Hiking East AsiaTempler Park
A limestone forest reserve of waterfalls and a sheer monolith, twenty minutes from Kuala Lumpur’s edge
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- Half a day for the waterfall and forest trails; a separate half to full day for a guided climb up Bukit Takun
Templer Park is a 1,214 hectare forest reserve around a cluster of limestone hills, the best known of which is Bukit Takun, a sheer 300 metre outcrop that draws rock climbers from across the Klang Valley. Most visitors come for the easier side: shaded forest paths, swimming pools below a waterfall, and picnic grounds a short walk from the car park. Bukit Takun itself is a serious technical climb, not a scramble, and is done with a registered operator rather than as an extension of the park walk.
Highlights
- Bukit Takun’s sheer 300 metre limestone face
- Waterfall pools a short, easy walk from the car park
- Shaded forest trails suited to families and beginners
- A base for guided rock climbing and abseiling for those who want more
Getting there
The park is just off the North South Expressway at the Templer Park interchange, about 25 minutes from central Kuala Lumpur and easily reached by car. Rawang, the nearest town, has onward transport for visitors without a car.
Safety tips
The waterfall pools are the main everyday risk: rocks stay slippery even when dry, and the current picks up fast after rain upstream. Bukit Takun itself should only be attempted with a registered climbing operator; the limestone is loose in places and not something to free-climb.
What to bring
- Sandals or water shoes for the pools
- A picnic, since the grounds are set up for it
- Cash for the entrance gate
- Climbing gear is unnecessary if booking through an operator, who supplies it