FRIM or Forest Research Institute of Malaysia was founded in the year 1929 and is one of the leading institutions in tropical forestry research both locally and abroad. Here is a must for all nature lovers who are in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. It is located in the suburb city of Petaling Jaya, approximately 16km north west of the capital city. This 600 hectares tropical forest contains a wealth of flora and fauna with approximately 15,000 species of plants though for a layman in botanic, all of them look like greeneries.
As you enter FRIM, you will be amazed by the arboretums or living museum of trees. Walk through the many nature trails and discover the many species of flora and fauna here. Remember to go to the information counter for a briefing and purchase some brochures on the plants that you will encounter before you move out to explore the surrounding area.
Canopy Walkway: Of particular interest is the park's canopy walkway that you must not miss. This canopy is suspended 30m from the ground and spans over 200m. Be bold and walk through the hanging canopy and you will be able to see the breath-taking view of the city and the greeneries of the forest. You will need to purchase a ticket from the souvenir counter which is located in the same building as the information counter. The cost is RM5/adult and RM1/child. The walkway is open everyday from 9:30am until 2:30pm. It is closed on Mondays and Fridays. In order to reach the canopy walkway on time before its closure, it is always advisable to allocate 1 hour journey from the information counter. If you are fit, you will probably reach the canopy walkway in 30 minutes time. For a big group, a guide can be requested for a fee or RM80 to RM100.
Waterfall: As you come down from the canopy walk, go towards the signage that shows the direction to the picnic area by following the water pipelines and you will soon encounter an area where you can have some fun in the water. The water is refreshing and cool. Remember to wear a good walking shoes, bring along your towel, drinking water and some foodstuff as there are no shops up in the jungle. A can of insect repellant will come in handy especially if you encounter some mosquitoes or other insects along the way.
Nature Trails: There are a few nature trails that you can explore. The popular ones are the Keruing Trail and the Salleh Nature Trail. Make sure you purchase the brochures for both trails that will show you what to see as you move along the trail. For those who are keen to learn more of the plants, prior reading before starting your journey is highly recommended. The brochure cost only RM1 per copy. Of particular interest is the "puzzle-like" pattern of the individual tree crowns separated by gaps and outlined against the sky. This phenomenon is called "Crown Shyness". The reason for its name is because the leaf tips of the Dryobalanops aromatica appear to be shy towards their own kind, hence forming the gap. This tree is also known as kapur tree and has a nice-smelling exudate known as camphor, one of the main component of making ointment. The ointment is used for stomach massages after child delivery.
By Road Frim is situated along the Selayang-Kepong Highway 16km northwest of Kuala Lumpur.
By Train There are two ways to get to FRIM by public transportation. First, you may take the KTM Commuter bound for Rawang from the KL railway station and exit at Kepong. You can easily get a taxi to FRIM at the KTM train station in Kepong.
By Bus The other option is taking a bus from the Central Market bus stop, directly heading to FRIM.
Travel Tips :
If you would like to ask for permission to camp at FRIM, call the FRIM office at +603-6279-7575.
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