Its beauty will surely leave unforgettable memories to visitors

TERENGGANU is famed for its beautiful resort islands and over 244km of stunning coastline, as well as Tasik Kenyir, dubbed as the largest man-made lake in South-East 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.

This natural wonder is located about 125km from Kuala Terengganu and 28km 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, 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 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 sulphur 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 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’s 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 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 for visitors,” he said.

With “Ur Nature Destination” as its tagline, Mohd Rashdan said MDB will continue promoting the Besut district which is blessed with natural beauty to become the preferred destination among local and foreign tourists alike. — Bernama