Gunung Jerai, Kedah

Gunung Jerai is the Malay name for Mount Jerai, one of the taller mountains in Kedah state in Northern Malaysia. While it may not be the tallest, its position on the coastline amidst the surrounding flat geography has made it stand out as a landmark in the area.

In fact, it is so striking, it has been even used by ancient mariners from India as a navigation marker from ancient times. Today, it can also be seen from as far away as Penang island, further south.

It is believed that in the past, sea-levels in the are were much higher, and that Gunung Jerai was once an island called Pulau Serai. The waters than receded and leaving it as a mountain emerging from the surrounding flatlands.

Gunung Jerai, as viewed from the coast.

Today there is a Forestry Museum and a hotel called The Regency, Jerai Hill Resort at the peak of the mountain. The road up the peak is drivable, starting from the north-eastern flank of the mountain.

At this point at Kaki Gunung Jerai, there is a museum called the Muzium Terusan Wan Mat Saman. From here it is about an 11km drive up the mountain to the hotel. The drive up is challenging, as the road is narrow and there are switchbacks. Not a problem for an experienced driver and you do not need a 4-WD vehicle, but may be a challenge for a novice.

On the way up, you will first come to the Forestry Museum, before finally arriving at the Resort. Be warned that there is very little parking up there, and can be quite congested if there are a lot of day trippers as they do not allow visitors into the resort and you have to park outside. At the time of our visit, there was a charge of RM4 to park there.

Walking into the resort, there are various accommodation options and there is a playground and swimming pool for hotel guests. There is also a small strawberry park. Besides that there is also a small cafe and the hotel restaurant of which visitors can also partake.

Map of The Regency, Jerai Hill Resort.

The main reason to visit is however, the View! This is indeed spectacular, as the resort faces northwards towards the surrounding rice paddies below as far as the eye can see. You can also see the coastline going all the way to the north.

A small island called Pulau Bunting lies of the coast, and it is linked by a white elephant bridge to the mainland. It is a white elephant as the island is uninhabited, and the bridge was built at enormous cost to connect to an uninhabited island. As of now, access to the bridge is also sealed off.

At 1217m from sea level, Gunung Jerai is thought to have once
been an island called Pulau Serai, before the sea retreated.

Stunning view of the coast and surrounding rice paddies.

There is not much else on the mountain itself. The road continues on from the resort to go up to the telecommunication tower at the peak, but essentially once you have visited the resort, it is time to drive back down.

On the western flank of Gunung Jerai there are three waterfalls, namely Seri Perigi, Titi Hayun and Batu Yan. The Puteri Mandi waterfall is a 3km hike from Titi Hayun.

Seri Perigi falls.

On the southern flank of Gunung Jerai is the Bujang Valley Archaeological Museum. Bujang Valley is believed to be a civilisation that dates back to at least 2,500 years ago. More than 50 tomb-temples, known locally as Candi, have been excavated in the Gunung Jerai area.

Also in the south is the Tupah recreational forest.

Last view of Gunung Jerai from the ricefields.

Gunung Jerai is an interesting drive for day trippers from Penang. Do bear in mind the limited parking up there, and there can be congestion if there are too many visitors at a time.

Bukit Jugra, Selangor

Bukit Jugra, or Jugra Hill in English, is located by the banks of the Langat river in Selangor state, not far from the estuary where the Langat discharges into the Straits of Malacca. Standing out from the surrounding mangrove swamps, it was a landmark for mariners plying their trade along the Straits who knew it by the name Parcelar Hill from the arab word "balasar" which means "above the head".

Jugra Hill

The monarch of Selangor Sultan Abdul Samad built his palace in the lands nearby the Hill in 1875 and established his seat there. As Jugra was the royal seat, the British also initially established their administration here, although this later moved to Klang and subsequently to Kuala Lumpur in 1880.

Sultan Abdul Samad of Selangor.

Sultan Abdul Samad passed away in 1898, and his grandson Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah was proclaimed as the next Sultan, also in Jugra. Sultan Abdul Samad was laid to rest at the foot of Bukit Jugra, and his mausoleum is still located there to this day. The landmark moorish style Sultan Abdul Samad building located opposite the Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur is named after him.

Sultan Sir Alaeddin Sulaiman of Selangor

Upon Sultan Alaeddin's ascension, he commenced construction of the Istana Bandar in 1899. The palace was a mish-mash of architectural styles, from islamic influences from India and the middle-east, oriental touches from China and even neo-classical Roman and Gothic design elements. 

Sultan Alaeddin also oversaw the construction of the royal mosque in Jugra in 1903 which still bears his name till this day. A fine example of moorish and moghul architecture, Masjid DiRaja Sultan Alauddin's (Royal Mosque of Sultan Alaeddin) design is believed to have been inspired from the Deli sultanate in Sumatera.

In 1905 Sultan Alaeddin moved his seat to the Istana Mahkota Puri Klang in 1905 and Jugra soon declined into little more than a backwater, a situation that still lasts until today.

Istana Bandar was mothballed in 1938 after Sultan Alaeddin's death and remains in disuse but can still be visited today together with Masjid Alauddin if you happen to be in Jugra.

As for Bukit Jugra itself, it is now primarily a scenic lookout point, walking and mountain biking venue amongst locals. Paragliding is also an activity that sometimes take place here, with enthusiasts launching themselves of the grass patch of hill fronting the lighthouse which stands on a prominent location on the hilltop.

If you see this small park with a Bukit Jugra sign, you have reached the turnoff road up the hill.

On the way up the hill, you will past a Chinese graveyard.

Quite a large graveyard.

Opposite the graveyard are the ruins of the old District Office.

As you drive further up, you will see that the inhabitants of the graveyard have a scenic view of the Langat
river and Carey Island on the other side.

Park here after you pass the Building where the Sighting of the Moon is done for Ramadhan and the Eid.
This is where the Lighthouse and Scenic viewpoint is.

The lighthouse on Bukit Jugra. The present day one was built in 1976.

Signboard with information on the lighthouse.

Sign telling you that you are 120 metres above sea level.

A viewing gallery has been built for you to enjoy the view.

Hollywood sign for the Instagram generation to take selfies.

The scenic view of the Langat river flowing towards the Straits of Malacca.

View towards Jugra.

The road past the Lighthouse goes on through virgin jungle until you reach the gate
of an Army firing range.

After you drive back down, turn right and follow the road and you will find this small museum. Not open when
we visited.

If you drive on, you will reach this small Chinese temple.

Opposite the temple is the Langat river and Carey island on the opposite side. The road ends at another gate
of the Army Firing Range.

Bukit Jugra makes an interesting Sunday drive from Kuala Lumpur. At just over an hour's drive, the scenic viewpoint can be combined with other minor points of interests such as the Istana Bandar, Masjid Alauddin and Makam Sultan Abdul Samad (Sultan Abdul Samad's mausoleum) which are all in the vicinity. 

If you partake, there is also a chinese seafood restaurant called Viking in the area, or head over to Morib which is a few more kilometres south.