Kellie's Castle In Malaysia: Why This Lesser-Known Destination Should Be On Your Travel List

Have you ever been tempted to explore the eerie legends of a haunted castle? Kellie's Castle in Batu Gajah, Perak, Malaysia, built by the Scotsman William Kellie Smith in the early 20th century, is said to be a place where visitors report unsettling experiences. Imagine feeling a tug on your t-shirt when no one is there, hearing whispers brush past your ear, or catching a fleeting glimpse of a white shroud. The incomplete Castle combines Morrish, Indo-Saracenic, and Romanesque architecture with ornate arches and majestic columns. It would have been home to Malaysia's first elevator, a six-storey tower, secret tunnels, a tennis court, and a rooftop entertainment courtyard, none of which ever materialised.However, more than its enthralling architecture, the site is popular for the castle's ghost stories and spooky encounters that remain intertwined with it. Don't forget to keep a vacant spot in your Malaysia tour itinerary for this haunted castle. History Of Kellie's Castle In MalaysiaSmith was born in 1870 on a farm in Scotland. He was the third of the five children born into a relatively low-income family. After becoming a civil engineer, Smith decided to move to Malaysia in 1890 and joined Charles Alma Baker's survey firm.After working with Baker for five years, Smith ventured into rubber plantation and the tin mining industry, which helped him make a fortune.On his return to Scotland to attend to his dying mother, he found his wife, Agnes. They were married and blessed with a daughter named Helen and a son, Anthony.It was only after Anthony's birth in 1915 that the Castle's construction started. However, things took a dramatic turn when Smith died of pneumonia on his visit to Lisbon in 1926. The construction was suspended midway through, and it is believed that Agnes eventually sold it to a British company.The Sri Maha Mariamman Temple In The Smith EstateDuring the Castle's construction, Kellie imported the marble and stone and hired labourers from the South-Indian state of Tamil Nadu. However, between 1918 and 1920, most labourers succumbed to the Spanish flu outbreak. Those remaining requested Kellie to construct a Mariamman temple within his estate.Kellie constructed the temple, and a secret tunnel in the Castle that led up to it remains shut.Today, a five-minute walk from the Castle would lead you to the Sri Maha Mariamman temple. Sculptors of the temple have also included Kellie's statue among the Hindu deities on the temple's roof.Stories Associated With The Haunted Castle The castle has been subject to many supernatural tales, and visitors claim that paranormal entities still inhabit the monument. Some tourists have reported spotting a ghost-like figure in the mansion's grounds; others have reported seeing a ghostly child playing in the bedroom, possibly Smith's daughter, Helen.The castle also has hidden rooms, secret passages, underground tunnels, and narrow, spiral staircases. Three of the four secret tunnels have been found. The fourth one is yet to be discovered.How To Reach Kellie's Castle In MalaysiaKellie's Castle is located at Jalan Gopeng in Batu Gajah, close to a two-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur. Jalan Gopeng is also a 30-minute drive away from Ipoh town.It was in 2000 that the Malaysian government decided to refurbish the Castle as a potential tourism site. The museum conservation department restored much of it to its unfinished glory in 2012.The InformationDay and time: Daily, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.Kellie's Castle ticket price: The entry fee for foreign tourists is RM10 (approximately ₹185) for adults and RM8 (around ₹148) for children, while Malaysian citizens pay RM5 (about ₹93) for adults and RM3 (approximately ₹56) for children.Offbeat Travel Guide To Malaysia