JIPP TRAVELS

BUKIT TABUR is without doubt one of the best and probably most easily accessible hiking destinations in KL. For me it is one of the most precious natural gifts that God (or your God) has granted to KL and its inhabitants. I mean, seriously, when I first scaled the hill all the way up to its peak/s, the beauty of Bukit Tabur and the wonderful view that it offered from up there had taken me by surprise.

The jagged peaks, the beautiful lake and the white blanket of morning mist that shrouded the lush greenery beneath it all combined to give such a majestic view perfect for a picture postcard.

It was so beautiful that I fell in love with Bukit Tabur almost instantly. From then on, I kept coming back to it whenever I had the will – and time.

The jagged peaks which provide challenges to hikers make Bukit Tabur such an outstanding landscape. The peaks as seen from the eyes of a bird actually form a (almost) straight line.

Looking down from the peak, it came to me instantly that Bukit Tabur is like the last shield that separates the Gombak forest reserve and the rapid development of Taman Melawati and its surrounding.

Bukit Tabur is probably one of the best spots to view the cityscape of KL from afar. It’s like you can see the whole stretch of the city spreading out over the horizon. Towering over the others is of course the Petronas Twin Towers which was once the tallest buildings in the world. It is closely challenged only by the just as towering KL Tower.

Environmentally speaking, Bukit Tabur is like the backbone of the natural reserve of forest in the Ulu Gombak area. Not only it makes up part of the catchment area itself, it also provides the right ambiance for the catchment whose existence is quite vital to the people of KL.

Bukit Tabur that I’ve come to find out is highly unknown to the people of KL. If you dig deeper, you’ll be surprised to find out that Bukit Tabur is not just a karst hill with beautiful features and amazing landscapes.

You’ll be surprised to find plenty of nature attractions at the foothill of Bukit Tabur. I have only known recently that they are at least two waterfalls there. I had only trekked to one of them and was about to go to the other one when all hell broke loose and heavy rain came pouring down.

The stream of river that flows down from the hills is also such a perfect nature gateway which is very much easily accessible from KL. I was surprised to know how easy it was to get back nature from where I was/am staying.

Sadly though, from my observation for the last couple of years, the rapid development has been alarmingly eating away at the greenery and it doesn’t seem to show any sign of stopping. In fact it is closing in on it as if it is so ready to mow everything away including the Bukit Tabur itself.

Snapped this when I was flying over KL towards Kota Bharu recently. See how close they are going?

I am not anti-development. But I really hope that the authorities know how to set the limit especially when it comes to something as precious yet so vulnerable as Bukit Tabur.

So, I’m only going to say this once and for all – Save Bukit Tabur NOW.