Ramon Fadli Photography – Waterfalls of Langkawi

July 7, 2017 Posted by Ramon Fadli in Broadleaf Rainforests, Kedah, Malaysia, Tropical Monsoon, UNESCO, Waterfalls

Waterfalls of Langkawi

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Langkawi Index

Telaga Tujuh Waterfall

PROTECTED STATUS :

Telaga Tujuh waterfall (English: Seven Wells waterfall) is Langkawi's most well-known. Its name was derived from a series of seven interconnected pools that are located on the upper level. The waterfall is located on the slopes of Mount Mat Chinchang and lies along a demarcation area between the Machinchang Formation, which consists mainly of sandstone and shale, and Mount Raya granite that runs eastward across the spine of the main island.

Legend has it that the seven pools used to be frequented by fairies with healing powers, and as a result, the water within these pools were able to cure illnesses. I would strongly advise you to not drink the water there though, no matter what you believe, as the food scraps from visitors to popular destinations like Telaga Tujuh, will inadvertently attract rodents that can spread waterborne diseases such as Leptospirosis. I personally know people who have died from Leptospirosis, and diseases like it are not to be taken lightly.

Before we proceed any further however, I have to take a moment to make a disclaimer and to urge you to use common sense and caution when doing anything in the vicinity of the waterfall, and especially so when preceded by a bout of rain. Please also jot down the numbers that are listed below. If you do see any suspicious behaviour when out hiking, encounter things like traps and snares, or even see protected animals or their parts that are sold as either collectibles, pets, or for (so-called) medicine, then please do not hesitate to contact the wildlife crime hotline. Be sure to try and document it as best you can with photos or video without putting yourself in danger, and take note of the details: descriptions of those who are involved, as well as when and where it took place.

"The Wildlife Crime Hotline, managed by the Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers (MYCAT), provides YOU an avenue to report offences involving endangered wildlife in Malaysia. We protect the identity of all informants, only key info of the reports are forwarded to the authorities."
Wildlife Crime Hotline019 356 4194

Emergency Numbers

Wildlife Crime Hotline 019-356 4194

Wildlife Department 1800 885 151

Langkawi Forestry Department 04–9666 835

Langkawi Hospital 04-966 3333

Langkawi Bomba 04-969 3004

Langkawi Rescue Department 04-966 3434

Langkawi Police Station 04-966 6222

Langkawi does not have any public transport, so the only way to get around is to take a taxi or to rent a motorbike or car. The rental rates are fairly reasonable, and can range from around MYR30 per day for a motorbike and MYR50 for a car on the low end, to well over MYR100. The prices are completely dependent on what vehicle you rent, whether the gearing is automatic or manual, the duration of the rental, and where you rent it from. Roads in Langkawi are also in fairly good condition, although some sections of the roads in the more far-flung reaches of the island may be inadequately lit at night.

Getting There

To get to Telaga Tujuh waterfall from Chenang Beach, follow the road northwards towards the airport. The road swings around the southern end of the runway, before continuing its way north, running parallel to the south-western coastline in the process. Once you reach Kuala Teriang, which lies just under 10 kilometres from Chenang Beach, you need to take a right turn at the first T-junction that you reach. Approximately 200 metres down the road, you will then need to turn left. Follow this road for 5 kilometres or so until you see the Perdana Quay on your left. The quay is very hard to miss as there will be numerous sailboats docked there. There is also a Petronas station there where you can purchase petrol.

Just after Perdana Quay lies a fairly large T-junction. Turn left there and follow the road for a short while until you reach a small roundabout. Take the 3 o'clock exit and continue along until you reach the next junction. Turn right and then just follow the road till the very end.

Getting to the Telaga Tujuh waterfall from Chenang Beach

There is a car park at the end of the road that is surrounded by small stalls that sell souvenirs, snacks and drinks. The parking fees are MYR2 for cars and MYR1 for motorbikes. Behind the stalls on the right lies a stairwell that ascends through the forest to the upper level of the waterfall. There is also a steep access road that runs parallel to the stairwell that ends at a gazebo just after the turnoff to the base of the waterfall.

The base

of the waterfall is, as one would expect, much easier to get to. The turnoff is marked by clear signs, the pathway is wide and the walk is very short, approximately 250 metres or so. Once there you will see large pools that are surrounded by rocks, with a beautiful backdrop of the vertical falls plunging down the grey- and red-streaked rockface.

The base of the Telaga Tujuh waterfall

The upper level

, on the other hand, involves a fairly steep walk up 638 steps. Fortunately, there are numerous benches and gazebos that help you break up the walk into smaller sections, as well as signs that tell you how many steps are remaining. The upper level is where the seven interconnected pools can be found. These pools are fairly shallow but are deep enough to wallow in, and the 'infinity pools' at the end are perched on the edge of the rock and offer some decent views. There is also a black slippery section of the rock that acts as a natural rock slide for those who want a bit more action.

The trailhead for the hike up Mount Mat Chinchang can be found just behind the pools. Please note that the GPX route below only includes the walk to the base of Telaga Tujuh waterfall. The GPX route to the upper level of the waterfall is included with the Mount Mat Chinchang hike.