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.
