Location :
In the district of South West Penang Island, Penang.
Coordinates of the park are 5°18'0"N 100°15'33"E
You can access the Google Map here.
Natural Heritage Status:
Sungai Air Terjun or Bayan Lepas Waterfall was made famous by our 5th Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Our PM used to spend his childhood swimming and picnicking in the crystal clear and invigorating pool with amid serenity atmosphere.
Gazettement :
Gazetted as Bayan Lepas Waterfall. Rehabilitated by JPS as recreational river.
Accessibility:
To the park: Road from Georgetown all the way to Bayan Lepas to the entrance of waterfall are quite straight forward. Road are tarred all the way to the park. Use Rapid Penang bus U401 and alight at Bayan Lepas Police Station. Cross the road and walk about half a kilometer to the entrance of waterfall road. A taxi can be hired anywhere to the waterfall.
In the park: Single lane village road from main road to the waterfall. Picnic areas are well served by cement path and bridges.
Affordability:
Entrance to the waterfall is free. No parking fee. Opened 24 hours without restriction. The park is well visited and popular among the local community. According to locals, there are not many foreign tourists visiting the park.
Level of Development:
Changing rooms for picnickers are available. Beautiful landscapes, bridges and sheds provide for the visitors. Food stores are not available at the waterfall but enterprising villagers along the village road sold fried bananas and drinks. To reach the waterfall, you need to pass through Kampung Perlis with an estimated population of 500 persons.
Popularity:
Most visitors came to this waterfall to bathe, swim and enjoy the natural surrounding. The pool can accommodate many visitors. This small waterfall was usually crowded during the weekends and holidays. Visitors during weekend and holidays about 300 persons. Weekdays between 50 to 100 persons.
Accommodation:
No accommodation facilities.
Threats:
Housing Development: The biggest threat of the waterfall is housing development. Drain and waste water will eventually flow into the waterfall. The development of a housing estate at the upper reaches and the exploitation of the river water have affected the waterfall. Previously a cement processing plant which exploited the waterfall for cleaning equipment and lorries had polluted the river with cement discharge. “No fish could survive then”, said Pak Yah Arab, a villager who volunteered as River Ranger to keep the waterfall clean. “Now you can see fishes swimming in the water”, added Pak Yah Arab. He pointed that a new bridge across the river is still under construction since early April 2008 by JPS.
A comment was made by our PM in 2004 regarding the poor state of the waterfall that started the rejuvenation of this natural heritage. The JPS (Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran Malaysia) with the gotong royong spirit of the villagers then embarked on Love Our River Campaign that has successfully breathe live to this waterfall.
Garbage: Rubbish were strewn everywhere in the park. Local picnickers have no consideration of the cleanliness of the park.
Mitigation:
Pollution: The river up stream passes through orchards and housing estates. Regular enforcement and checks should be observed by JPS and municipal council against drainage flowing from housing estate to the river system.
Garbage: More rubbish bins should be provided at the waterfall. Rubbish was seen thrown from the high rise building beside the waterfall. Need to educate the residents of the flats regarding cleanliness and waste disposal.
Conservation:
In the district of South West Penang Island, Penang.
Coordinates of the park are 5°18'0"N 100°15'33"E
You can access the Google Map here.
Natural Heritage Status:
Sungai Air Terjun or Bayan Lepas Waterfall was made famous by our 5th Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Our PM used to spend his childhood swimming and picnicking in the crystal clear and invigorating pool with amid serenity atmosphere.
Gazettement :
Gazetted as Bayan Lepas Waterfall. Rehabilitated by JPS as recreational river.
Accessibility:
To the park: Road from Georgetown all the way to Bayan Lepas to the entrance of waterfall are quite straight forward. Road are tarred all the way to the park. Use Rapid Penang bus U401 and alight at Bayan Lepas Police Station. Cross the road and walk about half a kilometer to the entrance of waterfall road. A taxi can be hired anywhere to the waterfall.
In the park: Single lane village road from main road to the waterfall. Picnic areas are well served by cement path and bridges.
Affordability:
Entrance to the waterfall is free. No parking fee. Opened 24 hours without restriction. The park is well visited and popular among the local community. According to locals, there are not many foreign tourists visiting the park.
Level of Development:
Changing rooms for picnickers are available. Beautiful landscapes, bridges and sheds provide for the visitors. Food stores are not available at the waterfall but enterprising villagers along the village road sold fried bananas and drinks. To reach the waterfall, you need to pass through Kampung Perlis with an estimated population of 500 persons.
Popularity:
Most visitors came to this waterfall to bathe, swim and enjoy the natural surrounding. The pool can accommodate many visitors. This small waterfall was usually crowded during the weekends and holidays. Visitors during weekend and holidays about 300 persons. Weekdays between 50 to 100 persons.
Accommodation:
No accommodation facilities.
Threats:
Housing Development: The biggest threat of the waterfall is housing development. Drain and waste water will eventually flow into the waterfall. The development of a housing estate at the upper reaches and the exploitation of the river water have affected the waterfall. Previously a cement processing plant which exploited the waterfall for cleaning equipment and lorries had polluted the river with cement discharge. “No fish could survive then”, said Pak Yah Arab, a villager who volunteered as River Ranger to keep the waterfall clean. “Now you can see fishes swimming in the water”, added Pak Yah Arab. He pointed that a new bridge across the river is still under construction since early April 2008 by JPS.
