Kuala Kangsar is the royal capital of Perak state, a quiet riverside town whose graceful Ubudiah Mosque — with its golden domes — is considered one of Malaysia's finest examples of Moorish architecture. The town is also home to Malaysia's first rubber tree, planted from seeds brought from Kew Gardens in 1877, which launched the country's rubber industry. The royal palace and its lakeside setting give the town a serene, dignified character quite different from the bustle of larger Malaysian cities.