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Travel Writing
KL Forest Eco Park, an Escape from the city!
By Zaris Nur Diyana
Tired of the overabundance of lavish high-rise skyscrapers in KL? Craving for the beauty of nature's green to refresh your mind?
If you are living or working in the busiest city in Malaysia, KL Forest Eco Park can be the perfect place to escape from the hustle and bustle of Kuala Lumpur!
I have been living in KL since I was born, and people might be thinking that growing up in the city must be so fancy, with all the buildings and shopping malls around you. Well, that might be true, but sometimes I just need to feed my eyes with the view of nature. Hence, that is why I was excited when I discovered this place.
In the scarcity of natural scenery, the KL Forest Eco Park is conveniently located beside the Menara KL Tower and widely known as one of the oldest permanent forest reserves in Malaysia.
Formerly known as the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, this Eco Park covers an area of approximately 11, 0000 sq metres and was founded in 1906, making it the only remaining stretch of tropical rain-forest within the city limits of Kuala Lumpur. Sadly, this park is only a part of what once was there. The park has reduced in size over the years from 17.5 hectares to only 9 hectares today due to the development of the city including the KL Tower.
And the best part is, it is open daily, so you can just hop in whenever you want.
I went to this place in 2019 and at that time, there was no fee at all. I can just enter it for free! Now, the entrance fee will cost you some money but don't worry, you can enter it for as low as RM10 for Mykad holders!
Entrance fee:
Mykad Holders - Adult (RM10) | Children (RM1) | Senior Citizen (RM1)
International - Adult (RM40) | Children (RM5) | Senior Citizen (RM40)
Children under 6 years old - Free
People with disability - Free
I have been living in KL since I was born, and people might be thinking that growing up in the city must be so fancy, with all the buildings and shopping malls around you. Well, that might be true, but sometimes I just need to feed my eyes with the view of nature. Hence, that is why I was excited when I discovered this place.
In the scarcity of natural scenery, the KL Forest Eco Park is conveniently located beside the Menara KL Tower and widely known as one of the oldest permanent forest reserves in Malaysia.
Formerly known as the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, this Eco Park covers an area of approximately 11, 0000 sq metres and was founded in 1906, making it the only remaining stretch of tropical rain-forest within the city limits of Kuala Lumpur. Sadly, this park is only a part of what once was there. The park has reduced in size over the years from 17.5 hectares to only 9 hectares today due to the development of the city including the KL Tower.
And the best part is, it is open daily, so you can just hop in whenever you want.
I went to this place in 2019 and at that time, there was no fee at all. I can just enter it for free! Now, the entrance fee will cost you some money but don't worry, you can enter it for as low as RM10 for Mykad holders!
Entrance fee:
Mykad Holders - Adult (RM10) | Children (RM1) | Senior Citizen (RM1)
International - Adult (RM40) | Children (RM5) | Senior Citizen (RM40)
Children under 6 years old - Free
People with disability - Free
The Attractions in KL Forest Eco Park
Wondering what you can do when you visit the KL Forest Eco Park? Canopy Walk is a must! It is a wood-and-steel aerial bridge that's about 200 metres in height. As the bridge towers above the forest reserve, you will definitely be astonished by the magnificent views of Menara KL Tower and the KL City Skyline.
For people like me who doesn't like hiking that much, don't worry. The bridge is not that long and you won't even get tired as you can enjoy the scenery while walking on the bridge. If it gets too hard, just stop for a while and pretend to take pictures of the view.
Don't worry much, there are three main entrances to the park, you will never get lost.
Source:
https://www.tripadvisor.com.my/Attraction_Review-g298570-d2700916-Reviews-or15-KL_Forest_Eco_Park-Kuala_Lumpur_Wilayah_Persekutuan.html#REVIEWS
The Views of KL Forest Eco Park
Wondering what you can do when you visit the KL Forest Eco Park? Canopy Walk is a must! It is a wood-and-steel aerial bridge that's about 200 metres in height. As the bridge towers above the forest reserve, you will definitely be astonished by the magnificent views of Menara KL Tower and the KL City Skyline.
For people like me who doesn't like hiking that much, don't worry. The bridge is not that long and you won't even get tired as you can enjoy the scenery while walking on the bridge. If it gets too hard, just stop for a while and pretend to take pictures of the view.
