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village in Pahang, Malaysia
Asia > Southeast Asia > Malaysia > East Coast (Malaysia) > Pahang > Janda Baik

Janda Baik is a village town in Pahang, Malaysia. It is approximately 45 km and about an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur. It is a popular holiday and recreational destination for city folks, and foreign visitors especially backpackers.

Understand

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Rumah Dari Melaka

The climate here serves in between 23-28°C during the day and below 22°C in the evenings. A simple Malay kampong or village with a population of approximately 1000 people. Janda Baik is set amidst a small valley bounded by thick rainforest laced together with picturesque streams and cool rushing brooks of waterfallswith. "Janda Baik" means "the good widow" in Malay. As the story is told by local folks, in the old days a path that connects Selangor and Pahang beats its way through the village. It was said that a mercenary, who was returning after fighting in a civil war in Selangor stopped at the village for a rest and to nurse some wounds he had sustained in battle. Upon seeing this ragtag team in the vicinity, a kindly widow immediately offered help and tended to the mercenary's wounds. As a mark of respect for this kind widow, the mercenary would always advise his men to call on the woman whenever they were in the vicinity.

Friends of Janda Baik (FOJB) was set up to promote the awareness and importance of preserving and protecting the ecological system and beautiful nature of Janda Baik and its surrounding hills and streams, while keeping and sustaining the original existing concept of Malay 'kampung (village)' environment and development.

Janda Baik had attracted an increasing number of visitors due to its strategic location for weekend escapism. It attracted investors to come here and build up semi-resort type accommodations, commercial facilities and training camps. However, the need for controlled development has to be taken into placed in order not to destroy the tranquility of real village character.

The other challenge faced by Janda Baik citizens is the rape of its surrounding hill, due to illegal hill farming and de-forestration activities. These have resulted in a rise in temperature, pollution of rivers and streams, erosion and landslip, and decreasing stream water level.

Nevertheless, Janda Baik has a wide variety of semi-type resorts that offer motivational courses, obstacle challenges, flying fox and abseiling. Camping grounds are available. Backpackers' chalets, however, are still very limited.

For those who wish to pursue rainforest trekking and 4-wheel drive trails, there is a local-run organisation facilitating such endeavors.

Get in

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By car

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Janda Baik is 45 km north of Kuala Lumpur and 1/2 hr drive from K.L. via the Gombak-Karak Highway. After the first tunnel, turn left, make a U-turn and turn left again after the Petronas petrol station and McDonald's. On that left turn, all the way in and there will be a junction and a 'Welcoming Arch'. Turn right into the main access to Janda Baik. There are signboards along the roads. Along the journey, you will see TanaRimba and Electricsola Factory on your right side. After the factory, either turning left at the T-junction at the Janda Baik's surau (small mosque) which is on the left side of the road or going straight in takes you to the centre of Kg. Janda Baik.

By rental car or taxi

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The nearest airport is Kuala Lumpur International Airport, 100 km away. If you are flying in there, you should use either the ERL (Express Rail Link), taxi or shuttle bus, and get off at KL Sentral. From KL Sentral, you can either rent a car or get a taxi to go Janda Baik. Car rental prices vary according to the company. Taxi charges range from RM 100 to RM 180 for a one-way trip. A few of the major resorts in Janda Baik such as the Seri Pengantin Resort provide an airport transfer for their guests, and advance reservation is required. Charges apply and must be made upon reservation.

Get around

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Janda Baik is a good place to seek rest and recreation because of its proximity to Kuala Lumpur. The following are the interesting places that one should explore and enjoy these unique experience.

