Tasek Cermin…The Mirror Lake

The tranquility of Tasek Cermin / Mirror Lake

The limestone hills around the Kinta Valley hold some fascinating treasures.

Their karst landscapes now stripped of their foliage revealed a fascinating landscapes but human intervention adds to the fascination.

One such place not far from the town of Ipoh, opposite Taman Song Choon is Tasek Cermin or Mirror Lake so named because its tranquil waters mirror its surroundings.

The well hidden tunnel that lies at the base of the hill

Set in a valley surrounded by hills it is accessible only be a man-made tunnel, approximately 300 meters long, that goes through the base of the hill.

The platform awaits at the end of the tunnel

At the end of the tunnel is a platform for visitors to view the surrounding valley landscape again surrounded by hills all standing tall above the viewing platform.

Our ‘guide’ Phillip CK Leong, the former President of the Malaysian Karst Society, who had seen this place 30 -40 years earlier said there was no platform here then.

 

"It used to be an iron mine. Where the platform was used to be a barge with a cable"

“This used to be an iron mine. In place of the platform there stood a barge with a huge cable that would take workers directly across to collect the iron deposits.

“They would fill up the barge take the iron out through the tunnel and start over again”

Leong said the tunnel was man-made.

A view of the tunnel seen from the lake.

“It used to be a vein going through with a stream but a tunnel was introduced subsequently”

He said the lake had probably been filled up by rain water and the stream that flowed there. 

Leong added that the depth of the lake was approximately 20 feet overall and it had caves below.

He had dived below the water and had explored the caves before but added that he would not recommend others doing so as it was dangerous.

Reflections from the lake that give it its name.

On the day that we visited the lake looked fine but according to Leong it was 40% of its pristine state otherwise it would be very clear and much more beautiful.

A notice that the site has closed is displayed.

The site has recently been closed to the public due to falling rocks from a quarry nearby to which there are signs posted at the entrance.

 

Phillip Leong (seated) with Ignatius Chew (l) and Chew Yew Kong who toured the site.

As mentioned earlier Ipoh and the Kinta Valley are a fascinating destination and this was just one of them.

JAG