Friday 14 February 2020

Explore the most beautiful caves in Malaysia

Explore the most beautiful caves in Malaysia
Malaysia is a vast convergence of cultures, activities, races and food but there is something else about this humble Southeast Asian nation that many might not know about. Something a little under the surface: its caves. A sprawling collection of mysterious cave formations containing intriguing structures and wildlife can be found throughout the country. 

If you are an adventurous spirit with a knack for cave exploration, here is a list of some of the caves in Malaysia that are open to the public.

Batu Caves

Batu Caves
Batu Caves is the focal point of the annual Hindu festival of Thaipusam, which attracts thousands of devotees and visitors. Usually held at the end of January, the procession begins on the evening before the Thaipusam Festival at the Sri Mariamman Temple in Kuala Lumpur city centre.

The procession more often than not, arrives at Batu Caves in the wee hours of the morning the next day; the entire celebration commences then and is a colourful event that lasts a total of eight hours. In the past the festival has attracted more than one million pilgrims, making it one of the largest gatherings in the world.

Gua Nasib Bagus

Gua Nasib Bagus
Situated in Gunung Mulu National Park, this cave has the largest natural underground chamber. Lubang Nasib Bagus is more than 600m long, 400m wide and 100 m high. The entrance fee is RM10 per person and is definitely worth the money for you will be able to splash in the cave stream.

The clean, clear and icy cold cave stream is sure to give your senses a major boost and leave you wanting for more. This keeps getting better and better. A cave where you can splash in before continuing your journey sounds like the perfect weekend getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Perak Cave

Perak Cave
The Perak Cave is located in Ipoh and is a 6km drive along Jalan Kuala Kangsar to the north. It is also a religious landmark with the Perak Tong Cave Temple housed within its vicinity. It is known for the colourful murals as well as the Chinese calligraphy painted by Chong Yin Chat that adorn its walls. Various depictions of characters and events from Chinese mythology and Buddhist scripture can also be found in this fascinating attraction.

Deer Cave

Deer Cave
Also set in the Gunung Mulu National Park of Sarawak, the Deer Cave stands out from the other caves due to its magnificent cave passage, commonly known as the largest in the world. There are a number of things that make this Garden of Eden so unique, including the aptly named Adam and Eve showers that shoot out 30m columns of water and the hundreds of thousands of bats that stream from its mouth every evening between5pm to 6.30pm. On top of all this, a quirky little Abraham Lincoln silhouette can be found hidden among the rocks.

Gua Gomantong

Gua Gomantong
While Sabah is known all over the world for its Gunung Kinabalu, less is known about Gua Gomantong. Gua Gomantong is in Sandakan at the outskirts of Lower Kinabatangan. Gua Gomantong consists of two cave complexes namely, Simud Hitam which translates into Black Cave and Simud Putih which translates into White Cave. Local swallows are known to build the much prized nests here. The bird nest is said to restore youth and promote health when drunk in the form of soup. Gua Gomantong is the house of the best nests in the world. Some of the nests found here has price as high as RM7000 per kilo.

Swiftlets, bats, serpent eagles, bat hawks, and kingfishers are some of the inhabitants of this cave. With the entrance fee of RM5.00 this cave offers way more than what you pay for. At dusk, around 2 million bats fly out of the mouth of the cave while swiftlets fly into the cave. This spectacular changing of shifts is captivating and is definitely worth it!

See more: The best markets in Malaysia you need to know

Source Internet

Wednesday 12 December 2018

Discover top 5 stunning caves in Malaysia

Discover top 5 stunning caves in Malaysia
Malaysia is a vast convergence of cultures, activities, races and food but there is something else about this humble Southeast Asian nation that many might not know about. A sprawling collection of mysterious cave formations containing intriguing structures and wildlife can be found throughout the country. If you are an adventurous spirit with a knack for cave exploration, here is a list of some of the caves in Malaysia that are open to the public.

Batu Caves

Discover top 5 stunning caves in Malaysia
Not only does this prominent place of worship in Malaysia attract thousands of worshippers, it also brings tourists (especially rock-climbing enthusiasts) from all over the world to witness its glorious limestone abutments. Here, you will find three main caves that house various temples and Hindu shrines; you will even find a massive statue of a Hindu God at the entrance. To enter the main cave, you will have to climb the famous 272 steep steps, after which, you will be rewarded with a scenic view of the skyline of the city centre. Along the way, you might also encounter a handful of playful monkeys, so remember to keep a close eye on your belongings.

Read more: Batu Caves, the must-see destination in Kuala Lumpur

Perak Cave

Discover top 5 stunning caves in Malaysia
The Perak Cave is located in Ipoh and is a 6km drive along Jalan Kuala Kangsar to the north. It is also a religious landmark with the Perak Tong Cave Temple housed within its vicinity. It is known for the colourful murals as well as the Chinese calligraphy painted by Chong Yin Chat that adorn its walls. Various depictions of characters and events from Chinese mythology and Buddhist scripture can also be found in this fascinating attraction.

Deer Cave

Discover top 5 stunning caves in Malaysia
Also set in the Gunung Mulu National Park of Sarawak, the Deer Cave stands out from the other caves due to its magnificent cave passage, commonly known as the largest in the world. There are a number of things that make this Garden of Eden so unique, including the aptly named Adam and Eve showers that shoot out 30m columns of water and the hundreds of thousands of bats that stream from its mouth every evening between5pm to 6.30pm. On top of all this, a quirky little Abraham Lincoln silhouette can be found hidden among the rocks.

Gua Nasib Bagus

Directly translated into English, the name of this cave reads “Good Luck Cave”. It is located in the Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak and is home to the world’s largest natural underground chamber. Gunung Mulu National Park is only accessible by flight and you will be charged an entrance fee of RM10 per person.
Discover top 5 stunning caves in Malaysia
The colossal underground chamber of Gua Nasib Bagus, named Lubang Nasib Bagus (or the Sarawak Chamber) is more than 600m long, 400m wide and 100m high. It is so unbelievably large that it has been described as being capable of holding up to 10 jumbo jets nose-to-tail within its walls and 60m-high roof. Additionally, a cave stream can be found for a quick, rejuvenating splash in the clean waters of this amazing natural construction.

Gua Tempurung

A couple hours’ drive away from the capital of Kuala Lumpur, nestled on the outskirts of Perak, you will find one of the largest and most popular cave attractions in Peninsula Malaysia. Gue Tempurung offers a range of tours with varying levels of difficulty. Try your hand at a challenging trail through the murky lower levels of the large cave or take the easier route comprising platforms and bridges on the upper levels.
Discover top 5 stunning caves in Malaysia
Either way, Gua Tempurung is a fascinating endeavour filled to the brim with captivating rock structures and intricate details. As a show cave, electric lighting and walkways have been installed for added safety and convenience. A fine “cave river” runs through a passage that stretches about 1.6km through the hill and three very large chambers include spectacular stalactites for visitors to gawk at.

Source Internet