'Dark Secrets' awaits at Gua Tempurung
Gua
Tempurung, the name itself conjures up images of mystery and
intrigue that promises visitors a look into its deep dark
secrets. Like Aladdin's cave, Gua Tempurung has its own treasure trove
of brilliant fishes living free in the river that flows at the
base of the hills, rare ferns, and birds, which normally nest
in caves and cliff surfaces also abound. The subterranean stream that
meanders under the limestone hills is a special attraction in
itself. When rain comes, the stream turns into a churning
river of froth that rewards visitors with a taste of Indiana
Jones-style adventure trekking. The cave follows a direct course through a mountain range called
Gunung Gajah-Tempurung, which is south of Ipoh towards Gopeng and
Kampar.
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Convenient walkways and platforms give you a close-up
view of the breathtaking beauty of gigantic stalactites, stalagmites, rock formations, intricate cave system and
10,000 year-old speleological wonders. |
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Gua Tempurung is the largest limestone cave in Peninsular Malaysia
stretches for 1.9 kilometres and is made up of five huge domes.
Each dome has different formations of stalagmites and stalactites
as well as differing temperatures, water levels, content of
limestone and marble.
One of the larger cave systems which is found in the scenic
limestone hills of Perak, Gua Tempurung impresses with the beauty of
its majestic columns of marble inside its huge caverns honeycombed
with smaller caves, of different dimensions.
Walkways have been built within some parts of the caves making it
easy for visitors to have a leisurely stroll while taking in the
sights of the beautiful underground waterfalls and the pendant
stalactites hanging from the roof stalagmites.
Look closely at the rocks and you will find closed communities of
microscopic life-forms many of which depend on food brought in by
bats and birds to the cave.
There are scorpions, fish, snakes and small insects hidden in small
niches, but are only visible to the more alert visitors.
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Each cave carries its own legends, and Gua Tempurung is no
exception. Many believe the cave was used as a hideout for terrorists during
World War II and the Emergency. It is said that Lee Meng, the notorious communist courier, once used
the cave as a hideout. The fact that his name appears on one
of the walls deep inside the cave certainly seems to support this
story.
Another story speaks of the cave being used by the Japanese as a
prison during their occupation of Malaya. This is made more
evident by the existence of a gate-like structure made of horizontal
steel bars.
The cave is divided into several sections, with the lower cave
passage called the Molesworth Allen Tunnel, named in honour of the
botanists, Betty Molesworth Allen.
At the end of this tunnel, the cave opens up to Alam Cavern, the
largest of the three major caverns, which is more than 130 metres in
width and towers 72 metres high.
In Tin Miners' Cavern, the cave splits into two levels, the upper
about eight metres above the stream and bearing the scars of early
alluvial activity, while the lower passage follows the stream.
The Gergasi Cavern is the last of the cave sections. It is
named Gergasi because it holds a huge column, which is some 15
metres in height and 17 metres in length. The column stands
sentinel- like at the end of the chamber, like a giant genie
guarding its treasure.
At the end of the trip visitors are rewarded with a rainbow of colour from sunshine reflected off the cave walls. |
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