Broga - A Cool Place to Exercise, Fresh Air and A Great Scenic View

Broga village which is about 8km from Semenyih Town is situated in a valley surrounded by a range of hills on the left and right. The population here I was told by the locals consists of about 500 families living before WWII. Broga town was recently link to a controversial site for the building of a incinerator which spark a nation wide protest from locals to foreigner. To go there just take the trunk road to Seremban from Kajang, go past the Semenyih Police Station and just after the Petronas Petrol Station there is a traffic light, turn left go through a winding stretch of road. Along the way you will pass a sanctuary for the orphan and the aged managed by the Desa Amal Jireh Group (Jireh Charity Village), Which should be operational anytime soon). After that Taman Tasik Semenyih (residential housing area) is also on the left and soon you will come to Nottingham University Campus. You will soon notice a barren hill with a beautiful hilly backdrop. Popularly known as Broga Hill (click on this link for full map and Broga Hill Post)

The primary economic activities here are mainly farming (local vegetables), rubber plantations, palm oil, fishing ponds, fish farming, durian and lately dragon fruit. There is also a famous Broga Rock Temple where people come from near and far to seek divine help and intervention to their lifes. Among other things Broga used to be famous for is restaurant cook wild meat supplied by the orang asli nearby but now banned. Occasionally they may still supplied these illegal wild meat. During the months of June to September which is the durian fruit season and people will come here to enjoy the durians from special grade to the jungle grade. The prices here are reasonable and definitely delicious. There are many trekking trails which lead you to different hill peaks with different scenery and on top of the first Broga "botak" hill you can view the KL Tower on a clear day.

Every Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays a group of friends will gather (Rock Temple car park) here just before 6.00pm to trek up the hills. The trekking time will usually take about 1 hour for try the reasonably fit and the normal around 1 1/2 hour. The starting point is at the Rock Temple car park (see top photo). They will walk about 1 km down hill and turn left at the rubber plantation. Another 1 km through the rubber trees and you will start ascending uphill for about 5 - 7 minutes, this will take you past some banana trees, durian, lime and other type of fruit trees. At the top of this first hill you can view part of the valley, you will be enjoying a good workout. Taking a short half minute breather continue the trek down a gentle slope along the rubber tappers trail before turning left steeply through large rocks and boulders. Here on wards for another 15 - 20 minutes it is a steep trek upwards, about 4 short hills before stopping on a flat terrain with various types of fruit trees. The altitude here is around 500 ft above sea level.

Here you can a good view of the valley with the sun setting on the west, sometimes the whole valley is lighted up with some areas cast in shadow. It is a wonderful view and sometimes breezy. From here another 15 minutes a slight uphill slope before a descending all the way to the view point behind the Rock Temple (see 2ND photo). Here you can view the whole of Broga in a panoramic 3D view. For those who still need additional work out can do it here before descending all the way to the car park. You can take a bath and change at the many bathrooms (male/female) located beside the temple. And the Rock Temple is also surrounded by many statues and a beautiful garden at the top. By nightfall the village becomes alive with many bicycles and motor bikes moving here and there. Usually we will have our dinner here before going home. Highly recommended is a little restaurant just beside the Rukun Tetanga Broga office which serves delicious Claypot Fish Porridge and others. Other restaurants nearby (air-con) are also recommended. A great place to relax and enjoy the atmosphere of a little town Broga.

To join Friends of Broga for a good exercise or just to meet new friends and definitely for the young and old every Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, you can call
Mr. Wong +6012-2897223 or
Miss KC +6019-3339825.