Bukit Besi, Terengganu

Bukit Besi (GPS: 4.74957, 103.19183) is a small town in the Dungun district of Terengganu. Its name means "Iron Hill". This name came about because Bukit Besi was the site of old tin mines which used to operate there. The mines of Bukit Besi are now filled with water to form Tasik Puteri.

The iron ore mine which now forms Tasik Puteri once held the distinction of being the largest iron mine in the world. During the Japanese Occupation, iron mining was handled by the Nippon Mining Company. After the war was over, the British took over the mines between 1945 and 1947, when it was sold to the Eastern Mining Company.

As the iron ore of Bukit Besi became depleted in the 1960's, continual operations was no longer profitable. It was eventually shut down in the early 1970's. Today visitors to Bukit Besi can still visit the tin plants, stockpile buildings and tunnels used during the tin-mining days. The rail tracks and rail carts can still be seen in Bukit Besi.

Hows to reach Bukit Besi

Take Route 132 (Jalan Bukit Besi-Dungun) from Kuala Dungun westward until junction with Route 14 (Jalan Jabor-Al Muktafi Billah Shah). Head south on Route 14 until you reach Bukit Besi.

Bukit Besi is on the Map of Terengganu

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