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Malaysia Travel Guide

Exploring Niah Caves

Exploring Niah Caves

Niah

One of the must-visit caves in Sarawak that I had the opportunity to explore is no other that the world famous Niah Caves, which is located just two hours from the city of Miri in Northern Sarawak. The massive cave system is located in the Niah National Park, which is one of the top three national parks in Sarawak Borneo.

Niah Cave was once a trading cave, where traders from around the world would pay a visit to trade wares with the birds nest that was gathered by the locals from around here. The caves were also discovered by Alfred Russel Wallace in an expedition done back in 1855.

Niah National Park

The wooden stair climb up to the Niah Caves 

A hundred years later, couple Barbara and Tom Harrison made an attempt to excavate part of the Niah Caves and found some interesting discoveries. Till this very day, the Niah Caves are still being excavated. Scientific facts claim that the Niah Caves have been occupied since 40,000 years ago, and proof of human remains have been found here.

My trip to the Niah Caves coincided with a visit to the Patrick Libau Longhouse where the Gawai celebrations or Harvest Festival were held in June. It was my first time and the experience was something that I was looking forward too. From the longhouse, it was an easy trek for about 20 minutes to the cave entrance.

Niah National Park

At the Trader’s Cave, can you see the person in the photo?

Niah National Park

Remains of the traders outpost inside the cave

Trader’s Cave

From there, wooden stairs take you upwards into the Trading Chamber. This was where the Swiftlet Traders set up shop, and you can still see the remains of their wooden structures built into the cave walls.

The chamber is massive, with one side of the cave left open for more than enough light to come in. From the Trading Chamber, it was a short trek up into the main chamber of the caves. Here, I needed to climb a few flights of wooden stairs that had railings.

Niah National Park

Tom Harrison’s House inside the Great Cave

Great Cave

Arriving at the main chamber, Great Cave or Tom Harrison Chamber as I call it, you will be greeted by a house that was once lived in by Tom and his wife. The wooden home sits in one section of the cave entrance and has been preserved by the museum department. You are not allowed to enter the house though.

When looking into the main chamber, you see on your left, an area fenced up to about eight feet. This is where current excavations are ongoing by relevant departments. If you look carefully, you can see what has been dug up or what is in the process of being excavated.

Niah National Park

A fence surrounds the cave paintings at the Painted Cave

Painted Cave

Heading in another 150 meters will bring you the the star of Niah Caves, which is the Painted Cave. This section is also fenced up to preserve the amazing cave paintings discovered. The rock paintings also date back to some 1200 years old and some of them are in good condition while most of them have faded a little.

After attempting to take some photos, at the Padang Area, which is lightly deeper inside the caves, it was soon time to make that return back to the longhouse, as celebrations were still on going. In general, you can visit Niah for half a day, just to explore this fascinating caves.

Niah National Park

Part of the excavation area that is fenced up

Niah National Park

Some of the beautiful cave formations inside Niah Cave

If you are coming from Miri, you will make a stop at the Niah National Park office, where you buy your ticket in. From the park office, it takes about 40 minutes walk to the Trader’s Cave entrance. You will also be walking on a boarded walkway with the beautiful rainforest surrounding your journey.

The entire journey here is worth the visit, provided you love trekking, hiking, caving, nature and adventure. This would easily be listed as one of the main things to do out of Miri City, so if you are in Miri, do look up a tour company that organises trips to the Niah Caves.

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Photos by David Hogan Jr

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Malaysia Travel Guide

The Megaliths of the Bario Highlands

The Megaliths of the Bario Highlands

The Megaliths of the Bario Highlands

During my many visits to the Bario Highlands in northern Sarawak, I always love trekking and exploring this beautiful place as there is so much nature to absorb. At some of the trekking trails, you will come across massive man made stone structures or even stone carvings.

The man made structures or carvings are called Megaliths, which date back thousands of years and is an incredible sight when you stand next to them. One of the most popular megaliths is known locally as Batu Ritong, a strange rock structure which was clearly created by man.

The Megaliths of the Bario Highlands

Batu Ritong (Ritong Stone)

Who put it there? How was it put, no one seems to know. I have visited Batu Ritong two times in the last couple of years, and on both occasions, different experienced guides could not give me an accurate explanation to this phenomenal structure.

Locals claim that this is actually a burial ground for a Kelabit nobleman named Ritong hundreds of years ago. The site was excavated in 1962 by British soldier Tom Harrison, and originally, it was standing straight upright. But over the years, Batu Ritong has slanted to a 45 degree angle.

The Megaliths of the Bario Highlands

One one of my trips, I spoke to a team of international university students who were there to study thee megaliths, and one of them has told me that there were in fact over 800 megaliths, large and small found all over the highlands area. Only a handful of them are being studied and till this very day, the answer is still not conclusive.

The size of the Batu Ritong with a trekker next to it

When you visit the Bario Highlands, make sure you ask the local guides about a trek to any of the megaliths as it will surely give you a sense of mystery.  The famous ones are the Batu Narit which is a huge boulder with strange carvings on it and the other is Batu Ritong, a 4-5 hour trek from Bario to Pa Lungan village.  Bario is accessible via Miri using MasWings flight.

___________________
Photos by David Hogan Jr

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Categories
Malaysia Travel Guide

The Megaliths of the Bario Highlands

The Megaliths of the Bario Highlands

The Megaliths of the Bario Highlands

During my many visits to the Bario Highlands in northern Sarawak, I always love trekking and exploring this beautiful place as there is so much nature to absorb. At some of the trekking trails, you will come across massive man made stone structures or even stone carvings.

The man made structures or carvings are called Megaliths, which date back thousands of years and is an incredible sight when you stand next to them. One of the most popular megaliths is known locally as Batu Ritong, a strange rock structure which was clearly created by man.

The Megaliths of the Bario Highlands

Batu Ritong (Ritong Stone)

Who put it there? How was it put, no one seems to know. I have visited Batu Ritong two times in the last couple of years, and on both occasions, different experienced guides could not give me an accurate explanation to this phenomenal structure.

Locals claim that this is actually a burial ground for a Kelabit nobleman named Ritong hundreds of years ago. The site was excavated in 1962 by British soldier Tom Harrison, and originally, it was standing straight upright. But over the years, Batu Ritong has slanted to a 45 degree angle.

The Megaliths of the Bario Highlands

One one of my trips, I spoke to a team of international university students who were there to study thee megaliths, and one of them has told me that there were in fact over 800 megaliths, large and small found all over the highlands area. Only a handful of them are being studied and till this very day, the answer is still not conclusive.

The size of the Batu Ritong with a trekker next to it

When you visit the Bario Highlands, make sure you ask the local guides about a trek to any of the megaliths as it will surely give you a sense of mystery.  The famous ones are the Batu Narit which is a huge boulder with strange carvings on it and the other is Batu Ritong, a 4-5 hour trek from Bario to Pa Lungan village.  Bario is accessible via Miri using MasWings flight.

___________________
Photos by David Hogan Jr

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