The water of Sungai Mempelam cascades down the falls at Bukit Hijau Recreational Forest, Kedah (2 May, 2005)
Hutan Lipur Bukit Hijau is a popular picnic destination especially for people living in southern Kedah and Penang. Bukit Hijau, which means Green Hill, is most famous for the seven-level cascading waterfalls over Sungai Mempelam, the river that runs across the recreational forest.
Bukit Hijau can get very crowded especially over weekends, so it is a good idea to arrive early and find a good spot. Cement walkway and steps help visitors climb the hill side, although personally, I would prefer that the forest is left in a more pristine state. Photography enthusiasts should be delighted by the sight of the waterfall as well as its surrounding greenery.
A wall of ferns at Bukit Hijau Recreational Forest, looking like fluttering butterflies, within sight of the thundering falls (2 May, 2005)
Water of Sungai Mempelam cascading down the slopes at Bukit Hijau (2 May, 2005)
Bukit Hijau is a great place for a dip. However, like all waterfalls, please be aware that the current can be dangerous. I have actually seen a victim of drowning being carried out of Bukit Hijau. I do not know how it happened, but it reminds me to always exercise caution when playing in the water, at Bukit Hijau or anywhere else where there are waterfalls. It doesn't mean that you should stay away from Bukit Hijau - lots of people have visited it without any incidents. Yes, accidents can happen anywhere, at waterfalls or the sea or mountains, so always be careful.
The stream water at Bukit Hijau is crystal clear (2 May, 2005)
If you are travelling from Penang, take the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway. Then follow the roadsign pointing to Baling. Eventually you will see the brown signboard for Hutan Lipur Bukit Hijau. Alternatively, if you're on the North-South Expressway, you can also exit at Sungai Petani South (Exit 168). Drive through Sungai Petani town, and then take the right turn into Route 67 towards Kuala Ketil. After Kuala Ketil, be on the look out for the Hutan Lipur Bukit Hijau sign on the right side of the road.
Water of Sungai Mempelam gushing under a bridge at Bukit Hijau (2 May, 2005)
Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.