Sentul, now known for futuristic luxury residential towers, has a rich history as a railway township and a bustling community dating back to the 1800s.
Jalan Sentul is lined with temples, mosque and churches to reflect on the diversity of the community, further seen in eateries around Jalan Ipoh catering to varied palate.
It was the home and workplace of thousands of railway workers, primarily from India. Sentul housed the finest integrated engineering workshop in the world at the time. Sentul Works, one of the biggest British industrial undertakings in Malaya, produced new coaches and the fittings.
You can still see some remains of the Sentul Works factory and depot, now converted to arts and culture center KLPAC.
The town deteriorated post-independence, when the railway depot moved and its quarters closed down, and the squatters and crime lords moved in. But the area has seen strong rejuvenation the last 10 years.
In 2002 YTL Land & Development Berhad rolled out its Sentul regeneration plan, and has transformed the rundown railway town. The new Sentul is demarcated into Sentul East and Sentul West, and eye-catching luxury condominiums named after tantalizing food and spices – The Maple, The Tamarind, The Capers and The Fennels – popped up in place of old shop houses.
Along with this new life, Sentul gets new public facilities. A new UTC makes life a lot easier for the residents, two LRT stations serves the renewed residential areas, along with an unpgraded KTM Komuter station.
Sentul East is also earmarked for the proposed integration of MRT Line 2 (Sg Buloh - Putrajaya) and the MRT Line 3 (Circle Line).
This redevelopment has not only changed Sentul’s skyline but revitalised its real-estate scene. Sentul’s accessibility, location and urban renewal drew more developments into the area, such as Vivahome, Melati Ehsan’s Bayu Sentul, Block Mercury and Sentul Village by UOA, and the Maxim Citilights.
The old-world charm however still remains. The famous Sentul Market, Sentul Cinema and several schools are still standing.
The wet market is still operating today and is always busy with housewives and restaurants owners shopping for cooking ingredients. The cinema on the other hand is a popular venue for Indian movies. Jalan Ipoh, renamed Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah recently, remains one of KL’s food havens.
Picture Credit: Timeout KL
