"With stalagmites and underground streams gushing as if from nowhere, the scene within Gua Kelam can be beautiful yet eerie."
One of the most distinctive caves in Malaysia is a 370-metre long limestone cave near the small town of Kaki Bukit (literally 'foot hill') called Gua Kelam (Cave of Darkness). Located about 33km north of Kangar, the state capital, Gua Kelam Recreational Park is popular for its enchanting 'cave walk' where you can enter from one end of the cave and come out a different end. Gua Kelam is located within the Perlis State Park which borders with the Nakawan Range of Thailand.
The only path in is via a suspension wooden bridge made of an eight-feet wide wooden walkway. This bridge links Kaki Bukit to the Wan Tangga Valley, a valley on the opposite end of Gua Kelam. Back in 1935, an Englishman saw the water pathway as a brilliant method of transporting tin ore from a mine located near the stream entrance through the underground cavern to Kaki Bukit.
Now, only locals and tourists make their way through the cave via a brightly illuminated wooden walkway inside the cave. You can still find remnants of the tin mine operation inside. As you make your way through the cave, the sound of a swirling dark subterranean stream below reverberates forming a concerto with the squeaking bats and dripping water from the stalactites. It may sound a bit spooky, after all this was once the home of Stone Age men.
Last viewed - May 17, 2008
Getting there
By Bus
You can get to Kangar using several interstate, air-conditioned bus services such as Transnasional (Tel: 603-20703300) and Sutera Express (Tel: 03-20267199) departing from the Puduraya bus station in Kuala Lumpur. These buses will stop at the Express Bus Station on Jalan Bukit Lagi in Kangar. From there, you can take a taxi or the HBR Express Bus to Kaki Bukit.
By Plane
There is no direct air service to Perlis. Visitors have to fly into Alor Setar (in Kedah) and then take a 45-minute taxi ride to Kangar. From Kangar, you can take a taxi or the HBR Express Bus to Kaki Bukit.
By Boat
You can also get to Kuala Perlis from Kuah jetty in Langkawi via ferry boats. The ride costs between RM12 to RM15 per person, one way and takes about 45 minutes.
Located at the northern-most edge of Peninsula Malaysia, the state of Perlis is easily accessible via the North-South Highway, which links Kangar, the state capital of Perlis, to Kuala Lumpur. From Kangar, you’ll need to drive north for another 36km to the small town of Kaki Bukit where Gua Kelam is located.
User recommendation
"Good place to visit. However should have more activities on both sides of the cave. The walk inside is tremendous...... "
"patut ada peta negeri perlis"
"Keadaan dalam gua ini amat mengagumkan. Tempat ini merupakan salah satu destinasi pelancongan yang harus kita lawati. Sangat unik." by Fitri Alia
"ok but show caves not the best around " by waq
"i proud with my state" by iena
"sangat unik...but..its very scare..the bridge like hendak jatuh....:P" by vicney
"gua kelam ini tidak mempunyai tempat permainan kanak-kanak" by wan ilham
"Namanya Gua Kelam tetapi tak lah
kelam kerana ada lampu dipasang
sepanjang jalan di dalam gua ini. Di
sebelah bukit ini terdapat satu ladang
rusa yang dapat anda lawati disamping
terdapat satu taman di dalamnya.
Selain aktiviti lawatan gua, anda juga
dapat berkelah dan mandi-manda di
luar gua ini. " by abid
"What happened to Oh Hock Teik who ran the tin mine around the 1920s till 1950s? His name is not even written in the plaque at the entrance to Gua Kelam. His son and all the desendants are planning a vist to Gua Kelam, Wang Boo & Tasso Estate, the 700acre rubbber estate he owned, which is now the Kangar reservoir- Tasek Timah Tasoh." by Dr.K.Goh
"tersangatla cantiknya...aku habiskan 1 roll filem kat dalam gua ni dan persekitarannya...kalau nak tengok gambar2 tu..e-mail aku" by Iwan
"i've been there,its very beautiful and so uniqe..the longest cave in asean..i'm very proud to be malaysian..when u all has visit there,dont forget to bath coz the water very cold.....its cool right?" by fara
"nice place......tp kurang aktiviti yg menarik seperti flying fox,n lain2...banyakkn aktiviti lasak yg boleh membuatkn gua kelam suatu tempat yg menarik n best" by Haniff_07
"Very beautiful scenery and one of the best cave for you to go." by Irwana Ameera
"Once the caves was popular with mining activities but now it has transfered into one of the most attractive cave in Perlis. Do not go there alone coz its quite dark inside and some of the areas are too small." by moose
"I've been to Gua Kelam 2 which is more adventurous. The six hours caving really experienced me with a lot of patience and brave. I could see the old rail tracks in that cave who used to move the mines. " by fuza
"Whenever you're in Perlis..check out this spectacular cave. Its worth going." by imran
"What else can you aspect in Perlis rather than this cave..but it really a great cave..." by Nawri
"Pemandangan yang cantik di dalamnya. Tempat berjalan kaki yang kukuh disediakan sepanjang berada di dalm gua ini. Amat menarik jika diambil gambar di dalam mahupun di luar gua tersebut." by shoana
"This cave is much..much..much more better than the Batu Caves...trust me!" by Mifs
"Salah satu gua yang terkenal di Perlis mahupun di Malaysia. Tempat yang menarik untuk dikunjungi." by Fitri Alia
