El Dorado Of The East
Sungai Lembing, Pahang
Mining has built many towns and cities. One of these towns is Sungai Lembing in Pahang, also known as the El Dorado of the East. Sungai Lembing used to be a mining town, having once been the largest underground tin mine in the world. The total length of the tunnel stretches some 322 kilometres with a depth going as deep as 700 metres.
An information about the mines here in Sungai Lembing town.
Visiting The Underground Mines
With the dropping of tin prices Sungai Lembing’s underground tin mining operations seized and later turned into a tourist attraction. The mines are certainly worth a visit when one is in Sungai Lembing especially if one appreciates history.
Upon arrival at the mines one will be greeted by an arch. within the compound is the El Dorado Miner’s Canteen, a statue of a “giant” miner, a souvenir shop, and sections of what used to be areas where parts of the mining operations took place.
A statue of a miner at the Sungai Lembing Mines.
One can go to the mines with an entrance fee that covers a very short ride on an old train that once brought miners into the tunnels, followed by a walk through the inside of the mines. Certain sections of the tunnels are dimly lit, perhaps replicating the environment during its hay day, but one will not get lost.The atmosphere inside the tunnel is cool to cold depending on one’s ability to withstand coldness. This combination together with the little lighting available can make this walk a spooky one. Note too that the floor is a little damp and one should be careful not to slip.
This train takes visitors to the entrance of the mines.
Signages are placed at certain areas along the tunnels providing information on the mining activities, what the miners did, etc. Further into the mines one sees statues or figurines of miners at work. They can be quite an eerie sight especially being in an eerie place like these tunnels. Certain areas are closed to tourist for safety reasons.
The entrance to the mines. This is where the train stops and visitors disembark and make their way into the mines.
Do Note
Those who are claustrophobic (afraid of being in a small place) may find the tunnels to be an uncomfortable place to walk. Personally I felt a little dizzy while walking in the narrower stretch of the tunnel perhaps due to the dimness of the area and the damp atmosphere creating this weird aura like sight as I walked. Some areas are dimly lit.
The dimly lit tunnel section of the mines.
Finally, a brighter section of the tunnels.
Things To Bring
Some things that I recommend bringing along with you when visiting the mines are:
A bottle of drinking water
Torchlight
A jacket to keep warm`
Non slippery shoes (safe to walk with sandals too)
“Miners” at work inside the mines.
An old hand car at the grounds of the mines.
An old transporting cart at the mines.
Additional Information
Address: Sungai Lembing, 26200 Sungai Lembing, Pahang
Opens Daily: 9am to 6pm
Contact: +609 541 1480
