Ipoh is blessed with its unique limestone outcrop landscape as well as lush and verdant hills and forests surrounding the city which provides various hiking and hill trekking opportunities for both locals as well as visitors.
One such trekking place which is known mainly to locals from its vicinity is Bukit Bangkong at Tanah Hitam at the most northerly part of outer Ipoh.
The hike at Bukit Bangkong basically involves three trails that all start from the parking area at the bottom, along a tarred hill road that leads to the 300 metre hilltop where fantastic views of Ipoh, the Kledang Range and the Tititwangsa mountains can be seen.
Bukit Bangkong itself is actually connected to the Titiwangsa Range and the main trail which most people use is the tarred road to the top which is very steep at places and is about two km long.
This trail mostly offers good views of the Kinta Valley. At a third the distance from its beginning, hikers can take another trail which involves a quick ascend along several flights of outdoor steps to the top. Others choose a longer and more scenic option that circles the hill before ending at the same viewpoint summit.
The longest trail is the best as it passes through some secondary forest and grass patches where very good views of the Titiwangsa mountains and its untouched tropical rainforest is just a few hundred metres away. This trail also goes through the hill’s ridge where at some point, good views of both the Kledang Hills in the west and Titiwangsa on the east can be seen.
Since it’s the wilder option, luckier and quieter trekkers can catch sightings of some wildlife such as deer. Big cats such as tigers and black panthers have been seen in this part of the hill so visitors are strongly advised not to be there after dark.
At the top of the hill is a flat cleared area about half an acre in size with a rest shade and marble chairs. Here, superb views of Ipoh and Kledang hills make great photo opportunity although trees block off the view of Titiwangsa on the other side.
After hiking, visitors often end up taking hearty meals at numerous local restaurants in Air Hitam new village as well as at nearby Chemor where food is great ad prices cheap.
To get to Bukit Bangkong, exit Federal Route1 at Chemor town towards the right if coming from south at the junction towards Tanjung Rambutan. Drive about two km and Air Hitam new village is at the right. Go pass the village right to the end of the road which is where the car park for the hike is and the trail begins.