Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation trip with a Batu Caves Visit

Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation trip with a Batu Caves Visit

Families with children should make a stop at the centre. The close interaction with elephants will certainly leave a lasting impression on the young ones. For those travelling along the East Coast Expressway, the sanctuary is a worthy stopover before you continue your journey.

Those curious about nature conservation work might also benefit from interacting with the elephants as well as chatting with the friendly staff that work here.

The centre is located about 15km from Lanchang town within the Temerloh district in Pahang. It’s about a two-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur. Ample parking facilities are available here.

Some Things to Know Before Visiting the Batu Caves

Admission to Batu Caves is free.

The caves are open all year from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

The area is not very handicap-accessible, so senior travelers may have difficulty getting up the stairs to the entrances.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Batu Caves, Batu Caves, Selangor

The Batu Caves in Malaysia are one of the most important Hindu religious sites outside of India and are a must-see once you tire of shopping and wandering Kuala Lumpur.

Just eight short miles north of the city, the Batu Caves are just one of the many interesting things to do around Kuala Lumpur. The caves attract around 5,000 visitors a day who come to climb the grueling 272 steps up to the caverns.

The Batu Caves are a focal point for Hindu Malaysians, particularly during Thaipusam: they house a 113-year-old temple, along with an interesting array of Hindu artwork and shrines.

Every year during the Hindu festival of Thaipusam, the Batu Caves attract more than a million devotees and spectators. The eight-hour procession of music and ceremony leaves offerings before a giant statue of Lord Murugan, the Hindu God of War.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary, 28500 Malaysia

Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Centre in Pahang, which lies within the Krau Wildlife Reserve, is the only one of its kind in Malaysia.

The centre has been locating, subduing and then translocating elephants whose habitats have been encroached by development.

Over the past three decades, more than 700 wild elephants have been successfully relocated to more suitable venues such as Taman Negara. Many orphaned elephants are also raised and given shelter here.

The centre is open to visitors throughout the year and conducts public awareness activities.

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry’s website stated that there are fewer than 1,200 wild elephants roaming in Peninsular Malaysia. Protecting these gentle giants are crucial to prevent them from being pushed to the brink of extinction.

One of the ways the public can help with the elephant conservation initiative is to learn and understand the hard work that goes into protecting the animal. Participating in the awareness programme here should give visitors a clearer sense of the importance of the species and habitat protection.

A variety of activities are lined up for visitors from 10.30am onwards. Prior to visiting, it’s a good idea to refer to the visitor timetable available online.

In the morning, do some elephant observation along the interpretive trail. Many of the young elephants roam freely in certain compounds during the day. You’re also encouraged to watch a documentary on elephant translocation activity that was filmed in collaboration with National Geographic.

Elephant visits take place in the afternoon and visitors will be able to get up close with the animals under close supervision of the mahouts. There, conservation talks at an interpretive stage will be held later in the day that introduces the background and abilities of some of the trained resident elephants

Duration: 5 hours