Soak It Up At La Hot Springs, Terengganu's Hidden Gem

BESUT (Terengganu, Malaysia) Aug 21 (Bernama) -- Terengganu is famed for its beautiful resort islands and over 244 kilometres of stunning coastline as well as Tasik Kenyir, dubbed as the largest man-made lake in Southeast Asia. Nonetheless, there is another unique attraction in Terengganu that is little-known to outsiders – La Hot Springs which is located in Kampung La, Hulu Besut district. This natural wonder is located about 125 km from Kuala Terengganu city and 28 km from the nearest city, Jerteh, and its beauty will surely leave unforgettable memories to visitors. The truth is, this ‘hidden gem’ is actually quite popular among the people of Terengganu and Kelantan to spend time with family and friends or to bathe in the hot water which is said to have healing properties. A visit by Bernama found that the La Hot Springs also provides various facilities for the public to spend a night such as chalets, restaurants, prayer room and toilets as well as three pools with different temperatures. A visitor, Azizi Mamat, 38, said that he often visited the pool for its therapeutic effects in reducing stress, improving blood flow and relieving body aches. “I read that scientific studies show that the water contains natural sulfur and mineral which is good for relieving nerve pain and skin diseases. “I have also met half-paralysed patients who came with their families because it is said to be good to help accelerate their recovery process,” he told Bernama. La Hot Springs was introduced to the public as a tourist destination in 1992 in conjunction with the launch of the Besut Cultural Fair and Development Expo. Since then, it has been visited by locals during weekends and public holidays to enjoy its benefits as well as the beautiful views of the surrounding area. Meanwhile, another tourist, Khalilah Abd Rahim, 28, said that she was thrilled to be able to soak her feet in the warm pool as it was her first experience of doing so. “It is fun to be here as this place is far from the hustle and bustle of the city and I believe with continuous promotional activities, this place will gain more popularity as one of Terengganu major tourist attractions. “I just hope that the designated bath area for women will be repaired soon so that we could have more privacy to enjoy this place,” she said, adding that the place is well maintained and clean. Meanwhile, Besut district council (MDB) president, Mohd Rashdan Muda when contacted said the council had applied for an allocation of almost RM859,000 from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) to improve the facilities at the place. “The purpose is for repair and upgrading works of the facilities affected by floods as well as to improve the lighting aspect for the convenience of visitors who came at night. “Recently, we have received an allocation of RM30,000 from the state government to repair the public toilets and we also have a plan to increase the number of chalets with a more attractive design to attract visitors,” he said. With ‘Ur Nature Destination’ as its tagline, Mohd Rashdan said that MDB will continue promoting Besut district which is blessed with natural beauty to become the preferred destination among local and foreign tourists alike. -- BERNAMA