The Origins of Banding
Island
To know the origins of Banding, you
must first know the story of Temenggor. More than two decades ago
before Banding or even Temenggor Lake ever existed, a number of rivers
from the mountain ranges flowed into the Temenggor lowlands and gorges,
creating a huge catchment area.
While serving as a source of water
supply to the neighbouring villages and "Orang Asli" (indigenous
people) settlements, this rich source of food and water supply attracted
the communist terrorists to the area.
In 1974, then Prime Minister, the late Tun Abdul Razak, had an ingenious
plan to flush out the communists by building a dam and filling up the
Temenggor catchment area with water from the mountain rivers. And
thus the Temenggor lake was formed.
As a consequence, Banding (the
highest peak in the Temenggor basin) was transformed into an island.
With the East-West highway running through the island, Banding is the only
island in Malaysia that is serviced by two bridges linking it to the
mainland. As for the communist terrorists, they were summarily
flushed out of the catchment area and were forced to flee to southern
Thailand.
Attractions and Activities
Banding Island provides
an excellent opportunity for tourists to indulge in a quiet
association with nature.
The jungle surrounding Lake Temenggor
is virtually untouched, and the island is the perfect base for
exploring the lakes and tropical rainforest in the vicinity.
The surrounding jungle and the rivers that
drain into the lakes offer an inexhaustible range of activities.
These span from fresh water fishing, boat rides, water sports and jungle
trekking during the day, to the observation of wildlife at night.
For the eco-tourists, the study of flora and fauna is the main attraction,
while for the budding sociologists, and overnight stay at the "Orang
Asli" settlement can be arranged.
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Islands, as we all know,
are normally found off the mainland. But Banding (meaning
'compare' in the Malay language) is no ordinary island. As
hard as it is to believe, Banding island is actually located in the
middle of a man-made lake, surrounded by oldest rainforests in the
world.
A Worthwhile Experience
The next time you feel the urge to go angling, round up your friends and
head to Banding Island on Lake Temenggor - the freshwater fishing haven of
the North. Or for a weekend getaway, just pack up the family and
take off for the great outdoors. And while at Banding, go to the
water's edge, take a deep breath, and be closer to nature. By then
you should realise why Banding is truly an island without compare.
Accommodation:
Belum Rainforest Resort |
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