Lipis - Lipis Geopark

Kuala Lipis developed as an early trading centre for gold and forest products and became the state capital from 1898 to 1955. The town was established in 1863, with most commercial activity conducted from rafthouses moored along the Jelai River. In 1888, permanent buildings were erected and businesses relocated to their present location. The compact town centre is lined with old two-storey shophouses, typical of Malaysian towns. A roadside marker in front of the Post Office indicates the town’s importance when it was the state capital Kuala Lipis, located where the Lipis and Jelai Rivers meet, and several heritage buildings reflect the town’s past. Lipis District Office, dating to 1919, still houses several government departments. This distinctive red and white building occupies a commanding position above the town.

The Muzium Warisan Lipis building, with its local history and cultural displays, was once occupied by the British Resident. Clifford School was established in 1913 and the Malay Hostel was added in 1929 to house students from remote areas. The distinctive black and white Pahang Club, built from timber, was once the centre of the town’s social life. The first mosque in Kuala Lipis was erected in 1888, while Thean Hou Temple welcomed its first worshippers in 1898. Jalan Besar is the town’s commercial heart, with the Post Office, Railway Station and numerous shoplots located here. These shops provide essential products and services, including fishing gear for those interested in catching prized river fish. The multi-stepped Medan Tangga is a covered walkway with a few dining outlets, including one that sells the famous pulut rendang, or slowcooked beef with spices.

Locally-caught ikan patin and tilapia river fish are served in many Kuala Lipis restaurants. Different cooking styles include gulai tempoyak ikan patin (curry broth and fermented durian) and gulai asam rong (cooked with rubber tree fruits). The ikan patin served at Azmi Steam Fish has attained notoriety, while ikan bakar (barbecued fish) is popular, especially at the pasar malam (night market). Another celebrated dish is Hakka mee, served at the Chong Ko Hakka Noodle outlet. Sambal hitam (black chilli paste) is a local favourite used in cooking or served as a spicy accompaniment to many dishes.

Nearby, Kenong Rimba Park is a nature reserve comprising primary forest, amazing limestone caves and wild rivers. It’s only accessible by boat along the forest-lined Kenong River. Nature lovers can admire Kenong Rimba’s caves while having the forests all to themselves at a riverside campsite. While the park especially caters to spelunkers (cavers) and kayakers, tourists who are interested in nature will be enthralled by its flora and fauna. Merapoh is the gateway for Taman Negara Sungai Relau and the multi-day return trek to the Gunung Tahan summit, the highest peak on the Malaysian peninsula at 2,187m. While challenging, it’s shorter than the more recognised seven-day ascent from Kuala Tahan on the Tembeling River. Other adrenaline-charged adventures here include kayaking, caving and trekking on and near the Relau and Tanum Rivers. Guests at places like Homestay Sungai Medang can experience daily village life.

They can savour dishes prepared from farm-grown fruits and vegetables. The railway arrived in Kuala Lipis in 1926 to provide a vital link to the rest of the country. Malaysia’s ‘Jungle Railway’ from Kelantan to Gemas and onto Johor Bahru for Singapore passes through the town. Daily trains also operate to and from Gua Musang. Kuala Lipis is located 170 km from Kuala Lumpur and 250 km from Kuantan.

Deerland

"Up Close and Personal with the Wildlife"

Located in a natural rainforest just a stone throw away from Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary and Krau Wildlife Reserve at Bukit Rengit Lanchang, Pahang. It is about 2 hours away from Kuala Lumpur. The serene and prestine natural environment is filled with abundance of flora and fauna. Learn about the jungle, get in touch with your spiritual innerself. Feed the animals, appreciate what nature have to to offer. (Animals includes monkeys, deer, snakes, sun bear and many more)

Operation Hours: 11.00 am - 6.00 pm (Everyday except Friday)

Visitors Are Required To Make Advance Reservations At Least One Week Before The Visit

For reservations/information, please contact:-
En Abdullah: +609-2779305; +6012-9627249 or email: deer_land@hotmail.com

Smiling Mountain (Gunung Senyum)

Gunung Senyum or the Smiling Mountain Recreational Park, at 1,549 metres above sea level is an important archeological site. It is located on the Pahang River bank about 68 kilometres away from the town of Temerloh via kampung Awah and Felda Jengka 18. The park is a part of the Jengka Forest Reserve, which covers an area of 794 hectares. Surrounded by oil palm plantations of the Jengka Felda scheme, there are two main mountains within the park, Gunung Senyum and Gunong Jebak Puyoh, the former being a popular spot to tourist and researchers. Gunung Senyum is made up of limestone and rock, estimated to be around 3,000 years old, whilst the lowlands on the east is made of mudstone and shale estimated at around 2,100 years old.

There are 19 caves found within the park, and among the caves that arouse greater interest to scientific researchers and archeologists :

  1. Gua Terang Bulan
  2. Gua Hidang
  3. Gua Taman Satu
  4. Gua Taman Dua
  5. Gua Angin
  6. Gua Merlap
  7. Gua Kolam Tuju
  8. Gua Gajah
  9. Gua Gelap

Among the most famous legend in Gunung Senyum is the story of Tok Long, is a noble person, Tok Long who is said to have married an elf in this mountain region. The consequences of breaking a promise, Tok Long failed to find his wife back in causing elves decided meditating on it until his death. Grave in Gua Makam Tok Long is said to be evidence of a long story handed down from generation to generation.

