If you have not visited Mount Singai before, now is the best time to do so. Due to our love of being outdoors, KajoMag has listed six reasons why it should be on everyone’s bucket list to visit.
1. Close to town
Located in Bau District, Mount Singai takes only 30 to 40 minutes’ drive from Kuching City.
As it does not take a lot of time to reach there, you do not have to worry about getting up early or using a lot of gas.
2. Good spot for beginner’s training
If you are not particularly athletic but still want to be active, then Mount Singai is perfect for you.
Mount Singai hiking area can be split into two sections. The first half is a set of stairs leading to the Catholic Memorial and Pilgrimage Centre (CMPC) while the second half is the hiking trail leading to the summit.
Typically, an average hiker can reach the pilgrimage centre within 20 to 30 minutes while the hiking ground can take about an hour to reach.
Visitors might find Mount Singai relaxing and enjoyable as the hiking terrain is not as hard and challenging as most hiking spots around Kuching.
Also, due to the steps and the inclining nature of Mount Singai, it is the best spot to pump up your cardio and enjoy nature.
3. Friendly hikers
On average, Mount Singai can have a few hundred visitors in one weekend.
And due to that, you will always bump into other fellow hikers along the way.
At Mount Singai, the hikers will typically greet you and some will even give words of encouragement to reach the summit.
When meeting these friendly and supportive hikers of Mount Singai, it makes the hiking trip even more memorable.
4. Spiritual experience
On your trek up to the retreat centre, you will notice there are monuments stationed along the way up.
They are the 14 stations of the Cross which represent Christ’s last day on earth as a man.
Mount Singai has long been a pilgrimage destination for devoted Catholics, with the earliest converts to Catholicism in the area among the Bisingai people dating as far back as 1885.
5. Help the community build their church
Upon reaching the entrance point of Mount Singai, you may find a heap of bags containing pebbles and sand.
These are to build a new church hall at the pilgrimage centre.
As there are no access roads for vehicles leading towards the centre, the only way to bring these building materials up is on foot.
While there are no entrance fees for Mount Singai, visitors can do their part for the kampong community by helping them carry the bags up to the construction site.
Consider it your personal Rocky or Shaolin monk challenge by carrying a bag up. You can also help trick your mind into thinking you have some extra weight to lose.
6. Instagrammable view
Millennials with an active Instagram account would understand the novelty of having awesome pictures in their IG account.
When you reach the top of the steps, Mount Singai offers a rest stop with one of the best viewing spots.
Apart from that, the summit also offers an equally breath-taking view for visitors to take picture.
