It was established in 1938 and 1939 as the King George V National Park after Theodore Hubback lobbied the sultans of Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan to set aside a piece of land that covers the three states for the creation of a protected area.

Taman Negara has a total area of 4,343 km2 and it is one of the world's oldest rainforests, estimated to be more than 130 million years old.

Taman Negara is part of the traditional territory of several groups of Orang Asli, the indigenous people of Peninsular Malaysia.

The park legislation recognises use-rights of Orang Asli within Taman Negara (e.g. section 15(c), Pahang En.

[9] In this regard, six "aboriginal tribes" are listed (Ple, Temiar, Ple-Temiar, Senoi, Semang, and Pangan).

[10] Taman Negara features a largely virgin, lowland dipterocarp rainforest as well as Peninsular Malaysian montane rain forests on the higher elevation parts of the park.

As well as birds such as the great argus, red junglefowl, and the rare Malayan peacock-pheasant are still found here in some numbers.

Tahan River has been preserved to protect the Malaysian mahseer (ikan kelah in Malay), a type of game fish.

From Kuala Lumpur, buses may depart from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan and Hentian Pekeliling going to the nearest town, Jerantut.