Mount Ophir
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- Gunung Ledang redirects here. For the 2004 movie, see Puteri Gunung Ledang (film).
| Mount Ophir | |
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 Waterfall on Mt. Ophir |
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| Elevation | 1,276 metres (4,186 feet) |
| Location | Peninsular Malaysia |
| Range | Titiwangsa |
Mount Ophir, known in Malay as Gunung Ledang (after a legendary princess), is a mountain forest reserve located in northwestern Johor, Malaysia. The summit is located between the border of Muar and Malacca. Standing at 1,276 m (4,186 ft), with a clear trail leading to the peak, the mountain is a popular destination among amateur climbers. Mount Ophir is also the 64th highest mountain in Malaysia and arguably the most climbed mountain in the country.
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[edit] Origins of its name
There are a few popular opinions regarding the origin of the mountain's name. According to one opinion, ancient history points to the mountain being the site of rich gold deposits, luring traders from as far as Greece and China. The name ‘Ophir’ itself is thought to have originated from the Hebrew language. In the 14th Century, the Chinese seafarers plying the Straits of Malacca called it ‘Kim Sua’ meaning the ‘Golden Mountain’. Another source said that the Javanese during the period of the Majapahit empire named the mountain ‘Gunong Ledang’, which means ‘mount from afar’.
[edit] Legend of Gunung Ledang
See main article Legend of Gunung Ledang
There is a popular Malaysian folklore which told of a Princess with magical powers who resided on the mountain. She was wooed to be the wife of the then Sultan of Malacca, Sultan Mahmud Shah. However, she set impossible conditions for him as a means to reject his proposal.
[edit] Gallery
 Mount Ophir is located on top of this spaceborne radar image of Muar district. |
 Information of Mount Ophir at beginning of hiking trail. |
