What is known
The hot spring list by Samsudin and colleagues (1997), reproduced in Mohd Hariri Arifin's 2017 USM PhD thesis, records "Ulu Sungai Periah, Sg. Siput South, Ipoh" at 51°C. It is not among the 59 springs on Arifin's later distribution map, and no water chemistry has been published for it that we could find.
Where it probably is
"Sg. Siput" usually means Sungai Siput town in Kuala Kangsar district, but that town's full name is Sungai Siput (Utara), north. OpenStreetMap has a separate hamlet called Sungai Siput Selatan (south) in Kampar district, about 3 km west of the Sungai Periah. Kampar district was only created in 2009; before that the area came under Kinta, the Ipoh district, which fits the "Ipoh" in the 1997 record.
The river runs past Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Peria, about 12 km north-north-east of Kampar town. We think the survey record refers to this valley. That is our reading of the map, not a confirmed position, and our pin sits on the highest mapped stretch of the stream rather than on the spring.
What we don't know
We could not confirm the spring's exact location, whether it still flows at 51°C, whether there is any pool or path, or who owns the land. There are no published hours or fees.
Safety and etiquette
At 51°C the source is too hot to sit in. The valley is home to an Orang Asli village, so ask residents before walking upstream, and don't go alone into forest without telling someone.
Getting there
Start from Kampar town on the old Federal Route 1 between Ipoh and Tapah. Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Peria, on the Sungai Periah, is about 12 km north-north-east of Kampar in a straight line, with the Sungai Siput Selatan area just to the west. Use a map app for the road route, then ask at the village about the spring. There is no public transport, and the final stretch is likely forest.
Before you go
- Don't confuse this with Sungai Siput town near Kuala Kangsar; the record points to Sungai Siput Selatan in Kampar district.
- Ask at Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Peria before heading upstream, and respect their land.
- Test any water by hand first; the source was recorded at 51°C.
- Bring drinking water and download offline maps; tell someone your route before entering forest.
Questions people ask
How hot is Ulu Sungai Periah Hot Spring?
It was recorded at 51°C in a 1997 geological survey. No newer reading has been published.
Is Ulu Sungai Periah Hot Spring near Sungai Siput town?
Probably not. The survey says "Sg. Siput South, Ipoh", and OpenStreetMap places a hamlet called Sungai Siput Selatan next to the Sungai Periah in Kampar district, about 12 km north-north-east of Kampar town.
Is there a pool at Ulu Sungai Periah Hot Spring?
We found no evidence of a pool, facilities or visitor reports. Treat it as a geological record.
Other springs within 150 km
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources. Prices and hours change; confirm with the operator before a long drive.
- Mohd Hariri Arifin (2017) Hot springs characterisation and geothermal potential study in Peninsula Malaysia from geosciences perspectives, PhD thesis, Universiti Sains Malaysia (Table 2.2, after Samsudin et al. 1997)
- OpenStreetMap: Sungai Periah (way 1411217036)
- OpenStreetMap: Sungai Siput Selatan, Kampar (way 218231925)
- OpenStreetMap: Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Peria (node 12966843971)
- Wikipedia: Sungai Siput (Utara)
- Wikipedia: Kampar District
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