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forbidden mountain |
| Gunung Tahan, 'the Forbidden Mountain',
has long been the source of local myth and legend. A vast monkey standing
guard over two pots of magic stones lives on the summit, according to the
folk fore of Taman Neegara's indigenous people. The Orang Asli people of
Taman Negara, the Batek., belive the forest is the home of their
ancestors. They hold great respect for their natural environments and only
take from it what is necessary for their survival. It is taboo or lavoc
for them to destroy their natural heritage. Originally the Orang Asli had
no need to travel and explore the hills because all they needed for
survival could be found in the lowland valleys. Today, guides will
willingly escort tourist to the summit of Taman Negara's hill and
mountains. The summit of Gunung Tahan defeated the first expedition to attempt to gain it in 1863 when the Sultan of Pahang's team was blocked by the awesome Teku Gorge. Only in 1905 was it finally conquered by a British-Malay expedition led by the explorer Leonard Wray.
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| gunung tahan from kuala tahan | |
| Gunung Tahan at 2'187 metres above sea level
is located in the Tahan Range and is the largest mountain in Peninsular
Malaysia. There are three routes up to Gunung Tahan: from Kuala Tahan,
from Merapoh and from Kuala Koh. These are arduous trek demanding good physical fitness and mental determination, in addition to well maintained equipment, thorough preparation, and sound leadership if a large group is involved. Weight is crucial when it has to be carried for many days, so food should have minimal packaging and moisture content. To protect the forest, timber fires are not permissible and cooking gas or fuel must, therefore, be carried as well. All rubbish must be accounted for, except materials that can be burned. It is best to eliminate all non-essential packaging before leaving Kuala Tahan. The 110 kilometres return walk from Kuala Tahan to the mountain summit normally takes eight to nine days. The trail passes several river crossings, sometimes hazardous, and traverses long dry ridges demanding rationing of every last drop of water. The climatic extremes are daunting, as conditions on the Gunung Tahan plateau can be very cold, whereas in lowlands, the high humidity is debilitating. Rains can be very heavy and prolonged.
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| The
Journey-Going Up!
The Journey- The Summit!
The Journey- Going Down!
The Pitcher Plant & Orchids
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| 4 Steps Waterfall
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