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Bukit Larut (Maxwell Hill),
Perak |
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Bukit Larut, the smallest hill resort in Malaysia is famous for its lake gardens. The unique thing about this hillside resort is that nature has been left on its own to flourish bountifully. Gazetted as a permanent forest reserve in 1910, Bukit Larut's untouched mountain forests are filled with bird life, with squirrels and gibbons roam around freely. This resort is especially popular with nature lovers, bird watchers, day trippers looking for a tranquil getaway.
Bukit Larut was formerly known as Maxwell Hill. It derived its name from George Maxwell, the British Resident of Perak, who set up the hill station about a hundred years ago to serve as a cool retreat for colonial officials. With Taiping's lush greenery, giant trees and placid lakes, it is easy to see why Maxwell adores this hill. Before you ascend the hill, it is worthwhile to visit Taiping's many attractions such as the Taiping Zoo, Night Safari, the war cemetery, museum and its beautiful lake gardens.
Transportation to Bukit Larut will require a small fee. In the olden days, pony back rides and sedan chairs were the only mode of transportation.
Among the many trails in Bukit Larut is the Gunung Hijau trail, considered one of the best places to sight birds. On a clear day, you can see all of Taiping town and even the Perak coastline. For nature lovers, the Mountain Giant Fishtail Palm, wild orchids and many other exotic species can be found here. There are various bungalows and rest houses offering comfortable accommodation, most of them built about a century ago.
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What to See and Do |
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Nature's Splendour. Visitors who come up to Bukit Larut are mostly nature lovers, bird watchers, day trippers and tourists who seek a change of climate and pace. Besides leisure strolls through colourful gardens or just mere relaxation, visitors can also enjoy a game of tennis.
Bird life is plentiful. Sightings of forest birds can be done even without venturing on long walks as the undisturbed environment naturally attract birds. The best trail for bird watchers is the Gunung Hijau Trail which spirals up towards the summit of Gunung Hijau (1449m). From here, on a clear day, an uninterrupted view of Taiping town and the Perak coastline can be seen.
The forest is also home to smaller fauna such as gibbons and squirrels while its flora comprises species like wild orchids, Mountain Giant Fishtail Palm and bracken-like fern.
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Food.
Malaysian and European food are available at the Bukit Larut Resthouse. At the bungalows, meals can be arranged with the caretaker. Visitors are also allowed to do their own cooking. At some of the bungalows, barbeque pits are provided. |
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Practical Tips.
It is advisable to bring along rain gear as it rains quite regularly in Taiping |
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How to get there |
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Situated about 290 km from Kuala Lumpur and 9 km from Taiping, you can only go up to Bukit Larut using the government shuttle service, which operates daily from 8 am to 5 pm. Bookings for accommodation can be made at the office at the bottom of the hill. |
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