Nyah


In Malaysia, on the island of Kalimantan ( Borneo ), the Niah National Park is located. It belongs to the state of Sarawak and is famous for karst caves , which attract thousands of tourists.

general information

This territory is considered a reserve since 1974, its area is 3,1 thousand hectares (approximately 13 fields for playing football). The landscape of the national park is represented by tropical rain and dipterocarp forests, peat bogs and low hills. The highest point in Niya is Gunung Subis, which reaches 394 m above sea level.

Archaeological excavations are being conducted on the territory, which are considered to be the most important in all of South-East Asia. One of the most outstanding scientists is Zuraina Majid, who made a significant contribution to the period of research and study of local caves. Since 2010, the Government of Malaysia has offered Niach to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Cave in the park of Niach

In the park in the forests of Miri are the famous caves. They extend along the coast for a distance of 400 km. Gorges represent a common system from a large grotto and a multitude of ramifications. The largest cave in the protected area is the Great Cave. In it were found traces of a reasonable man who lived here in the Stone Age (37-42 thousand years ago). The grotto was declared in 1958 a historical monument. Its main attraction is the rock carvings.

According to the studies, the adult pygmyoid had an increase of 1.37, and the structure of his skull indicates that he belonged to the Negro type. It is assumed that these are the ancestors of the inhabitants of the northern regions of the South-East Asia. In this cave were also found:

What is Nyah famous for?

The National Park is known not only as an archaeological monument. Today it still brings great benefits to the population:

  1. All caves along with paths and stairs are covered with a large layer of litter, which is left by millions of bats. Local residents call it "black gold" and use it as a fertilizer. The tribe of ibana received the right to collect this "harvest". They build huge structures of bamboo to climb them high in the gorge and extract guano.
  2. On the territory of the national park there are many swifts (about 4 million individuals). Their nests are considered edible and serve as the main ingredient for the famous Malaysian soup and the basis for traditional drinks. Only representatives from the Punan tribe have the right to collect such crops.
  3. In Niah live birds-rhinoceroses, long-tailed macaques, flying dragons, squirrels, various butterflies and other representatives of fauna.

Features of visit

All visitors to the national park at the entrance must register. Nyah works every day from 08:00 to 17:00. To observe nature, you need to visit caves at dusk, when swifts change places with bats. Such a spectacle slightly resembles scenes from horror films, which attracts tourists.

If you decide to spend the night here, then keep in mind that there are hotels in the park. When you are going to visit Nyah, take with you drinking water, a towel, a flashlight and put on comfortable shoes. The caves are slippery, hot and very humid.

How to get there?

Prior to the management of the national park, it is most convenient to get from Bintulu and Miri by bus or car on the road №1 / АН150. The journey takes about 2 hours. The caves need to get across the river by ferry. He makes shipments between 05:30 and 19:30. For an additional fee you can cross at night.