MAGNIFICENT PERAK CAVES

MAGNIFICENT PERAK CAVES

Perak has the largest cave system in the Peninsular Malaysia. I started covering cave stories organised by Perak Heritage Society (PHS), Malaysia Karst Society (MKS), Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), Tourism Malaysia and Lost World of Tambun (LWOT), from 2004 – 2017.

HERE WE GO - CAVING!

KINTA VALLEY & PERAK

One of my early visits, was the Tambun Cave (Dancing Hill),located in Tambun. Climb the steep rugged staircases leading into the cave to admire the famous prehistoric painting of a “Dancing Girl” coupled with neolithic drawings like dugong, turtles and octopus. The cave is believed dating back 3,000 years ago, reflecting the lifestyle of prehistoric population. 2000 (Personal)/ 2015 (USM)

GUA TAMBUN (DANCING HILL)

Gua Kanthan (Cathedral) is believed to exist 340 million years ago, formed during the Carboniferous period, when the area was a sea. It used to be a hideout for 300 refuges during the invasion by the Japanese Imperial Army of Malaya, in 1942, located in Chemor. Popularly known for its darkness, one needs to climb through steep hill through thick bushes before reaching the limestone hill. Fossils, crystals and flora, bats, snakes, spiders and snails are plentiful, here. MKS/2004.

GUA KANTHAN (CATHEDRAL CAVE)

Gua Kandu, dubbed as an “unspoilt” cave, located near Kampung Lawan Kuda, Gopeng. The cave is home to wildlife – swifts and insect eating and fruit eating bats. MKS/2004.

GUA KANDU

Gua Kelawa (Bats Cave) is located off Jalong Tinggi, in Sg Siput. One has to drive through bumpy muddy roads through an oil palm estate before reaching the cave. There are lots of natural rock formations, garfu, a hot lake of semi-liquid guano and ancient cave charcoal paintings and bats. MKS 2004.

GUA KELAWA (BATS CAVE)

Man Fatt Ngam Temple (Cave of the 10,000 Buddhas), is located on a 220-m Mesah Hill, Gopeng. A temple, was built in 1890, and the temple was popular among Buddhists during CNY month. It took about 30 minutes to climb the 400 steps, to reach the cave temple. MKS/2004

MAN FATT NGAM (MESAH HILL)

Ulu Geroh Village is located in Gopeng, is popular with the seasonal Rafflesia Flower, the Orang Asli Semai Settlement, Raya Brooke butterflies and Waterfall. I have an opportunity to cover an assignment themed “Species and Habitat Protection Programme” to learn about eco-tourism and visited the Rafflesia Flowers site. MNS/2009

ULU GEROH

The Sixth-Mile Tunnel, a 700 m tunnel is a favourite among cavers who are up to the challenge of wading through knee-deep mud for some 40 m and then swimming across a shallow pol for 100m just to get to the entrance of the tunnel. The 6^th Mile Tunnel offers me an unforgetable experience as I have to swim across a river before getting into the cave itself. MKS/2005 and LWOT/2007

SIXTH-MILE TUNNEL

Conquering the four-star rated Gua Datuk in Tambun, was no small feat and I need to do a vigorous climb up a steep slope of 120 m to reach the cave entrance. The reward is to view a masterpiece in the form of stunning rock formations named “Great Picasso's Chamber” , here. 2005/MKS/ 2008/LWOT.

GUA DATOK

Gua Anak Datok (Son of Datok Hill), located in Tambun comprises of stalagmites and stalactites with formations like Three Sisters, Big Foot and Bowl. It is home to bats, cockroaches and snakes.

GUA ANAK DATOK

Adjacent to the the cave, is tall slim rock called Pencil Rock (Needle of Tambun).

Gua Toh Sembilan is located in Kampung Kepayang, Perak, a relatively unknown cave with interesting tales and unusual findings – including Chinese calligraphy writings and poems, religious writings on the wall and altars. It is believed that the cave was the location of a Taoist Temple of more than 100 years old as some of the writings were said to have dated back to 1905. MKS/2006

GUA TOH SEMBILAN

Da Seng Ngan Buddhist Temple located in Jalan Gopeng – excavation works were carried out and discovered 100 pieces of artefacts include burner stands, cups, plates, candle stands, century egg urn, bells and gongs, a Buddha statue and porcelain God of War statue. These items are believed to have made during the Chinese Yuen Dynasty (1426 – 1435). MKS/2006

DA SENG NGAN TEMPLE

Gua Tempurung – is a popular show cave with electric lighting and walkway and a river passage through the hill, in Gopeng. You will see layers of white marble stone slabs and walls and the most attractive one is the “Golden Flowstone”. There are stalagmites and stalactites images of dolphin, jellyfish, tiger, lion, cow's head, seahorse, old man, Lorh Buddhha. Made several visits to Gua Tempurung with friends or Tourism Malaysia.

GUA TEMPURUNG

LENGGONG

Gua Runtoh (Falling Caves)is located at Bukit Kepala Gajah,is the oldest cave in Lenggong Valley - Late Palaeolithic from 13,000 till 10,000 period. The items that are left behind are tools, food and a human remain and the Perak Man – the only Palaeolithic figure found intact in the country. PHS/2004 

GUA RUNTOH (FALLING CAVES)

 

PERAK MAN

Gua Badak (Rhinoceros Caves) is no more a cave as it collapsed long ago. The only thing left behind are rock art – drawings by Orang Asli who possibly used this caves as a shelter during their nomadic migrations. PHS/2004

GUA BADAK (RHINOCEROS CAVES)

Gua Harimau (Tiger Caves) – gets its name from a legend that tells a tiger was once spotted resting here. This cave has high entrance and a space, was used as a burial or living site by men. Bones and tools are found here. PHS/2004 

GUA HARIMAU (TIGER CAVES)

Gua Kajang islocated at Bukit Kepala Gajah – a hugh part of the floor cave has been damaged due to guano harvesting and some parts of the cave walls have been drawn over with graffiti. This was the first cave in the country to be excavated in 1917 by Evans, where urns, stone tools, earthenware, food and human bones are discovered, here. Tourism Malaysia/2019

GUA KAJANG

Jawa Hill is an open Palaeolithic – discovered during a Kota Tampan paleaoenvironmental reconstruction by a team of researcher from USM in 1996. Evidence here of early human activities dating back to 100,000 to 200,000 years ago comes from the discovery of stone tool workshop that used river gravels from the Perak River to produce pebble and flake tools by using anvils, cores and hammerstones. Tourism Malaysia/2019

JAWA HILL

Sapi Hill – is a small hill formed due to the volcano ash from Lake Toba, Indonesia. Tourism Malaysia/2019

SAPI HILL

Gua Bunoh (Killings Cave) – is found deep into an oil palm plantation where thousands of meteorites fell at this place millions of years ago. One can still find sightings of the meterorites formations left here. Tourism Malaysia/2019

METERORITES FOUND AT GUA BUNOH (KILLINGS CAVES)