Casuarina Inn in Taiping
Kellie’s Castle is most likely the first thing that comes to mind when the ruins of a colonial structure in Perak is brought up. But there happens to be the lesser-known Casuarina Inn in Taiping too, which once stood as a luxurious structure seeping in colonial elegance.
Today, it has the nickname of Stonehenge of Taiping, thanks to 34 pillars still standing today at the former resort that once held up a 19th century colonial-era house.
The former residence of an Englishman
Casuarina Inn dates back to the era of British colonial rule in Malaysia, when Taiping was the administrative heart of Perak. The story goes that the inn was once the home of an Englishman living in Bukit Larut at the time, Tristram Charles Sawyer Speedy, or Captain Speedy for short, in the late 19th century. He was an important figure in the development of Taiping, acting as the British assistant resident.
Columns that you can still see today are part of his raised home, which infused Victorian architectural styles.
Image credit: @saifulzahairiezainuddin via Instagram
Behind his home, there was a building that served as a rest house for British officials. It would be used as a cushy inn and later a dorm for the British army before the property was acquired in 1972 by the Perak state government following Malaysia’s independence. The buildings would be converted into Casaurina Inn.
Image credit: History Insights – Malaysia via Facebook
While it was still in operation, the inn had a total of 26 rooms. It would attract visitors from near and far due to its close proximity to prominent Taiping attractions, such as Taiping Lake Gardens and Larut Hill, or Maxwell Hill.
The rumoured hauntings of Casuarina Inn
Casuarina Inn closed down in 2010 as its operators could no longer sustain it due to the low occupancy rate. It has been left abandoned ever since.
Image credit: @feeqz_ma via Instagram
Hotel guests and employees have come out to share personal stories involving strange apparition sightings and disembodied noises during their time at the inn. These rumoured haunting accounts, along with the inn’s unkempt appearance from overgrown trees, has linked the heritage site to paranormal activity, with some calling it one of the most haunted hotels in Malaysia.
Image credit: Nandros via Blogspot
There were talks to restore the heritage site as a historic attraction in 2020, but nothing has developed from the initial discussions. Today, the former residence-turned-inn is recognisable by the 34 pillars that still stand, though the structure they once supported has fallen to ruin, widely believed to be due to fire or pesky termites.
Image credit: @saifulzahairiezainuddin via Instagram
The ruins that resemble the Stonehenge
Casuarina Inn is now a shell of what it used to be. While most of the original colonial house that sat on the eye-catching pillars is no longer around, its left-behind ruins resembling a Stonehenge remain hauntingly beautiful.
Cover image adapted from: @saifulzahairiezainuddin, @feeqz_ma via Instagram