Temerloh
Understand
Temerloh is a town in Central Pahang, Malaysia in Temerloh district. Located about 130 km from Kuala Lumpur along the Kuantan-Kuala Lumpur trunk road, Temerloh is the second largest town in Pahang after Kuantan. It is situated at the junction of the Pahang River and the Semantan River. "Temerloh" usually refers to the territory under administration of Temerloh Municipal Council or Majlis Perbandaran Temerloh, which includes the smaller towns adjacent to the city such as Mentakab, Lanchang, Kuala Krau and Kerdau.
Get in
By car
Both the E2 Highway and the newer E8 expressway run through Temerloh.
By rail
The nearest train station to Temerloh is Mentakab train station. Other nearby minor stations are located at Sungai Belengu, Kerdau and Kuala Krau. The train service is provided by the KTMB.
By bus
Termerloh has two bus terminals. Longer distance services (e.g. Kuala Lumpur or Kuantan) depart from the intercity terminal, just off Jalan Ahmad Shah. Local buses (e.g. to Jerantut for Taman Negara or Kuala Gandah for the Elephant Sanctuary) leave from the bus stand across from the bazaar.
Buses leave from Kuala Lumpur's Pekeliling Bus Terminal roughly every hour from 07:00 to 17:00, arriving at Temerloh intercity terminal approximately 2.5 hours later. Return trips follow roughly the same schedule.
Get around
By road Temerloh is accessible by road transportation as it has a good connection to other cities. The East Coast Expressway connects Temerloh with Kuantan and Kuala Lumpur as well as other small towns in Pahang. This highway will soon link Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu. Alternatively, old trunk road also connect Temerloh with other small towns in Pahang such as Jengka, Jerantut, Karak and Maran.
By water The water transportation among the locals still exist especially those live at the bank of Pahang River. The water transportation is a necessity especially for the farmers to transport their crops as there is no bridge to connect both side of the river.
Do
Temerloh town sits at the confluence of the Pahang and Semantan Rivers, which is why it is rich with freshwater fish such as Patin (silver catfish), Jelawat, Baung, Tenggalan, Lampam, Belida, Tilapia and Kerai. As the home of the Patin fish, the Temerloh folks have special dishes that bring out the best taste of the fish.
A visit to the Sunday Bazaar Pekan Sehari is not to be missed. Located along the town's riverside, much of the market takes place under the moss covered limbs of ancient riverside trees. Pekan Sehari is a place where all kinds of goods and commodities can be found and sold at a reasonable price. In fact this Pekan Sehari is said to be the longest and biggest in the whole of Pahang. The sellers come normally by the riverboats early in the morning, and take their place before the customers arrive about 07:00AM. Some stalls start closing up before noon, but the market continues bustling well into the afternoon.
Apart from its variety of fish population, the town of Temerloh also offers a variety of jungle and wild-life experiences. The Kuala Krau Wildlife Reserve, a virgin forest reserve with untouched flora and fauna is also where you can find the Elephant Conservation and Sanctuary (open daily for visits) and the Seladang Breeding Center (reservations essential.)
Gunung Senyum Recreational Forest, a paradise for nature and cave lovers is just about 20 km away.
Located at Bukit Rengit, Lancang, the Deerland Park is where you can learn not only about deers, feed and touch them, but also other animals such as ostriches, peacocks, tuna deers, nilgai deers (India) and wood-duck (Canada). Home to the albino monkey, porcupines, black leopard, civet, the Malayan gharial crocodile and alligators, the town's mini zoo covering over 1.5 hectares of land, is located at Jalan Bahagia, near Kampung Sungai Rabit.
There's also recreational park is located right in the middle of Temerloh town, behind the Courthouse, called "Taman Bandar (Town Park). Among the facilities provided here are skate-board track, playground, jogging trails and a mini stadium. There also several natural and man made fishing spots around Temerloh.
Buy
The area is home to several markets selling a wide range of goods. See the description of the fabulous Pekan Sehari above.
All along the roads leading into town stalls sell local fish (mostly farmed) including Patin and Tilapia
Eat
Patin (fresh water catfish) is the local delicacy, but inquire about prices as certain types of Patin can be extremely expensive.
Temerloh has the typical array of Malay restaurants, Chinese coffee houses and Indian food. The line of restaurants/food stalls along the esplanade (opposite the river) offer tasty and modestly priced food with a pleasant setting and view. Patin is usually available at many of these in the buffet steam tables.
Drink
In Temerloh proper alcohol can be quite difficult to find, but the Chinese district of Mentakab has several food courts selling alcohol as well as a few nightclubs and Chinese style (hostess) bars.
Sleep
Green Park Hotel-a large, clean hotel which is probably the largest in Temerloh.
There are also several smaller hotels and resorts in the area.
- Rumah Rehat Temerloh (A little out of the centre of the old town along Jalan Dato Hamzah. It is signed on a number of main streets in town.), ☏ +60 9 296 3218. This former government rest house has more character than any other accommodation in Temerloh. Rooms are very tidy and include air con and hot water. Also has a restaurant. RM105 (triple).
- 🌍 Seri Malaysia Temerloh Hotel (Hotel Seri Malaysia Temerloh), Lot PT 370/6/92, Jalan Hamzah, 28000, ☏ +6092965788, rsvn.tml@serimalaysia.com.my. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. RM168-208.
Go next
Take the E8 or E2 to either Kuala Lumpur or Kuantan. Take a local bus north to Jerantut to visit Taman Negara