Kota Tinggi Water falls

Day: 17-09-2011

Place: Kota Tinggi, Malaysia

 

This outing started with the planning to go to some trekking place 4-5 days back. Since Puteri Falls in Malaysia takes more than one day, we decided to go to Kota Tinggi which is around 50kms from Johor Bahru. So we started looking at some blogs [1]. On Friday night that is on 16th September, we sat and made a quick plan.

There are 3 water falls near Kota Tinggi.

1. Tengkil falls, [2] looks good but without guide it is difficult find the place. 
2. Pelepahfalls, [3] Which is neither difficult nor easy to locate and climb.
3. Kotatinggi, [4] which is just 15kms from kota tinggi town and easily accessible. Over-commercialised waterfall playground in resort style.

So finally we decided to go to Pelepah Falls.

On Saturday, woke up very very early at 5.30 and left house at 6.30. We reached Woodlands MRT by 6.45am. Then we went to woodlands MRT and caught bus no.950, which took us to woodlands checkpoint. The difference between bus going to woodlands train checkpoint (like 911, 912, 913) and bus going to JB (like 170, 160) is that the latter one takes us just below the immigration point. So we need to walk around 300m since we took the wrong bus 911. It was like a warm up for the trekking.

We had to go through the immigration at both Singapore and Malaysian side. When we came out of all these formalities, it was 8.30. Outside the immigration, there are two buildings, JB sentral and city square. We exchanged Singapore dollar for Malaysian ringitts (conversion rate was 2.43 on that day, So we got 250.3RM for 103SGD).

Next important job was breakfast. We found a very good hotel at the ground floor of the city square. We have fresh masala and onion thosai with not so fresh (still very tasty) chutney. We ate good quantity of food and juice. When bill came to us, we were shocked to see that it was only 8.30RM. I went and paid the cashier a note of 50. He was looking at my face in a strange way. Within few seconds I realized my mistake and the reason behind that look. I had given him 50 note of Singapore dollar. No wonder why he was surprised. I took it back and gave him RM.

As soon as we came outside the hotel, we found a bus, 6B going to kota tinggi. Bus driver charged 5RM each to kota tinggi. It took almost one hour to reach there. On the way we saw many palm plantation. On our half way, we noticed a big mall (name is josco if I remember properly) beside the national highway. 

People were waiting for us as soon as we got down from the bus. From our appearance, they understood that we are going to water falls. We made a deal for 20RM and went by a taxi (so called ‘teksi’ in Malaysia). 

According to the information given in the website, we asked the taxi driver to leave us near the pelepah river which is on the way to Kota Tinggi Falls. First of all, the person does not know English properly. Over that he is not ready to listen to what we are telling. We were told that tigers are living inside the dense forest and it is risky to go to other than Kota Tinggi falls. Before dropping us in front of the Kota tinggi falls, he showed us so called Pelepah River. Since there is no access to public transport there, we took his hand phone number and asked him to come at 4.00PM to pick up.

Entrance to Kota Tinggi falls

From the entrance, we started walking back in search of the pelepah river. After walking for a while, we found a river where mining is under going. The water had become red in color looking like a drainage water.

As we walked back to locate Pelepah Falls

Mining work spoiling the natures' beauty

Very dense and green forest

Except mining, the forest is really looking green with tall and dense trees. One could feel the difference in temperature compared to the city. As we moved into the forest, we could feel the pleasant weather with cool breeze. 

One of the apes family members

Trying to cross the road

Though we located the pelepah river, we dare not to go into that. The reason being the color of the water due to mining work. As we were walking back, I recognized a board which i had seen in one of the blogs. I was embarrassed to know that the direction to Pelepah falls is right in front of the Kota Tinggi entrance. We had already spent around 2 hours in search of this. We were mislead by the taxi driver.

Finally located the Pelepah river..

The water in the Pelepah river is much cleaner and cooler compared to the red colored one. One has to go through a palm plantation owned by some private people. We sneaked beside a bridge and walked in this water for a small distance. As we were running out of time, we decided to return and go the kota Tinggi falls.

Kota Tinggi Water Falls

Though the entry fee is expensive for non-Malay people, it is worth spending some time here. We changed our dress and got into water. Water is very warm and crystal clean. There are few spots where you can sit for long enough time and get massage of head and back. Force of the water is so good that you will feel sleepy after spending some time under this.

Side view

Top View

30Feet falls at the top

From the top most point.

As mentioned in the website, this falls in crowded with kids and family. Though this does not give much adventurous activity, still it is a good spot for one day outing.