Kedah / Malaysia / Photography / Places

Mong Gajah, Tasik Pedu

Matsuda Mashimaru4 Comments

I have explored the area around Tasik Pedu for more than enough, and yet this is my first time visiting Mong Gajah, another beautiful part of Tasik Pedu.

Mong Gajah is a place with a gorgeous view of nature. If you prefer sleeping at night, wrapped in total darkness while watching thousands of stars (with no light pollution) and waking up facing the waterfront of Pedu Lake, with gorgeous sunset coming out from the mountain range of Banjaran Kedah-Singgora then you would absolutely love this camping spot.

Location: Mong Gajah, Tasik Pedu, Kedah (Northern Malaysia)
How to go: Waze or Google for “Mong Gajah Campsite”
Attraction: An open space facing the view of Banjaran Kedah-Singgora (border of Malaysia and Thailand)
Difficulty: A raw open space with no facilities
Distance from KL: 475km, estimated drive time 5 hours 30 minutes
Suggestion Time spent: 1 Night Mong Gajah, 2 Nights Tasik Pedu Boathouse
Caution: Beware of wild animals
Tips: Visit this place only when the water level of Pedu Lake is low, flat areas would emerge from underwater during that time
Leech level: none
Entrance Fee: none

Pedu Lake is a man man-made reservoir that serves as the largest water resource for Kedah. Mong Gajah, a region that forms a part of the greater Pedu Lake area was previously a village called Kampung Mong Gajah. Mong in Thai language means “drink” and Gajah means elephant, Mong Gajah means “Elephant Drink”.

I am not sure about the story behind the “Mong Gajah” name.

Maybe this place (Sungai Mong Gajah) used to be a favourite drinking stop for the elephants, I dunno maybe lah kot. When the water level of the dam is low, we could see more land area emerging from the underwater. We then have the opportunity to camp near the waterfront and walk further up, surrounding the area to explore places that normally sit underwater during the high tide season.

Check out the water level situation first before you decide to camp here, choose the right season.

You need to be extra “adventurous” if you want to ‘pacak’ your tent in Mong Gajah as this place does not have a proper campsite. No facilities (most importantly no toilet ya), just a flat open space with a generous amount of super view.

The real camping experience. Just you and nature, yezza!

I would always dip into anything just to witness a great landscape view like this.

How to get to Mong Gajah?

It was easy for me as the Waze directed me straight to the last junction heading to the location.

From the Pedu highway, look for the Tapak Perkuburan Kg. Mong Gajah signboard and follow the 1.3km small road leading to Mong Gajah. I love the experience of driving out from the city highway (urban area), then changing to the suburban highway, to the smaller rural roads and later the smallest off-road trail leading to this place.

Check out this YT video for the direction in >> THIS LINK (credit Bronan Bomba)<<

Endless view of Mong Gajah

The open and flat view of the surroundings enticed a sense of freedom in me.

What can you do here?

  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Explore
  • Stargazing at night
  • Family bonding
  • Relaxing
  • Hiking Mt Fakir Terbang
  • Hiking Mt Batu Merah

There are endless activities that nature lovers can enjoy here.

The last time I was here, I spent my whole morning photographing the sunrise over Banjaran Kedah-Singgora (Mt Fakir Terbang 574m and Mt Batu Merah 540m reside at this range). Too bad though, we didn’t get to see the morning sun as it was hidden under the thick clouds, but naah! I couldn’t care less. I can always keep repeating this place until I get it right.

I have a true grit.

If you walked further down the area, you could find an old cemetery of the previous villagers dated about 100 years old (Wikipedia).

The area surrounding Mong Gajah was previously a typical Malay village called Kampung Mong Gajah. It was an old kampung/ village dated around 100 years ago (Wikipedia). The villagers were moved out from this area in 1963 to give way to the development of the artificial reservoir created by the Pedu Dam.

I frequented Pedu Lake since 2016.

I stayed in the boathouse and spent most of my time playing with the greens around the lake. Swimming, canoeing, walking around the forest, harvesting honey from the tall Tualang tree and eating various types of freshwater fish prepared by the cook at the Serimahawangsa Boathouse.

The Quietness of the moment in Tasik Pedu

What do I plan to do next?

For my next visit, I plan to spend 4D3N – 1 night camping at Mong Gajah and 2 nights at the Serimahawangsa Boathouse. I am thinking about hiking to these 3 places: Gunung Fakir Terbang (574m), Gunung Batu Merah (540m) and Gunung Kerengga (243m).

In Sha Allah, we’ll see.

Cheers

Sallymatsuda

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