At Sungai Menyala, the sun still tells the time
Tucked inside a lowland forest in Port Dickson, a giant sundial offers visitors a hands-on way to explore astronomy, shadow and the passage of time.
In Port Dickson, Malaysia, the ancient practice of using the sun to tell time has been revived at Sungai Menyala Forest Reserve. A large sundial in the Astronomy Square provides visitors with a hands-on introduction to falak, or Islamic astronomy. The sundial, installed in 2023, utilizes the movement of sunlight and shadow to indicate the time through a gnomon casting a shadow.
This natural setting allows both astronomy enthusiasts and casual visitors to observe and understand this traditional method of timekeeping. With over 13,000 visitors last year and nearly 8,000 between January and July 2024, the forest reserve offers more than just the sundial; it also features jungle trekking, cycling, night walks, camping, and stargazing opportunities.
The sundial's recognition in the Malaysia Book of Records as the largest horizontal sundial within a permanent forest reserve further highlights its significance.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- At Sungai Menyala, the sun still tells the time freemalaysiatoday.com
