I first heard about this hidden waterfall from a friend. However more information was mysteriously hard to come by, even among my regular hiking buddies. Surprisingly, our party was able to find Tanglir Falls, based on the scant directions shared – it is just up the road from an eco-resort at the foothills of Genting.

Continuing on past Selesa Hillhomes, the hike begins on foot when the road becomes a gravel track with stretches of tarmac. Just wide enough for 1 vehicle, it is accessible only by 4WDs. The way in is straight forward at the beginning, but becomes vague as the road splits into unmarked trails.

Staying on the straight route, it was pleasant walking on the gravel / tarmac trail fringed by fruiting banana trees and pretty flowers. Keeping left, we walked along the edges of vegetable farmlands. The mostly uphill 45-minute hike offered occasional glimpses of the valley and cultivated terraces on the hillside.

Away from the river and waterfall, the route follows a dry and pleasant trail of jungle and tarmac. The dense foliage ensures the trail is shady, with wild ginger flowers blooming in abundance. We passed two trails joining from the left, presumably to the farmlands and river.

Normally, one hears the waterfall before actually seeing it. Tanglir Fall is the exception : stealthy with no thunderous noise or spray to give away its hidden location. We missed the trailhead and only realised something was amiss when a series of cascading pools came into view on our left. The upper falls is ideal for picnicking at various spots, easily accessible from the road.

Continuing a short distance beyond the upper falls led to another interesting discovery – the Brahmarishi Hill Temple and the Xian Ling Gong Guan Yin Temple. The hike up to the temple is like a pilgrimage for devotees.

We backtracked past a bamboo grove and a massive dripping rock wall. The light fall of rain is due to rain water trickling down through the porous rock wall.

Listening hard, we heard the muffled roar of water, found the trailhead, 10 minutes later. A short scramble down the steep slope and we were at the main falls and huge pool. It was an impressive sight.

The falling water from an incredible height of 30 metres created a breezy wind at the bottom of the huge pool. Enjoying the mist that sprays off the thundering falls is an experience not to be missed while dipping in the cold water. 

Downstream of the river, past a cluster of rocks, is the perfect spot for a ‘zen’ moment. It is easy to get a sense of peace and quiet in the stillness of this calm, tranquil pool. Or indulge in some creative photography.

My ‘zen’ moment was interrupted by hornbills flying overhead. It was a truly spectacular sight, seeing the magnificent birds flapping and gliding across the pool. Foraging in a group, the birds flew back & forth, perching on the crowns of trees.  

Having totally enjoyed an hour of doing absolutely nothing beyond chilling, we bid farewell to this peaceful, secluded waterfall with is delightful surprises. As a waterfall hike, Tanglir ranks pretty high up, in terms of size and beauty. Its unspoilt nature is another huge bonus, as getting there involves a 4 – 5km trek on tar road.

Set aside at least 3 hours as getting there takes 1.5 hours and another 45 minutes for the return trip.