Bukit Putih

Bukit Putih is a hill that sits on a forest reserve in Cheras, near Kuala Lumpur. Residents around here frequent this hill throughout whole week, more on weekends. Another peak sits a short distance away from the summit of Bukit Putih; called Bukit Saga, this other hill is more popularly accessed from Taman Saga in Ampang. As most of the hikers are middle-aged to senior citizens, Bukit Putih has earned a popular nickname in Chinese - 'Ah Pak San', which is Chinese slang for old folks, refering to white hair. The trails have moderately challenging ascents and descents; if you were to traverse all the trails, it could easily take up most of the day.

The outer fringes of the hill are made up of mostly of rubber trees but further in, it transcends to old secondary or primary forest. Despite its proximity to urban areas, Bukit Putih has a surprising number of wildlife living here, including birds, squirrels and monkeys. Forest in Bukit Putih Bukit Putih Waterfall Banded leaf langurs (Presbytis femoralis), a less common species of primate than the long tailed macaque, can easily be spotted perched among the tree tops while hiking here. Locals that live around the hill and use it for recreation have even formed an organisation dedicated to preserving and maintaining the trails and environment. As such, the trails are well-marked with labels and bands to point you in the correct direction while hiking.

The peak of Bukit Putih itself is a clearing with various crude exercise instruments. Over here, many of the senior hikers will congregate to discuss politics, family matters and all things under the sun. The trails lead to different 'stations' or check points around the hill. One of them even takes you to a small but scenic waterfall located down below following a steep descent. To get to Bukit Putih, visitors need to follow the roads leading into Taman Cuepacs in Cheras. Ask around for directions and it will eventually lead you to the trail entrance. In previous years, hikers have collided their heads with local residents due to littering and parking problems. So, if you come by car, park your vehicle along the main roads outside the housing area, and then trek in.