Niah National Park, Sarawak, is renowned for the fact that the archaeologists had unearthed the human remains along with the primitive weapons, broken pieces of pottery, stone tools and ornaments in its Great Cave that might be thousands of years old.
Niah National Park, Sarawak, was recognized as a Historic Monument in 1958 and as a National Park in 1974. Apart from its historical significance, the park has an array of unique attractions for the visitors.
Besides the Great Cave, is the Painted Cave that is seldom skipped by the visitors to Niah National Park, Sarawak.
Here you can see the diminutive figures bearing close resemblance with the humans, drawn on the walls.
It conveys the impression that they are keeping a constant vigil over the boat shaped coffins where the deads were laid to rest.
There are few people who dare to venture into the dark caverns, but the guano collectors are far from getting intimidated by them. This is because the caves are indirectly their source of livelihood.
The guano collectors are the locals who have been practicing this occupation since time immemorial.
There are also the bird's nest collectors who risk their lives to collect the nests of the swiftlets that are later cooked, served and appreciated as a delicacy called caviar.
As dusk descends in Niah National Park, Sarawak, the swiftlets scurries back to their nests but it's time for the bats to be back in action.
Another highlight of the park, especially after dark is the innumerable lambent fungi that can be clearly sighted from the plankwalk.
he two well marked trails of Niah National Park, Sarawak, are the Jalan Bukit Kasut and the Jalan Madu.
Niah National Park is about 1hr 45min drive from Miri town centre. Just a little tip for those who want to go on the cheap and prefer to travel the way some locals do - there are several unmarked vans or 4WDs across the road from the local bus station (by the tourism information centre). These vans/4WD pick up passengers to various destinations and if you're lucky..there are a few going to Niah. The rate is about RM15 per person and the good thing about taking these unmarked vehicles is that they will drive you straight to the Niah National Park entrance.
Normally these vans will drop off or pick up passengers along the way but they will be on their way as long as they have 6 passengers at the start of the journey i.e. from the bus stand across the road from the local bus station in Miri (next to the football pitch).
However, if you're uncomfortable with hopping into unmarked vans/4wds, then please take the normal mode which is by taking the scheduled bus to Batu Niah and then another taxi ride to Niah National Park or day tours.
World Travel 4 Indians is an international travel site and a repository of useful information on Niah National Park, Sarawak and other major tourist destinations in Sarawak, Malaysia and the world at large.
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