Bukit Larut (Maxwell Hill)|Perak|Malaysia

Interesting Places In Malaysia

Bukit Larut or Maxwell Hill is Malaysia's oldest hill station. It is located just ten kilometres from quiet Taiping in Perak. Bukit Larut is approximately 1250m above sea level. It is located in the wettest part of the country, this hill station experiences the highest rainfall in the country.

Bukit Larut was founded in 1884 by William Edward Maxwell, the British Assistant Resident of Perak. It is the wettest place in Malaysia, with an annual rainfall of over 500cm. Temperature here hovers around 15 degrees centigrade in the early morning and late afternoon, dipping to 10 degrees centigrade at night.

Bukit Larut is not nearly as developed as more celebrated hill resorts such as the Cameron or Genting Highlands. However, it preserves much more of the atmosphere of a colonial hill station, with modest, welcoming bungalows, carefully cultivated gardens, and a pervasive atmosphere of cool quietude.

The Tea Garden House, situated mid-way up the hill, was once the office of a tea plantation. However, when their tea plants did not grow very well here, the British shifted their agricultural endeavour to the Cameron Highlands, where the Boh Tea Plantation is now.

The hill is riddled with groves of evergreens and vibrantly colorful flora and fauna. Nowhere in Malaysia will you witness 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.

On a clear day, one can view the peninsular coastline and the Straits of Malacca, sometimes stretching as far as Penang to the north and Pangkor Island to the south. The scenery is captivating during the day, magical and bewitching at night. However, the view is often obscured by cloud build-up in the afternoon, especially from September to December.