The History of Bukit Larut

Bukit Larut is one of the highland recreational areas in the state of Perak. Bukit Larut, also known as Maxwell Hill, was named after the British resident at the time, George Maxwell, in 1880.

Daytime temperatures range between 15 to 25 degrees Celsius and can drop to 10 degrees Celsius at night. The journey up Bukit Larut takes about 30 minutes, navigating a narrow road with 72 sharp, winding bends along the hillside. Originally, this hill was used as a retreat for British officers in Malaya who wanted to escape the tropical heat of that era.

Because access to the summit was difficult and the road was unpaved, those wishing to reach the top had to hike 13 km through the forest, ride ponies, or be carried in sedan chairs.

For your information, Bukit Larut is one of the wettest areas in Malaysia. Almost every afternoon, orographic rain falls in this area. When the Japanese took over the administration and made Taiping the administrative center for Perak and Indonesia, they forced laborers to complete the road to the summit of Bukit Larut. The current road is the result of the sweat of prisoners of war and locals who were forced to build it from the foothills to the summit.

After the British reclaimed Bukit Larut, agricultural activities such as growing strawberries, tea, and flowers were carried out. A tea plantation was established in 1887 at a cost of RM3,600.00 for the use of British officers. Originally, this area had an Assam tea plantation, which was later moved to Cameron Highlands. Many planting projects failed, and these efforts were continued in Cameron Highlands. In 2009, there was an attempt to grow tulips here, but it failed, and the farm was closed in 2012.