It is suitable for all age level, even for the
little ones. The trails on the hill are short and extremely child-friendly. But
you might want to leave the stroller at home as it will be quite troublesome to
climb the stairs with it.
That's not all! These are the list of enthralling things you can do in KL Forest Eco Park:
- Nature Trails, Jogging and Trekking Routes (Jelutong Trail, Penarahan
Trail, Arboretum Trail)
- Timber Product Gallery
- Activities Area
- Herbal Garden
- Information Centre
- Picnicking
- Camping (with prior permission)
I was quite money-less at that time so me and my friend decided to pack some food from home. When I get there, I had a mini picnic with my friend, eating our meal by the garden. But be careful not to spill any food or make any mess. Keep the place clean, guys!
Getting to KL Forest Eco Park
1. Bus
You may take the KL Hop On Hop
Off bus and get
off at the KL Tower stop, at the top of the hill. You can enter the forest from
there.
You can also get there by the free GoKL City
Bus. If you choose to stop at KL Tower, you will begin hiking from the top of
the hill. You can also get off at the Bukit Nanas stop, and starts hiking from
the bottom.
2. Train
This is the best choice of transportation for me as my house is located near the LRT station. It saves me a lot of money too!
There are two options for train travel. For those taking the Kelana Jaya line LRT, get off at Masjid Jamek station and walk a bit to the entrance.
There are two options for train travel. For those taking the Kelana Jaya line LRT, get off at Masjid Jamek station and walk a bit to the entrance.
Or you can also get off at KL Sentral station and take
the KL Monorail. The Bukit Nanas and Raja Chulan stations on the KL Monorail are
the closest station to the KL Forest Eco Park entrance at the base of Bukit
Nanas.
3. The easiest option, get there by your own
car!
Don't worry much, there are three main entrances to the park, you will never get lost.
- From Jalan Ampang, close to Bukit Nanas monorail station. Steps
into the park start behind the Malaysian Timber Product Gallery. Dang
Wangi LRT station is a short walk from this entrance.
- From Jalan Raja Chulan, more of less opposite to St. Andrew’s Church
- From steps near the foot of KL Tower itself.
The Reviews on KL Forest Eco Park
- Arcadia, United States
“Pros:
1. Nice walk through
the forest, esp. elevated on the walkways which makes for a unique experience.
2. Glad it's close to
KL Tower and the Upside-Down House, as I wouldn't travel far to just do this one
thing by itself.
Cons:
1. After walking all the bridges to the end, we
were technically close to our hotel but it seemed like a dead end, and our
choice was to take the same canopy path all the way back, or walking the trail
on the ground uphill back to the starting point. Would be great if it had
another way to get out at both ends.”
Source:
https://en.yelp.my/biz/kl-forest-eco-park-kuala-lumpur
Source:
https://en.yelp.my/biz/kl-forest-eco-park-kuala-lumpur
- Phnom Penh, Cambodia
“Beautiful walk in the middle of a city. Spent
a couple of wonderful hours walking around this impressive place. So much to
discover in the best kept park in Asia.”
- Vinito Capital Management, Kuala
Lumpur
“Indian Jones in the middle of the city. We found the KL Forest by
accident and what a great surprise! Being able to hike in a jungle canopy with
city views was really stunning! Extra bonus there is wild monkeys in the trees
so makes for extra excitement for the kids. Felt like we were completely
removed from the city until you walk around a corner on the suspension bridges
and see parts of the city skyline.”
- Linda, Florida
“Escape from the City. After exploring the city of Kuala Lumpur, we
enjoyed walking through this Eco Park Forest situated close to the KL Tower. It
was fun traversing the canopy walkways; one of which we shared with monkeys.
Lots of bird life. Unbelievable that this forest lies in the middle of the
city. Worth a visit!”
https://www.tripadvisor.com.my/Attraction_Review-g298570-d2700916-Reviews-or15-KL_Forest_Eco_Park-Kuala_Lumpur_Wilayah_Persekutuan.html#REVIEWS
The Views of KL Forest Eco Park
I really enjoyed my time there, so I recommend you to try it yourself too.
What are you waiting for? Now it's your time to visit KL Forest Eco Park and
enjoy the great view of nature in Kuala Lumpur!
What are you waiting for? Now it's your time to visit KL Forest Eco Park and
enjoy the great view of nature in Kuala Lumpur!