For the benefit of my readers and as a proud Malaysian allow me to write a bit on Niah Caves (based on information made available on the website). However, I am not able to really make an objective comparison with Jeita Grotto, Lebanon primarily because I have not been to Niah Caves personally. I hope to be able to make a visit sometime in the future though. But I guess, each had its own peculiar unique features and attraction.If Lebanon has Jeita Grotto, Malaysia too can be proud of her Niah Caves. The Great Cave of Niah is one of the largest limestone caves in the world. It is located within the district of Miri in Sarawak, Malaysia. Part of Niah National Park, the main cave, Niah Great Cave, is located in Gunung Subis and is made up of several voluminous, high-ceilinged chambers. The Great Cave lies in a large limestone block, about a kilometer long in general north to south direction and about half a kilometer wide, that is detached from the main Gunung Subis complex, by a valley between about 150 to 200 meters wide. The whole "Gunung Subis Limestone Complex" lies some 17 kilometers inland from the South China Sea coast and about 65 kilometers south west of the town Miri. It is roughly heart shaped measuring five kilometers from its northern tip to the south and four kilometers across.
The Gunung Subis is surrounded by a low countryside with gentle hills from which the small limestone massiv and its smaller detached blocks rise rather appruptly out of the jungle, some with cliffs over 100 meters high. Though it is not an extensive cave system compared to others in Sarawak, it has been estimated to cover some 10 hectares and the roof rises to about 75 meters above the cave floor in some places. In geological terms, the limestone are part of the Subis Formation. This is dated to some 20 to 16 million years ago during the Early Miocene.
The cave is an important prehistorical site where human remains dating to 40,000 years have been found. This is the oldest recorded human settlement in east Malaysia. Painted Cave, situated in a much smaller limestone block of its own, some 150 meters from the Great Cave block's south eastern tip, has rock paintings dated as 1,200 years old. The caves are also well known for the birds' nest (Swiftlet) industry. It is a popular tourist destination in Sarawak.
Niah Cave is a two hours' drive from Miri. Access is made possible by accessible roads, therefore National Park headquarters is easily reached by car. Navigation is made easy with the large road signs showing the distance and way. Batu Niah is the nearest township - from there is is a pleasant boat ride or 45-minute stroll along the riverbank to the National Park.
The cave is an important prehistorical site where human remains dating to 40,000 years have been found. This is the oldest recorded human settlement in east Malaysia. Painted Cave, situated in a much smaller limestone block of its own, some 150 meters from the Great Cave block's south eastern tip, has rock paintings dated as 1,200 years old. The caves are also well known for the birds' nest (Swiftlet) industry. It is a popular tourist destination in Sarawak.
Niah Cave is a two hours' drive from Miri. Access is made possible by accessible roads, therefore National Park headquarters is easily reached by car. Navigation is made easy with the large road signs showing the distance and way. Batu Niah is the nearest township - from there is is a pleasant boat ride or 45-minute stroll along the riverbank to the National Park.
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