Bukit Melawati is a rich historical site, making it one of Kuala Selangor’s most popular attractions. Also known as Melawati Hill, this small peak was once home to a mighty fortress built by Sultan Ibrahim of Selangor towards the end of the 17th century, in an effort to safeguard the state from the Dutch forces that had just conquered Malacca, down south the coast.

The fort faced the sea with a commanding view of the coastline and the river mouth on the right. Built with solid slabs of stone and held by massive pillars, the fort was an impressive structure in the history of Selangor. Rain trees, favoured for their large canopies providing shade, were planted around the hill slopes to protect against erosion. The trees are still here today, having grown to commanding statures.

Despite its built and strength, the fort faltered in the face of powerful Dutch cannons and fell to their naval forces after a two week siege. However, it wasn’t long before the Dutch tangled with Ibrahim’s troops again; in about a year, the Sultan launched a night raid and succeeded in recapturing Bukit Melawati while driving the Dutch back to sea.

However, it wasn’t long before the Dutch tangled with Ibrahim’s troops again; in about a year, the Sultan launched a night raid and succeeded in recapturing Bukit Melawati while driving the Dutch back to sea. The fort continued to be at the epicenter of many struggles and battles over the years, especially during the Selangor civil war, fought between factions created by rival sultans and Chinese tin miner gangs. The British forces finally hammered the fort into little pieces, with the help of the massive gunboat ‘Rinaldo’, and by the late 18th century, had conquered the entire state with their choice of faction. Not much was left of the fort after the merciless pounding and the rest, as they say, is history.

Today, visitors and tourists can view the few foundation stones, rocks and walls that remain, along with some of the 68 cannons originally used for the fort’s defence perched around the hill. In place of concrete and stone, grass and shrubbery now cover the hill to create a pleasant environment along with cooling trees for a recreational stroll. A royal mausoleum, the burial site for the first three Sultans of Selangor, can also be visited on this hill. The point where most visitors and tourists congregate is the view point in front of the Altingsburg light house at the peak. This light house was built in 1907 and continues to guide ships sailing through the Straits of Malacca today.

From here, one can look out to the lush greenery and mangroves below and further out, a vista of open sea. Glancing at the right, the sea meets with the mouth of the Selangor River and if you look closely, you can see ships and boats sailing through. This particular point of the peak is also famous for the resident silver leaf monkeys, or langurs.

Originating from the coastal forests and mangroves below, these monkeys decided somewhere in time to make the peak of Bukit Melawati their home, thanks to the generous handouts and feedings from visitors and tourists to the hill. With silvery grey complexion and fur above their heads forming into a crest, the silver leaf monkeys are a unique-looking primate, with a gentle but shy disposition in nature.

However, the exposure to people and tourism have made the monkeys very tame and they will sometimes spontaneously hop on the shoulders of unsuspecting visitors and perch there nonchalantly. Unlike the devilish long-tailed macaques, which are found in much fewer numbers on the hill, the silver leaf monkeys will patiently queue up to accept handouts and tug your clothes gently to signal attention.

The silver leaf monkeys are also rather fond of long beans, which can be bought from peddlers to feed them. When not being fed, the monkeys are content to just sit quietly along the railings or park benches alongside resting visitors. Bukit Melawati can be reached from its base at the center of Kuala Selangor town. On weekends, a colourful tram service run by the district authorities ferries visitors up the hill. Cars are allowed to go up the hill on weekdays. Either day of the week, you can also walk up via the access road or from the steps near the Kuala Selangor Nature Park. The hill also has two museums and a poisoned well to explore.