Just a 30-minute drive from Gua Musang, the caving paradise of Merapoh awaits. Sprawled with more than 100 caves hidden within the limestone karst, only 12 caves have been fully explored, and six open to the public. During my trip with Habitat Expeditions, I visited two caves, each named after a distinctive feature within.
Gua Sisik Naga
Gua Sisik Naga is a “dead cave” with a 800-meter stretch of wooden boardwalks running through it. Its name means “dragon’s scale”, and you’ll see why later. Exploring the cave in its entirety takes 1.5 hours each way. Some sections are narrow with just 5 meters across, so protective helmets are provided.
In the past, guano was harvested from Gua Sisik Naga and used to fertilise paddy fields. Back then, bottles of kerosene wrapped in cloth were used to light and illuminate the caves. However, guano harvesting has stopped for the past 5-10 years, as soot from the kerosene deterred the bats from returning.
The main chamber is 40 meters wide and 30 meters high. Look closely at the walls and you’ll spot black dots rich in silica, all formed when intense pressure melted the mineral, turning it into black.
You’ll also see white streaks that were caused by an ancient earthquake in the region many years ago, along with white spots representing fossilized seashells from when an ancient river once ran through the cave.
On the ceiling, ripple-like formations called scallops were shaped by the flow of wind and water. The caves are estimated to be 200 to 290 million years old, dating back to the Permian and Triassic periods.
Gua Tahi Bintang
Known as one of the oldest caves in Merapoh, Gua Tahi Bintang (also known as the shooting star cave) became the centre of controversy. In 2010, a cement factory sought to harvest its limestone. Sultan Abdullah subsequently gazetted Merapoh as protected, putting an end to limestone blasting in the area.
Step inside and admire the cave walls displaying shimmering, star-like effect caused by calcium carbonate deposits at the point where tectonic plates once collided within the cave. Interestingly, the rooftop also has glittery sands due to the seven layers of mineral.
Past cave research have found fossils and seashells, as well as old elephant footprints, evident of their presence in the cave!
Both Gua Sisik Naga and Gua Tahi Bintang were gazetted as part of the Lipis Geopark in 2024, with hopes that this will eventually pave the way for UNESCO status.
My cave exploration in Merapoh was part of The Habitat Expeditions’ Merapoh and Gua Musang trip. It also includes
Cheng Sim 