Bukit Larut, the smallest hill resort in Malaysia, towers over Taiping, famous for its lake gardens. The unique thing about this hillside resort is that nature has been left alone to flourish so bountifully.
Gazetted as a permanent forest reserve in 1910, Bukit Larut's untouched montane forests are filled with bird life while squirrels and gibbons roam around freely. This resort is especially popular with nature lovers, bird-watchers, day trippers and others looking for a tranquil getaway. Bukit Larut, perched 1,250 metres above sea level, was formerly called Maxwell hill.
It derived its name from George Maxwell, a British Resident of Perak who set up the hill station about a hundred years ago to serve as a cool retreat for colonial officials from the humidity of the lowlands. With Taiping' lush greenery, giant trees and placid lakes, it is easy to see why Maxwell chose this hill.
Before you ascend the hill, it is worthwhile to visit Taiping's many attractions such as the Taiping Zoo and night Safari, the war cemetery, museum and its beautiful lake gardens. Transportation up to the summit of Bukit Larut is by government Land Rover, for which a small fee is charged. In the olden days, pony back rides and sedan chairs were the only mode of transport up the hill.
Today, 13km of tarred road takes you to the summit. The roads are still narrow and steep with 72 very sharp bends. Among the many trails here, the Gunung Hijau trail is the best for bird-watchers. It spirals up towards Gunung Hijau at 1,449m above sea level. On clear day, you can see all of Taiping town and even the Perak coastline from this vantage point. For nature lovers, the Mountain Giant Fishtrail 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. The Bukit Larut Rest House serves local and western cuisine.
