Maxwell Hill, Taiping Perak

History Of Maxwell Hill


Bukit Larut which was formerly known as Maxwell Hill is the oldest hill resort in Malaysia. It was establised in 1884 by William Edward Maxwell, Assistant British Resident of Perak to cater for the needs of the colonial officials who need a break from the heat of the lowlands. At 1,250 m above sea level, Bukit Larut's daily temperature ranges from 10 &degC to 25 &degC. Besides being the oldest hill, it also holds the record as the wettest place in Malaysia.

Gazetted as a permanent forest reserve in 1910, Maxwell Hill is one of the least developed hill resort in the country. There is no international standard hotel here and accommodation is basically bungalows and rest houses, some of which were built almost a century ago. This hill is also the smallest hill compared to the other hill resorts of Malaysia.

In a clear day, you will be able to see a panoramic view of the west coast of Malaysia from Penang down to Pangkor Island. Nature lovers will appreciate the daisies, tulips, pansies, marigold, roses, dahlias, petunias and sunflowers that are planted here.

One of the beautiful view of the valley from Bukit Larut

Bird Watching

As there are not much :thene park"  type of facilities on this hill, most of the visitors who come here are bird-watchers and nature lovers. The undeveloped hill has enabled many species of birds, squirrels and gibbons to flourish here. As you go up the hill, you will be able to see the lush tropical rainforests with various flora and fauna that grow in abundance here. Remember to bring along your binocular and camera to capture the colourful birds that perch on the trees and the surrounding plants.


Jungle Trekking


There are many jungle trails and one of the popular one is the Gunung Hijau trail. This trail leads you to the peak of Gunung Hijau at 1,449 m above sea level. Along the way, you will be able to see many species of birds, the vantage view of Taiping town, the exotic wild orchids, ferns and other flora and fauna.


Getting To Bukit Larut and Accommodation

Maxwell Hill is situated 9 km away from Taiping town and 290 km from the city of Kuala Lumpur. After arriving in Taiping town, go towards Taiping Lake Garden and follow the turning to Jalan Air Terjun towards the foot of the hill. From the foot of the hill, the journey up to the summit is by government Land Rover. The roads up the hill is steep and narrow with 72 sharp bends, so make sure you sit tight as the vehicle cruise up the hill.

The Land Rover operational hour is from 8am to 5pm daily with a frequency of 1 hour. Fees is about RM5 for adult and RM3 for children. Booking to take the 4-wheel drive can be done at:

Bukit Larut Recreational Area Office
Taiping
Perak Darul Ridzuan

Tel : +6 05 8077 241/243
Bookings for accommodation at Cendana Bungalow, Beringin Bungalow, Rumah Hijau and Bukit Larut Rest House can be done at the bottom of the hill. However, it is always better to book in advance before going by calling the Bukit Larut Recreational Area Office.

After coming down the hill, make sure you drop by Taiping Lake Gardens and Taiping Zoo.

The tranquility of Maxwell Hill with beautiful tulips and sunflowers will surely entice you to come back again

source: http://www.malaysiavacationguide.com/