish a photography policy for the Kota Kayang Museum, so ask staff or the volunteer guides before photographing the galleries, and avoid flash. The grounds, with the royal tomb, well, lake and the surrounding hills, are outdoors; a 2018 FMT review found them the most attractive part of the visit. ### What is the history of the Kota Kayang site? JMM says the museum stands on the site of a fortified palace of the Kedah-Perlis royal family, shown by remains such as the tomb of Sultan Dhiauddin al-Mukarram Shah. In later times a residence here housed the British Adviser, wartime Japanese and Thai administrations and then the Chief Minister of Perlis, before it was demolished in 1991 to make way for the museum. ### Is Kota Kayang Museum open on Mondays? Usually — Kota Kayang Museum opens every day, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, but it closes on the first Monday of each month, the first two days of Hari Raya Aidilfitri and the first day of Hari Raya Aidiladha. Check the official website before a Monday visit. ### What are Kota Kayang Museum's opening hours? Kota Kayang Museum is open daily, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, and closed on the first Monday of each month, the first two days of Hari Raya Aidilfitri and the first day of Hari Raya Aidiladha. Last entry: 4:30 PM. Hours can change for holidays and events, so check the official website before you go. ### Is Kota Kayang Museum free to visit? Yes — free admission for all visitors. Plan your visit Admission Free admission for all visitors Hours Daily: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Closed on the first Monday of each month, the first two days of Hari Raya Aidilfitri and the first day of Hari Raya Aidiladha) [Official website & tickets](https://www.jmm.gov.my/en/content/kota-kayang-museum) [View on Google Maps →](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=6.4158,100.1488) We don't sell tickets or take commission — links go to the museum. More in Perlis [All museums in Kuala Perlis →](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/malaysia/kuala-perlis/) [All museums in Malaysia →](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/malaysia/) Found this guide useful? [Support World Museum Guide](https://worldmuseumguide.org/support/). It is optional, and every guide stays free.