Pahang ~ Other Places II

Kota Gelanggi Cave Complex

A gazetted historical monument dotted with some 100 caves. Explore the 150 million year old historical and mythical cave complex and its unique fauna, flora and rock formations. The magnificent cave chambers are among the best in this region. Climb the hill steps to the lit-up Terang Bulan Cave. Once under the sea, the scalloped edges left by on the soft limestone can still be seen on the cave walls. Gar pools, stalagmites. stalactites. flowstones and curtain walls are all here. The rocky Wind Cave lies at the entrance of Sanding Cave. The setting is one of a deep narrow valley hemmed in by high thickly forested hills, jungle vines and a 

dark cavern. 

There's no way in without climbing through a dark narrow hole onto a ledge and crawling through another opening before entering a huge chamber where daylight pours in from a skylight hole at the top. The cave is named  'Sanding' for the two rock formations which resemble a Malay couple in a wedding ceremony.

From the archaeological perspective, Kota Gelanggi complex has been

visited and researched since 1882. In 1981, a research and excavation

team uncovered a total of 3,418 pieces of pottery, seashells, animal

bones and stone tools while the 1998 team concluded the limestone caves had been inhabited 5,000 years ago up to the present by the aboriginal community. This is based on the discovery of artefacts such as stone pulls from the Hoabin-hian-neolithic culture, pieces of pottery and waste food, such as 

animal bones and freshwater shells.

 Location: 10km from Tekam

Gunung Senyun Caves

Camping in the shadow of tropical foliage while exploring its 20 caves is its main attraction. 

Location: Temerloh.

Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary

Nestling in the Krau Wildlife Reserve, the elephant sanctuary is managed by the Malaysian Department of Wildlife and National Parks. Here it offers visitors a hands-on introduction to the largest mammal on earth. Here 'worker elephants are trained to help "guide and mother' others during the relocation process to National Park wildlife sanctuaries. Visitors are invited to help bath  them in the shallow river or ride them. The juniors have sense of humour, so watch out for a dunking as you try to clamber up their backs!

Open every day including Sunday. Feeding times at 10.00am and 2.00pm  

The centre is not opened to public during the month of Ramadan.

Getting There

From KL, head for the Karak highway (the route that takes you up to Genting Highlands). From the 1st Karak Highway toll out of KL, follow the signs to Kuantan on Route 2, passing Karak along the way. Not long after, you will hit Lanchang district, which is 81km from the toll. Look out for a BP petrol station on the left. Turn left (82.6km from the Karak Highway toll) into a road just before the BP station about 500m from Lanchang town. There are a few obscure signs at the turning. You will notice, the Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary signboard (easily missed) and the 'Pemuliharan Biology Kebangsaan Bukit Rengit' sign. Follow this road down to a t-junction. Turn left at the junction the road goes on for about 14.5km with milestones indicating 'Bolok'. This will lead you to a fork at the end of a dirt track. Follow the road to the left and this will take you through a small village passing a children's nursery on the right (taman kanak-kanak bimbingan) which leads to another small fork in the road where sits an orang asli (local indigenous people) settlement. There is a signboard at this fork, which informs the tribe's clan and population statistics. Turn right here and drive through a suspended bridge -  welcome to Kuala Gandah Elephant Centre!

Jenderak Seladang and Sambar Deer Sanctuary

An endangered species, the Seladang or gaur (bos gaurus hubbaki) is the largest of the true cattle and even bigger than the American bison. Since the natural habitat of these nocturnal animals is in the virgin jungles, the chance to see a full herd at close range in broad daylight is a great treat. Kept here for breeding, the seladangs graze in large pens, each with a male, several females and a few youngsters. Each seladang is given a name, and should it fancy your voice, 

it'll answer with a baritone 'moo' when you call. 

Here also is the Sambar Deer sanctuary.

Open every day between 9.00am and 4.00pm. Sunday closed.

Getting There

The Jenderak Seladang and Sambar Deer Breeding Centre is located in Kuala Krau, about 190km from Kuala Lumpur. From KL, take the highway towards Kuantan(Route2), and exit at Mentekab. Follow signs to Jerantut (Route98). Passing Kuala Krau, look out for signs to the Jenderak Seladang and Sambar Deer Breeding Centre on your left. Turn left and go straight, crossing a railway track. Signs will lead you to the center, passing some "kampung" houses.