Maxwell Hill || Malaysia

image courtesy: Google
Video Courtesy: VirtualMalaysia

Unlike more developed hill resorts in Malaysia, Bukit Larut has remained pretty much as it was years ago, hence its low impact on tourism. Up on the peak, the cool weather is a welcome to many visitors who are mostly nature lovers and birdwatchers. The appeal of the resort lies in its untouched beauty, embellished with flowers, birds and tree ferns. It is situated in a national forest where the abundant wildlife is protected.

Transport from the base station up to the top is by 4 wheel drive Land Rovers up a very steep and narrow road. The ride up and down is exciting quite like a roller coaster trip. The fee as at June 2017 is Ringgit 10 one way up, with fixed timings for the upwards and downwards journeys.

There are many jungle trails and one of the popular ones is the Gunung Hijau trail. This trail leads to the peak of Gunung Hijau at 1,449 m above sea level. Along the way, one 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.

A few metres below Bukit Larut Rest House is a playground. Nearby it lies a bridge that leads to a watch tower, from where one can have a beautiful view of Taiping. On a clear day, one can even see the coastline all the way from Pangkor Island to Penang.

Tulip cultivation began in 2009 and was then abandoned by 2012