Pengkalan Hulu, Perak

Pengkalan Hulu, Perak (31 August, 2016)


Pengkalan Hulu (GPS: 5.70566, 100.99885) is a town in Hulu Perak. Located on a section of northern Perak between Thailand and Kedah, the town was formerly known as Keroh, or Kroh. Many places here still have the name Kroh attached to them. The nearest town to it is Baling in Kedah. It is one of the entry points from Thailand into Malaysia.

Pengkalan Hulu has one of the three local district councils in Hulu Perak, the other two being Gerik and Lenggong.

Due to its proximity to Thailand, there is a border crossing at Bukit Berapit, 7 km from the Pengkalan Hulu town centre. Across the border is the Thai town of Betong, in Yala province.

The main road through Pengkalan Hulu is Route 76, which is known as Jalan Iskandar when it passes through town.

Map of Pengkalan Hulu

Sights in Pengkalan Hulu

Our visit to Pengkalan Hulu

My wife and I made a trip to Pengkalan Hulu on 31 August, 2016. We stopped by Taman Tasik Takung where we had a picnic lunch.

Masjid Jamek Pengkalan Hulu

Masjid Jamek Pengkalan Hulu is the main mosque in town. The mosque is quite a large building with high ceiling and a high porch. It has a bowl-shaped dome that has beautiful design in blue and cream. This is topped with spire ending with a crescent. The minaret is likewised topped with a bowl-shaped dome.

Masjid Jamek Pengkalan Hulu (31 August, 2016)


Masjid Jamek Pengkalan Hulu (31 August, 2016)


Masjid Jamek Pengkalan Hulu (31 August, 2016)


Signboard of Masjid Jamek Pengkalan Hulu (31 August, 2016)

Kompleks Sukan Majlis Daerah Pengkalan Hulu

Across the road from Masjid Jamek Pengkalan Hulu is the sports complex of the municipal council, or Kompleks Sukan Majlis Daerah Pengkalan Hulu (GPS: 5.70269, 100.9987) It includes an outdoor stadium, football field, and other sports facilities. The complex is next to Maktab Rendah Sains Mara Pengkalan Hulu.

Kompleks Sukan Majlis Daerah Pengkalan Hulu (31 August, 2016)


Kompleks Sukan Majlis Daerah Pengkalan Hulu (31 August, 2016)


Kompleks Sukan Majlis Daerah Pengkalan Hulu (31 August, 2016)

Tasek Takong Pengkalan Hulu

Tasek Takong Pengkalan Hulu (5.70274, 100.99518) is a public park build beside the local reservoir. The history of the town of Kroh has its connection with this reservoir, or Tasek Takong. According to the story, there was once a stream in the area called Selarong, which means "place of the elephants" in Arabic. This was where the elephants of the local ruler, Raja Reman, was brought for bathing. There would be hundreds of elephants brought here for their ablution.

Raja Reman had directed that a man-made reservoir be built in the area. As the water of the reservoir was always murky, which is keruh in Malay, the settlement became known as Kroh, a local pronunciation of keruh. The local authorities beautified the area and turned it into a public square, with shelters and pavilions, and named the lake gardens Tasek Takong Pengkalan Hulu.

At the time of my visit, the reservoir was dry. I can see tall grass growing inside it.

Tasek Takong Pengkalan Hulu (31 August, 2016)


Location map of sights at Tasek Takong Pengkalan Hulu (31 August, 2016)


Public square at Tasek Takong Pengkalan Hulu (31 August, 2016)


The scenery at Tasek Takong Pengkalan Hulu (31 August, 2016)


The lake at Tasek Takong Pengkalan Hulu has dried up. (31 August, 2016)


Pedestrian walkway along the side of the dried reservoir at Tasek Takong Pengkalan Hulu. (31 August, 2016)


View of the dried reservoir at Tasek Takong Pengkalan Hulu. (31 August, 2016)


Stairway down to the dried reservoir. (31 August, 2016)


Pavilion on the far side of the dried reservoir. (31 August, 2016)


Public shelter at Tasek Takong Pengkalan Hulu. (31 August, 2016)


Lunch at Taman Tasik Takung, Pengkalan Hulu (31 August, 2016)

Other sights

HNM Hotel, a hotel in Pengkalan Hulu (31 August, 2016)


Shops along the main road (Jalan Iskandar, Route 76) in Pengkalan Hulu. (31 August, 2016)


Bangunan UMNO Pengkalan Hulu (31 August, 2016)


Kompleks Koperasi Daerah Kecil Kroh, Pengkalan Hulu (31 August, 2016)


Pengkalan Hulu main road. (31 August, 2016)


The intersection of Jalan Iskandar (Route 76) with Jalan Betong (Route 77) at the heart of Pengkalan Hulu. (31 August, 2016)


Jalan Betong (Route 77), Pengkalan Hulu (31 August, 2016)


Junction of Jalan Lau Thin Seong in Pengkalan Hulu (31 August, 2016)


SMK Tun Saban, Pengkalan Hulu (31 August, 2016)

Pengkalan Hulu on Google Maps Street View

The town roundabout at Pengkalan Hulu, Perak

Pengkalan Hulu is on the Map of towns in Perak

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