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The Waterfall of Penang

Location :
In the North-East District of Penang Island.
Coordinates of the park are N 5° 26.424′ E 100° 16.944′

Natural Heritage Status:
The spectacular drop of about a hundred meter of the Waterfall River or Sungai Air Terjun over 3 tiers created the famous Waterfall of Penang. It cascades down the valley dividing Waterfall Gardens, now popularly known as Botanic Gardens or Monkey Gardens. The Waterfall is situated within relatively (Wan Ruslan, I., 2000) undisturbed Sungai Air Terjun catchment on the forested Penang Hill .

It is interesting to note that the Waterfall has been one of historical sources of water for Georgetown and ships that called at Penang. It was in the first decade of the 1800s that the Waterfall was harnessed to supply water to Georgetown’s growing population. In 1805, an aqueduct was built from the Waterfall via Pulau Tikus to a reservoir near Leith Street Ghaut and Hutton Lane respectively (PBA, 1988).

Yesterday: The Waterfall of Penang. Source: c.1917. Aiten 1994, no. 11; courtesy Major David Ng (DR DAVID, J., 2002)

Today: The Waterfall of Penang. (Aug 2009)

Some smaller falls within the catchment area.

Other falls

Gazettement :
The Waterfall is managed by the Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang Sdn Bhd (PBAPP) / Penang Water Supply Corporation. The Waterfall is a restricted area and entry to the scenic Waterfall need written permit from PBAPP. However, arrangement can be made with Friend of Botanic Gardens to visit the Waterfall on prearranged date with a small fee.

The Waterfall was officially declared a natural heritage by YB Dato’ Sabbaruddin Chik, Minister of Culture and Tourism Malaysia on 5th Mac 1988 with the cooperation of PBAPP and Heritage Association Penang.

Accessibility:
To the Waterfall: Accessibility to the Waterfall through flight of cemented steps from the gated reservoir in the Botanic Gardens.

The steps to the Waterfall of Penang

Affordability:
Entrance to the Waterfall of Penang (via the Botanic Gardens) by writing to PBAPP. It is free during the open day on World Water Day (between March and April) or a guided tour (RM5.00) by Friends of Botanic Gardens. The Botanic Gardens open daily from 5am to 8pm.

Level of Development:
A viewing platform and a bridge across the foot of the Waterfall were the only development seen at the vicinity of the Waterfall. The natural forested area still retains the ambient of the yesteryears. The roaring waterfalls could be heard during the 200 meters hike up the steps to the viewing platform from the Waterfall Reservoir.

Waterfall Reservoir and treatment plant.

Popularity:
Restricted area and entry with permit only.
Visit during open day about 300-500 persons.

Accommodation:
No accommodation or campsite available at the Waterfalls. The Waterfall Hotel is the nearest lodging at Waterfall Road.

Threats:
The occasional unauthorized entry into the upper reaches of the Waterfall causing pollution to the otherwise clean river.

Mitigation:
The managing authority could have more security surveillance on the upper reaches of the Waterfall.

Conservation:
The Waterfall is an important natural heritage for the conservation of the rare flora and fauna in the catchment area.
The environment of the Waterfall is still verdant with plants, amongst them the Tacca chartrieri (the black lily or bat flower, which has weird purplish black much bewhiskered flower-heads) and the Firmiana fulgens (the Mata Lembu Bullocks Eyes , which loses its leaves during the dry season and becomes a glorious sight – all covered with orange tubular flowers) (PBA, 1988).

Early paintings and photographs of the Waterfall showed an Indian shrine at the foot of the falls. The building has since disappeared. There are no records about it except the old Muslim grave of “Chendana” on the hill above the Waterfall, bearing his name.
Today, the famous Waterfall is still to be seen in its glory and can be restored to its importance as a tourist destination” (PBA, 1988).

Some of the little fauna found near the Waterfall.

Benefits to Local Communities:
The Waterfall of Penang is a legacy and has not ceded supplying clean drinking water for the early colonial settlers to the present local communities. The Waterfall River also provides a natural landscape for the heritage Botanic Gardens which has been a popular recreational centre for the locals as well as a world renowned tourism site in Penang.

Waterfall Reservoir is 232 feet above sea level with a capacity of 4825,000 gallons. Depth 32 feet. Built in 1892 by Engineer J.Mac.Ritchie, A.M.I.C.E. and reconstructed in 1950 to the present state.

How to Get There:
The Waterfall is situated in the North-East District of Penang Island. It takes about 15 minutes from the Penang Bridge to reach Botanic Gardens. On exiting from the Penang Bridge (E1), head towards Georgetown using the Jelutong Expressway (3113). About a kilometer from the bridge, turn left to Jalan Masjid Negeri and then Jalan Scotland (P19). There are enough road directions to Kebun Bunga (Botanic Gardens). Park your car outside Botanic Gardens and walk into the gardens. Use the outer ring road in the gardens to reach the entrance to the Waterfall Reservoir and filtration plant. From the gate, it will be a long flight of steps to reach the Waterfall. Entrance to the Waterfall passes through the Waterfall Reservoir and filtration plant within the Botanic Gardens. A permit is required to visit the Waterfall.

Map to The Waterfall of Penang

Important Contacts:
Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang Sdn Bhd (PBAPP) / Penang Water Supply Corporation
Level 32, Komtar, Jalan Penang,
10000 Penang, Malaysia.
Tel: (604) 263 4200 Fax: (604) 261 3581
Call Centre: (604) 509 6 509
email: customer@pba.com.my
Website: www.pba.com.my

Friends of the Penang Botanic Gardens Society
673A Jalan Kebun Bunga
10350 Penang
Tel : 04 – 227 9915
Fax : 04 – 227 9915

References:
DR DAVID, J. (2002) Colonial Botanic Gardens and World Heritage: the significance of the Penang ‘Waterfall’ Botanic Gardens.

The Penang Story – International Conference 2002. The City Bayview Hotel, Penang, Malaysia, The Penang Heritage Trust & STAR Publications.
Plus (1996), Guide to Peninsular Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia.

Wan Ruslan, I. (2000). The hydrology and sediment yield of the Sungai Air Terjun catchment, Penang Hill, Malaysia.

Hydrological Sciences ]ournal, 45(6)

www.pba.com.my

Article source

Posted by admin on October 15, 2011 under Nature.