Taiping Island

Bukit Larut (Maxwell Hill)

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• published: 19 Dec 2007
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For more great information, photos and video about Malaysia, visit Virtual Malaysia Social Travel Channel - http://www.virtualmalaysia.com Taiping has always been known as an attractive little town with its distinct and charming architecture of mostly pre-world war 2 shops houses. The town itself is overlooked by serene jungle-clad hills, the most famous of them being Bukit Larut. Founded in 1884 as Maxwell Hill by the British, Bukit Larut is Malaysia's oldest hill station and is located a mere ten kilometres from the quiet and sleepy old town of Taiping. Located at approximately 1250 m above sea level, the hill station has the distinction of being in the wettest part of the country and therefore experiences the highest rainfall in Malaysia. Visitors to Bukit Larut will definitely notice how Bukit Larut's charm lies in its simplicity. Rather than being a typical superfluous and developed hill resort, Bukit Larut retains much of its original atmosphere as a colonial hill station. The hill station is dotted with many rustic colonial style bungalows and almost all of which are surrounded by colourful and carefully tended gardens. Most of the bungalows are available for rent, with rates starting from RM120 a night. Visitors can inquire or make bookings at the entrance of the hill station located near its foothill. Aside from a tiring climb, the only way reaching the top of the hill is by four-wheel vehicle. And since no private vehicles are allowed access, the resort authority of Bukit Larut offers transport service for a nominal fee. Government green Land Rover Defenders are available for visitors at the foot of the hill and leaves every hour from 7am until 6pm. To say that the drive up Bukit Larut is an exciting experience would definitely be an understatement. For those of you who do find themselves sitting in these Land Rovers, hold on tight as the drive up usually means being flung side to side. Hearts may also start to race a bit as you watch the drivers of the government land rovers change down a gear or two while skillfully negotiating the steep and twisting road. Although the drive up the hill may seem like an endless procession of hairpins (72 in all), it only takes about 30 minutes to the top. Midway to the top the Land Rover will make a brief stopover at the Garden Tea House to let other vehicles driving down pass. What was once part of a tea-estate, the Tea Garden House is a quiet reminder of how coffee and tea were grown on an experimental basis at the hill but was then discontinued due to transport and logistic difficulties. At this midway point, visitors can already start to get a taste of the magnificent view consisting of the entire town of Taiping as well as the Lake Gardens. The exhilarating and sometimes heart stopping drive up is more than justified once reaching the summit of Bukit Larut. Visitors are immediately greeted with a spectacular view of Taiping and the nearby sweeping coast. It is also said that on an especially clear day one may also be able to see Penang Island. A watchtower and a suspended bridge nearby a bungalow named Maxwell Resthouse is a must stop over as this is one of the place to truly take in the magnificent view. The summit of Bukit Larut itself is riddled with groves of evergreens and colorful highland flora that beckons to be explored and seen. Species normally found in cooler climates or European countries are abundant at the hill. picturesque bungalows of the hill are surrounded by a wide canvass of roses, dahlias, daisies, pansies, petunias, lupines and marigold abound in profusion. The cool climate also favours golden sunflowers, reputedly the largest variety in the country. To top it all there is a waterfall for cool fun. Bird life here is plentiful. The best trail for bird watchers is the Gunung Hijau Trail, which spirals up towards the summit of Gunung Hijau, one of the peaks of the hills. The untouched mountain forest is also home to smaller fauna such as gibbons and squirrels, while its flora comprises species such as wild orchids, Mountain Giant Fishtail Palm and many species of bracken-like ferns.