Photo Credit: hyqphotos, Flickr

(Using the 28 and E8 Highway, 179km, Estimated Travel Time: 3 hours 38 minutes)

Why Go To Taman Negara?

Taman Negara (National Park) is one of the oldest virgin rainforests in the world, over 130 million years old, and is a popular destination for tourists and locals hoping to take in some Malaysian flora and fauna. Getting to the Jeruntut Taman Negara Entrance by road is relatively simple and it also gives drivers a chance to catch some other attractions whilst on the way to the famed national park.

Things To See & Do Along The Way

A short journey outside of the city limits and a slight detour to the Taman Negara is Batu Caves, an important Hindu religious site that houses a 113-year-old temple. Home to various critters, Hindu artworks and awe inspiring limestone formations, the caves attract several thousand visitors daily and consist of 272 steps up to the caverns. There are three main caverns in Batu Caves, firstly consisting of Temple Cave, where one can find a plethora of Hindu shrines and ornate depictions. The second is the Art Gallery Cave that further houses Hindu carvings and wall paintings, while the third aptly named Dark Cave sits beneath Temple Cave and can only be explored by booking a travel tour. Rock climbing at Batu Caves is also an option for experienced climbers. Leaving the caves for the highway to Taman Negara, drivers will find another possible detour that sits atop a hill.

Genting Highlands is one of Malaysia’s extremely popular destinations due to a combination of various factors. Firstly, Genting Highlands contains Malaysia’s only legal casino. Secondly, it is situated atop a hill, thus making it considerably cooler than the blistering heat normally felt throughout the country. And lastly, Genting Highlands packs a large theme park complete with hotels for a quick holiday getaway. There are a few possible ways to getting to the peak of Genting where most of its amenities are situated. You could either drive up there through its hilly roads or you could take a cable car at the base and observe the luscious green scenery that surrounds the highlands. Once at the peak, various attractions await visitors. One could visit the theme park, play a couple of hands at the casino, take a tour of the strawberry or orchid farms, examine the Chin Swee Temple that is shaped like a pagoda, or even go jungle trekking, if that catches your fancy. Whatever your choice of entertainment, there will be plenty of activities for you to take part in and lose a couple of hours or even days of your holiday time.

The third prominent detour that might attract drivers off the highway on the way to the Taman Negara is the Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary. The elephant sanctuary at Kuala Gandah offers visitors the chance to get up close and personal with Malaysian elephants. Visitor activities include cleaning and handfeeding the elephants, riding on these majestic beasts by natural means (no harnesses), and playing with the elephants in a river under staff supervision. Most of these activities are afternoon based and animal lovers of all ages will find a couple hours worth of fun to be had with the gentle giants.

All these side attractions definitely make taking a road trip from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara a worthwhile adventure.

View Road Trip KL-Taman Negara in a larger map

Read More:

• What to Pack for A Road Trip in Malaysia
• The Allures of Going on a Kuala Lumpur – Penang Island Road Trip
• The Allures of Going on a Kuala Lumpur – Johor Bahru Road Trip

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Homepage highlight photo credit: HooLengSiong, Flickr