Wednesday, December 26, 2018

BUKIT GASING - COMPREHENSIVE TRAIL MAP



Introduction
Bukit Gasing is located in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Its vast trail extended further up to territory of Kuala Lumpur i.e Pantai Dalam. Being one of many hills categorized as easy or hard by some, depending on which trail route you take, Bukit Gasing is suitable for all age.

Entrance Point
There are few entrance points to Bukit Gasing and the most popular are via PJ (Arch), Taman Rimba (Pantai Dalam) and Pantai Hillpark (Pantai Dalam). People will find it hard to find car park if you are entering from PJ (Arch) as it is located at the roadside and in a housing area without proper parking space.

Entrance from PJ

GPS coordinate : 3.095117, 101.656032

I personally would recommend to enter from Pantai Hillpark (near dewan komuniti pantai dalam) and from Taman Rimba as the areas have ample parking space and less traffic.

Entrance from Pantai Hillpark 
(dewan komuniti Pantai dalam)
This is the old design of stairs


This is the brand new stairs (mid 2018)

GPS Coordinate : 3.103245, 101.660825




Entrance via Taman Rimba, ample parking space. This is where the steel bridge located.

GPS Coordinate : 3.096519, 101.662872

Bukit Gasing is popular not only among the locals but people come from afar to enjoy a leisure and peaceful walk in the park. Often, it will be full of aunties, uncles, makcik and pakcik along the trails, not to forget trail runners making their rounds during the weekend. It is my training ground too.


Point of Interests
The most popular point of interests that every hikers should go are : The Temple or Telekom tower, Suspension Bridge (Bukit Gasing), Cardiac Hill, Watch Tower and Steel Bridge/Cable Bridge (Taman Rimba).


It may take up to 7km to 10km for full trail course to complete the journey and could be more if you're "zig zagging" the whole area with lots of up and downs. You should finish by noon.

Indian Temple/Telekom Tower
The highest point is at the temple or Telekom tower, both are close together, make sure you visit these spots, located 400 meters uphill from bottom (in distance, not elevation ya..). There are 3 main entrances to go up - you can find it on the map below...better try all of them...haha.

Indian Temple


With my close friend who on his way to shave off few kilo...


Suspension Bridge and Cardiac Hill
Suspension bridge (Bukit Gasing) is another popular spot for it's unique "hanging" bridge being the most photo taken. Then, further up (then down) is the famous "cardiac hill" popular among trail runners. Full of stairs and hard climb! Go slow ya...once I saw people got passed out upon reaching the top.

Suspension bridge (gasing)

Watch Tower/Look Out Point
The Watch Tower is another popular spot and located 410 meters in distance from the start. There are many entrances to here, you may choose which trail you want to take from the map. The watch tower or the 'lookout' tower is actually a view point previously but I think due to safety reason, the tower was no longer there. What remain is the wooden/concrete platform. Entrance to here are quite a lot, also, you should try all of them.

Circa 2015 where the watch tower still exist but closed to public


Watch Tower no more


Steel Bridge/Cable Bridge - Taman Rimba
Another popular spot is the steel bridge/cable bridge located in Taman Rimba (Pantai Dalam). This area is well preserved - with river flowing, gazebos, trim grasses and proper pathways. If you are from PJ and Pantai HillPark Entrances,  I would suggest going here via Taman Rimba - the dense jungle - more challenging and with multiple trail routes - Everyday is a new challenges.

Steel bridge/cable bridge of Taman Rimba


This is Taman Rimba area - Laluan Denai aka trail ahead


The cement pathway...

Exploring Bukit Gasing
There are few more locations that you need to go, which I've labelled with "camera" signs. In order to get there you need to walk further while enjoying the trail's beauty - good exercise for you also.


Keep exploring...

Start planning your hike today and explore the whole Bukit Gasing, to do that, I've prepared a map of the area complete with distance from each turning point to another. Hopefully it can assist you in navigation. Just download it, share or whatever you please....it's free....


Bukit Gasing Map view link

Direction/Navigation
The Gasing trails are like labyrinth where you have many trails lead to somewhere either long, hard climb or short route trail. Most of the trails are without directional signage and most of hikers especially newbie will find it difficult to navigate through. They will just follow the crowd and ask around. Even experienced hikers also will used their normal route to their favorite location and seldom explore to other part of the trails.

People Can Get Lost
Its easy to get lost but it is easy to find your way back also, however, ones need to endure a long walk if not familiar with the trails. I encountered people who get lost and seeking for help, many times I assisted people finding their way back or lead them the way out and also I found people who lost and been circling around many times and getting tired and fed up....haha.... 

Location Where People May Get Lost
Taman Rimba dense forest is the high risk location but not to worry as the trails are clear and few junctions have directional signage already. No matter where, there will be people to ask around, don't worry.

We call it Cempedak Junction because few thriving cempedak trees here


Yes, its a wild cempedak

Doing My Bit To Society
Realizing the difficulties to navigate around and to prevent or minimize people getting lost, I've installed few directional signage at strategic points in Bukit Gasing and Taman Rimba. Hoping hikers may benefit from the effort and making their hike more enjoyable type of exercise.

Bottom hill - the Temple is up. Happy climbing

Distance to watch tower from this junction is 250 meter

Connecting the missing link 



Figuring out where we are and how far is the distance

The Ugly Truth of Malaysian
Few of my signages have been torn down or misplaced which I believed done by unscrupulous individual or maybe someone don't like it being there. Whatever the reason is my intention is good and I think most of the hikers valued the effort. Nevertheless, I could not say or do more and just keep moving forward.

Putting any negative vibe aside, I enjoy Bukit Gasing as the way it should be - exercising, trail running or walking.