The name of the hill comes from the clay soil at its base. The hill (62 m) used to overlook the lake and the city skyline. Jelgava Street runs along the hill, leading drivers into the city centre. At the foot of the hill by the lake there used to be a water mill and the Mālu Inn, now a dairy.

In 2010, on the occasion of the 77th birthday of the poet Imants Ziedonis, the Imants Ziedonis Cherry Orchard with 77 decorative cherry trees was planted on Mālkalns; a year later another 60 low sour cherries were planted, and in May 2013 another 100 and in 2014 – about 200 more cherry trees. “Let me go out into the world in beauty, as the cherry blossoms bloom in Tukums!”