The oldest lighthouse
Believed to be Malaysia's oldest.
FBilula — CC BY-SA 4.0 · FBilula — CC BY-SA 4.0 · FBilula — CC BY-SA 4.0 · FBilula — CC BY-SA 4.0
Believed to be the oldest lighthouse in Malaysia, on the headland of Tanjung Tuan overlooking the Strait of Malacca south of Port Dickson. Local accounts say the Portuguese raised the first lighthouse here in the sixteenth century after taking Malacca, naming the headland Cape Rachado, the broken cape; the present structure dates from the nineteenth century. The lighthouse stands within the Tanjung Tuan forest reserve, protected since 1921, reached by a walk of about twenty to thirty minutes up a path through the trees, with monkeys and birds along the way. In the waters off this cape a famous naval battle was fought in 1606 between the Dutch and the Portuguese. Forest entry is a token fee of about one ringgit per adult, with children free, and it opens from nine to six. From the forest a stairway leads down to the small, quiet Tanjung Tuan beach. The area is also one of the region's key sites for watching migrating raptors in March. Come in the morning before the heat, bring water and comfortable shoes, and keep food out of sight because of the monkeys. The view from around the lighthouse over the strait and its ships is worth the climb.
Believed to be Malaysia's oldest.
Since 1921, with monkeys and birds.
Ships in the Strait of Malacca.
Tanjung Tuan, about 16 km south of Port Dickson
The lighthouse is a working facility and not usually open to visitors, but the forest walk to it and the view from around it are the real experience.