Kelam Cave

"With stalagmites and underground streams gushing as if from nowhere, the scene within Gua Kelam can be beautiful yet eerie."

One of the most distinctive caves in Malaysia is a 370-metre long limestone cave near the small town of Kaki Bukit (literally 'foot hill') called Gua Kelam (Cave of Darkness). Located about 33km north of Kangar, the state capital, Gua Kelam Recreational Park is popular for its enchanting 'cave walk' where you can enter from one end of the cave and come out a different end. Gua Kelam is located within the Perlis State Park which borders with the Nakawan Range of Thailand.The only path in is via a suspension wooden bridge made of an eight-feet wide wooden walkway.

Now, only locals and tourists make their way through the cave via a brightly illuminated wooden walkway inside the cave. You can still find remnants of the tin mine operation inside. As you make your way through the cave, the sound of a swirling dark subterranean stream below reverberates forming a concerto with the squeaking bats and dripping water from the stalactites. It may sound a bit spooky, after all this was once the home of Stone Age men.This bridge links Kaki Bukit to the Wan Tangga Valley, a valley on the opposite end of Gua Kelam. Back in 1935, an Englishman saw the water pathway as a brilliant method of transporting tin ore from a mine located near the stream entrance through the underground cavern to Kaki Bukit.

Getting There

By Bus
You can get to Kangar using several interstate, air-conditioned bus services such as Transnasional (Tel: 603-20703300) and Sutera Express (Tel: 03-20267199) departing from the Puduraya bus station in Kuala Lumpur. These buses will stop at the Express Bus Station on Jalan Bukit Lagi in Kangar. From there, you can take a taxi or the HBR Express Bus to Kaki Bukit.
By Plane
There is no direct air service to Perlis. Visitors have to fly into Alor Setar (in Kedah) and then take a 45-minute taxi ride to Kangar. From Kangar, you can take a taxi or the HBR Express Bus to Kaki Bukit.
By Boat
You can also get to Kuala Perlis from Kuah jetty in Langkawi via ferry boats. The ride costs between RM12 to RM15 per person, one way and takes about 45 minutes.

Located at the northern-most edge of Peninsula Malaysia, the state of Perlis is easily accessible via the North-South Highway, which links Kangar, the state capital of Perlis, to Kuala Lumpur. From Kangar, you�ll need to drive north for another 36km to the small town of Kaki Bukit where Gua Kelam is located.