Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan, Clock tower and heritage site in Teluk Intan, Malaysia.
The Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan is a three-story brick structure topped with a mechanical clock that tilts noticeably to one side. Inside, the building once served as a water tank and today functions partially as a television transmission point for the region.
Built in 1885 under British rule, the tower originally functioned as a water storage facility for residents. Within a few years after completion, the foundation began settling unevenly beneath the structure, creating the distinctive lean that has remained ever since.
The tower blends Chinese pagoda design with Western construction methods, showing how different building traditions came together in this port town. Walking around it, you notice how multiple influences shaped the local architecture and character of the place.
The functional clock at the top rings every 15 minutes, providing a steady rhythm to the surroundings. The tower sits in the center of town and is visible during daylight hours, with a walk around its base offering the clearest view of the lean.
The foundation rests on particularly soft ground, which explains why it settled unevenly in those early years. This makes it an unusual case of an unintended tilt that developed before many of the world's more celebrated leaning structures were built.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.