Operation Hours: 8.00 am - 5.00 pm

For reservations/information, please contact:-
Tel: 09-2962755 or email: webmaster@forestry.gov.my 

Other website: https://pelancongan.my/gunung-senyum/ 

National Elephant Conservation Centre (NECC)

Lanchang is a small village where you can find an elephant sanctuary named National Elephant Conservation Centre (NECC). The elephant sanctuary was established in 1989 within the Krau Wildlife Reserve and is managed by the Malaysian Department of Wildlife and National Parks. Here many orphaned elephants are raised and given shelter. Not long after tourists found out about the elephant shelter the town quickly evolved into a popular tourist attraction. Kuala Gandah (Lanchang) is probably the best place on Peninsular Malaysia to come face to face with an elephant.

Rehabilitating and relocating elephants

Mainly due to agricultural development, the elephants' natural foraging grounds shrunk smaller and smaller over time. Finding food became more difficult and as a result some of the elephants were found in plantations and sometimes even in the small towns looking for food. As the Asian Elephant is an endangered species; people are encouraged not to kill or hurt the animals but to report them to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks so they can capture, rehabilitate, and relocate the elephants to the larger national parks throughout Peninsular Malaysia (like Taman Negara). For the past 25 years, the staff at Kuala Gandah (currently over 35 people work at the sanctuary) helped to prevent the further decrease of the elephant population by relocating over 400 wild elephants back into the wild. Some might say that the National Elephant Conservation Centre is nothing more than a tourist attraction. Though this might be partly true, it also plays a big role in creating more awareness among the public (locals and tourists alike).

Especially fun for kids

Families that are traveling with kids should not miss a visit to Kuala Gandah. Kids will forever fall in love with elephants after they experience the close interaction at Kuala Gandah. Visitors can witness the feeding and bathing of the elephants; a great experience especially for children. To minimize stress for the elephants visitors can only see the elephants 2 times a day. Bathing of the elephants is only possible if water levels are high enough. 

How to get to Kuala Gandah

It is roughly a two-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur (around 200km). There are organized tours from Kuala Lumpur, though you can also get a taxi or rent a car to drive there yourself. The elephant sanctuary is located along the East Coast Expressway between Kuala Lumpur and the city of Kuantan in the eastern peninsula. From the main highway, you get off at exit 816 Lanchang Interchange (Lanchang/Raub/Kuala Lipis). From there you can follow the signs to Kuala Gandah (or keep heading towards Lanchang). The sanctuary is open daily between 10.30 and about 4 pm.

National Elephant Conservation Centre (NECC) official website

Temerloh - Centre of the Peninsular

Temerloh, located on the banks of the Pahang River, is close to the geographic centre of Peninsular Malaysia. Pahang’s second-largest town is located at the junction of the Pahang and Semantan Rivers. Previously named Kuala Semantan, Temerloh’s old town includes colonial buildings and streets lined with two-storey shoplots. The district also takes in natural wonders like caves at Gunung Senyum, Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary and Deerland. Temerloh’s tree-lined riverside esplanade is where the locals relax and snack on treats sold in stalls and restaurants. It is busiest on weekends and at dusk, when the locals exercise in the cool setting. The Semantan River is a base for boating, recreation and river cruises. Masjid Bahru dominates the skyline while shoppers enjoy the covered market along Semantan Walk.

Kubang Gajah Waterpark in the town centre offers a fun venue for cooling down. The Karak Highway from Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan crosses the Pahang River at Temerloh. Its strategic location has meant that Temerloh has always been a market town, with the Sunday Pekan Sehari being the state’s oldest. In preparations for the early opening, villagers bring their produce early in the morning, usually via the boats. Furthermore, the unique car boot sales that happen on every Saturday evening, where anyone can be a trader or buyer. Local hotels like Hotel Seri Malaysia offer budget accommodation, a restaurant and pool. Hotel U Design delivers contemporary accommodation with hotels located in Temerloh and Mentakab. There are opportunities to enjoy local hospitality in homestays like Kampung Desa Murni, where the guests can choose whether to join in village activities or relax in the pool. The locals are proud of their food, especially the signature freshwater fish dish of patin tempoyak served with durian gravy. While steamboat is enjoyed by many, new food concepts like Hogoh De Coco have their origins in Temerloh. Most of their signature dishes and beverages include fresh local coconut as an essential ingredient.

Another exciting concept is Armani Vanilla, which incorporates farm-grown vanilla into various delicacies, especially ice cream. Mentakab, located just 9 km from Temerloh and 82 km from Kuala Lumpur, is the district’s second largest town. In the late 19th century, Mentakab was considered as Pahang’s state capital to replace Pekan, but in 1898, it lost out to Kuala Lipis. Located on the railway line from Gemas to Kelantan, daily trains cross the iron bridge over the Semantan River. For the villagers of Kampung Paya Siput, the village is the centre of their life. For visitors to this rural district near Lanchang, the village is located at 3o 29’ N and 102o 13’, which is the geographic centre of Peninsular Malaysia.

Gunung Senyum (Smiling Mountain), near Jengka, features limestone caves and a picturesque lake. The easiest caves to visit are Gua Angin and Gua Makam Tok Long, perched on a cliff face. They are located within Taman Eko Gunung Senyum which provides basic facilities including chalets and campsite accommodation. There is a walking trail around the lake and the caves also have archaeological and mythological significance. The National Elephant Conservation Centre at Kuala Gandah is important for elephant conservation. Operated by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, the centre was established in 1989 to facilitate the relocation of displaced elephants to large natural areas like Taman Negara. Nearby, Deerland is home to deer, birds, reptiles and monkeys.

Contact Us

No 33 & 33A, ICT Hub, Indian Town,
Jalan Putra Square 4, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang
T: +609 568 1623/1624
F: +609 568 1626
H: 1-300-88-2017
E: webtourism16@gmail.com

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Operating Hours : 
Monday-Friday: 8.00 am - 5.00 pm / Friday Closed On: 12.15 pm - 2.45 pm
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