Lata Jarom

Overnight, the sleepy village of Ulu Dong came to the lime light. This happened during a murder trail involving Mona Fendi. In the proceeding, there was a mention of the development of a tourist destination against the backdrop of the famous Lata Jarom Falls. Now, it gets more interesting to visit the site.

To get there, proceed on the road to Kuala Lipis from Raub. 10 kilometers out of Raub, the town of Dong awaits you. From the T-junction, turn right to follow the country road towards Ulu Dong.

Here are names of some quaint Malay villages; our group could not resist the temptation of a photograph for souvenir.

This is unusual district where the entrance to this access road looks deserted from the onset and later the area this road passes through are lined with large settlements.

Most of the villages are located beside the Dong River that flows down from Gunong Benum/Berembum.

The settlements are located just near the foothills. Deep inland, the valley is well populated, but the stretch of land nearer the Trunk Road is sparsely occupied. The deserted lower stretches of the river at the beginning of the road could possibly means that this area are prone to floods.

The 12 kilometers road leads straight to the Dong River rapids at a spot marked by the crossing of a wooden bridge. There is an obvious absence of directional sign. If you have to ask the villagers, avoid the mentioning the controversy.

After the bridge, the both sides of the narrow road are still flanked by cottages. When you reach the last one on the left, which is now deserted, the presence of thick forest tells you that the fall is near. Another couple of bends more; this sign will greet visitors.

You are in the car park. This is the original spot when the waterfall was first popularized.

At this place, the terrain is that of a steep slope making up the river basin.

Lower part, pool for swimming and wadding.

Upper part, another barricaded pool and sitting below falling water.

To backtrack, just before entering this area, watch carefully on the left. Another plot of land, some 200 meters before the car park had been developed to cope up with the increasing crowd. This is a wide spread plot hugging the rapids. Local find the rapids more timid and appropriate for the family than the wild drops further upstream.

There are 2 cascades flowing down on one side of the park.

The first cascade flows out of a large pool at the new "resort" area.

The drop is just over 2 meters. Then this is immediately followed by this main cascade of 8 meters. The picnic area is on the car park side.