  • Pulau Santap. What happens when two rivers meet? A kind of chemistry takes place. The meeting of the Bunus and Ceringging rivers is the birthplace of Janda Baik. In the early days, there was a small islet where Sultan Abu Bakar of Pahang took his meals. Santap is the language of the royal courts which means the Sultan is having his meal. The place was aptly named Pulau Santap. The islet is no more to be seen but the place still entices visitors to have a picnic or take a dip in its shallow water. 
  • Ulu Tampit Waterfall. Ulu Tampit waterfall is in Latto Charok. It is recommended to visit the waterfall if you are visiting Janda Baik. Many would find that Ulu Tampit waterfall is the most enjoyable one! There are seven floors of waterfall and 4th, 5th and 7th floor, are the most common floors people go to visit. It only takes about 45 minutes of light trekking and hiking through the jungle to get to the top floor. During raining season it is not advisable to go there because first of all the water is not clear, secondly many ‘pacat’ or leeches and lastly you may fall down during the hiking because of slippery.; At the 5th floor of the waterfall, the panoramic view is so beautiful while at 7th floor is the best to dip into the water! The water is so cold and so deep, yet you will not be carried away by the current. It is one of the safest waterfalls to plunge into the water. Kids enjoy it the most at the 5th floor.; How to get there? Unfortunately, visiting the waterfall will only be allowed if you are accompanied by an experienced guide. The guide is available with an advance booking. Kindly call 019 6152 150 for further assistance.; For those who are looking for something tougher, it is recommended to go hiking to Gunung Nuang through Janda Baik. It takes 10 hours of trekking to go up and down. Good luck! 
  • Mount Nuang. Gunung Nuang or Mount Nuang (1493m) is the highest in the state of Selangor, which is in Hulu Langat. Gunung Nuang is among the famous mountain for local and foreign trekkers and it is also a "training centre" for those who plan to challenge the Mount Tahan in Pahang and Mount Kinabalu in Sabah. Trekking up Gunung Nuang in Hulu Langat offers intrepid trekkers endless opportunities to observe exotic and rare tropical flora and fauna. Striding through the forests of this mountain, the lush vegetation displays Malaysia's primeval and largely unexplored rainforests. The hilly terrain makes trekking up to the peak of Gunung Nuang more arduous. The vibrant ecosystem that stretches throughout the trek will expose visitors to nature at its most natural form. It is estimated at about 11 hours of journey from the main entrance. Along the journey, there are 2 campsites, where you can have a rest and refresh your energy before continuing another hard trek to the summit. The view from the peak is spectacular with fresh air breezing. A satisfaction guaranteed when reaching this famous summit. 
  • 1 Elephant Conservation Center (in Kuala Gandah, 40 km from Bentong), ☏ +60 3-9075 2872. daily 10AM to 4:30PM. This centre is dedicated to rescuing and protecting the country's elephants. Take a close look at these friendly jumbos during their feeding times or watch the fun as they enjoy a muddy splash in the nearby river. Activities are held from 2PM to 3:45PM with handfeeding and short elephant rides. Visitors are strongly encouraged to leave donations in the form of Anlene Gold Milk for the small elephants' lunch as well as for the staff welfare fund which will be used to employ part-time local tribal and Malay youths to work with the centre. Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Centre (Q6440975) on Wikidata Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Centre on Wikipedia 
  • Orang Asli Museum (The Aborigines Museum), ☏ +60 3-6189 2113 ext 216. Sa-Th 9AM-5PM, closed Friday. The Orang Asli Museum in Jalan Gombak, 24 km away from Janda Baik and Batu Caves, is an impressive and informative centre showcasing the history, customs and traditions as well as the social and economic development of the peninsula's early inhabitants.; Managed by the Orang Asli Affairs Department, the museum displays models and exhibits highlighting the lifestyle of the tribes including their dwellings, personal adornment, arts, costumes, musical instruments, hunting and agricultural tools, animal traps and traditional medicine. Free. 

Rainforest TrekkingJanda Baik holds local avid trekkers and offer guide to those interested. This are fully run and managed by local trekkers. They are very active in nature preservation works and rescue mission. The trails varied from a day walk to a week depending on the peaks trail along Banjaran Titiwangsa ( Titiwangsa Range) natural rainforest. Contact: +60 19-2031256 (Adino).

4-Wheel Drive Trails These are fully run and managed by local Janda Baik . Location Kg. Hulu Lurah, Janda Wan Sharizan Baik. Contact: +60 19-611 2124 (Zaini)

  • Di Hilir Brasserie, ☏ +60 3 4270 1700. This elegant restaurant is located at the Seri Pengantin Resort in Kampung Sum-Sum Hilir Off Kampung Janda Baik. Embark on a culinary adventure, a dwelling within lush tropical environs within scenic view of the resort's swimming pool and the Sum-Sum Hilir River. The menu commands as much as the views, ranging from local favorites, Western classics to Asian exotics. 
  • Restaurant Budiyah. Located at the stretch of shoplots at the downhill of Kampung Bukit Tinggi and nearby to a BP petrol station. Also, this restaurant can be easily seen and accessed from the main highway. This restaurant is popular among the highway stopovers and the locals as they serving fresh hot 'kelantanese' dishes and pahang's specialities.Operates from morning till late daily. 
  • Restaurant Cik Mek. 4PM to midnight. Located in Kg. Cheringging off Kampung Janda Baik. Served hot from the kitchen. This restaurant is popular for its kelantanese food and live cable television entertainment showing latest sports and etc. 
  • Genting Sempah Rest Area. There are endless choice of eateries in this area. One of the popular ones is McDonald Restaurant which also have a 24-hour drive-thru counter. 
  • Restaurant Foon Lock, Kg. Bukit Tinggi. Popular among the highway stopovers and the locals. Serving lip-smacking Chinese dishes and great friendly service too! 
  • Minang Sri Selera, Warung Minang Sri Selera, Kg Sum-Sum, ☏ +60 19-9552451. 8AM - 10PM. It is the best minang restaurant in Janda Baik. Its located in the Kg Sum Sum. The special menu is the Sup Tulang and Cendul Pulut. 

Drink

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Sleep

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There are a few resorts and homestays available in Janda Baik for accommodation.

Connect

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Go next

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This city travel guide to Janda Baik is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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