Kellie's Castle, Unfinished mansion in Batu Gajah, Malaysia
Kellie's Castle is an unfinished mansion in Batu Gajah whose stone walls rise across several floors and display horseshoe arches and ornamented cornices. The estate stands on a hillside near the river and offers views through to the surrounding palm groves.
Construction began in 1915 at the initiative of a Scottish planter who brought materials and craftsmen from India. After his sudden death in 1926, the project was abandoned and remained as a shell.
The name honors the Scottish plantation owner whose workers from India embedded arches and ornaments in their homeland architecture. The rooms still show empty niches and open ceilings that let visitors recognize how the building was once meant to be completed.
The estate sits on Jalan Gopeng and opens daily from 9 AM to 6 PM with different entrance fees for local and foreign guests. Sturdy shoes are advisable as some stairs are uneven and areas remain without railings.
The original plans envisioned Malaysia's first elevator meant to bring guests directly to the rooftop terrace. A network of secret tunnels was intended to connect the main house with the outbuildings, but only short sections were completed.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