A comment was made by our PM in 2004 regarding the poor state of the waterfall that started the rejuvenation of this natural heritage. The JPS (Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran Malaysia) with the gotong royong spirit of the villagers then embarked on Love Our River Campaign that has successfully breathe live to this waterfall.
Garbage: Rubbish were strewn everywhere in the park. Local picnickers have no consideration of the cleanliness of the park.
Mitigation:
Pollution: The river up stream passes through orchards and housing estates. Regular enforcement and checks should be observed by JPS and municipal council against drainage flowing from housing estate to the river system.
Garbage: More rubbish bins should be provided at the waterfall. Rubbish was seen thrown from the high rise building beside the waterfall. Need to educate the residents of the flats regarding cleanliness and waste disposal.
Conservation:
Flora: There are several huge trees at the vicinity of the waterfall. It includes a strangling fig over the river and two huge unidentified commercial trees. There are also herbal plants dotting the river and the waterfall.
Fauna: For those who love watching fauna, there are common wild boars beyond the hill if you care to venture further. There are also monitor lizards, squirrels and birds.
Ancient Legend: A huge footprint (Tapak Kelembai) can be seen on the boulder. Pak Yah Arab mentioned that it belongs to Kelembai (makhluk ghaib yang mempunyai kuasa sakti) an equivalent of “big foot” with strange magical power. It resembles the Sam Poh Kong’s foot print at Batu Maung, he added.
Ancient Tombstones: Two ancient tombstones were located among the rubber trees near the waterfall. According to Pak Yah Arab, these tombstones were there since his childhood days. He added that if one is lucky, one can see soapy foams and perhaps hear splashing of water around 12 noon on Fridays. This phenomenon happened within a minute or two. However, he was quick to add that they meant no harm.
Benefits to Local Communities:
Local communities enjoy the recreational facilities at the waterfall. Small time vendors selling goreng pisang and drinks along the village road during weekends.
How to Get There
Bayan Lepas Waterfall is located at Kampung Perlis, Bayan Lepas. Use the airport road (Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah – Route 6) from Georgetown to Bayan Lepas town. There is a road (Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim) opposite the Bayan Lepas Police Station. Since you cannot turn right at this junction, you have to proceed further and turn back to this junction (P231). About a kilometer from the junction, you will see a small signage of the waterfall. Turn left to the waterfall using a small tarred village road. The narrow path takes you straight to the waterfall.
Important Contacts
Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran Pulau Pinang
Paras 55, KOMTAR,
10000, Jalan Penang
Pulau Pinang.
No Tel : +604-2621957
No. Faks : +604-2613435
http://jps.penang.gov.my/index.html
References:
Department of Irrigation and Drainage (1989), Waterfalls of Malaysia, Design Dimension.
http://utusan.com.my/utusan/special.asp?pr=umno2004&y=2007&dt=0208&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Muka_Hadapan&pg=mh_02.htm
Fauna: For those who love watching fauna, there are common wild boars beyond the hill if you care to venture further. There are also monitor lizards, squirrels and birds.
Ancient Legend: A huge footprint (Tapak Kelembai) can be seen on the boulder. Pak Yah Arab mentioned that it belongs to Kelembai (makhluk ghaib yang mempunyai kuasa sakti) an equivalent of “big foot” with strange magical power. It resembles the Sam Poh Kong’s foot print at Batu Maung, he added.
Ancient Tombstones: Two ancient tombstones were located among the rubber trees near the waterfall. According to Pak Yah Arab, these tombstones were there since his childhood days. He added that if one is lucky, one can see soapy foams and perhaps hear splashing of water around 12 noon on Fridays. This phenomenon happened within a minute or two. However, he was quick to add that they meant no harm.
Benefits to Local Communities:
Local communities enjoy the recreational facilities at the waterfall. Small time vendors selling goreng pisang and drinks along the village road during weekends.
How to Get There
Bayan Lepas Waterfall is located at Kampung Perlis, Bayan Lepas. Use the airport road (Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah – Route 6) from Georgetown to Bayan Lepas town. There is a road (Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim) opposite the Bayan Lepas Police Station. Since you cannot turn right at this junction, you have to proceed further and turn back to this junction (P231). About a kilometer from the junction, you will see a small signage of the waterfall. Turn left to the waterfall using a small tarred village road. The narrow path takes you straight to the waterfall.
Important Contacts
Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran Pulau Pinang
Paras 55, KOMTAR,
10000, Jalan Penang
Pulau Pinang.
No Tel : +604-2621957
No. Faks : +604-2613435
http://jps.penang.gov.my/index.html
References:
Department of Irrigation and Drainage (1989), Waterfalls of Malaysia, Design Dimension.
http://utusan.com.my/utusan/special.asp?pr=umno2004&y=2007&dt=0208&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Muka_Hadapan&pg=mh_02.htm
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