Maxwell Hill – The Heavenly Hill Resort

Bukit Larut, which was earlier known as Maxwell Hill, is the smallest but popular hill station in Malaysia since colonial times. It is just about 10 kilometers from Taiping town in Perak and is 1250 meters above sea level. Situated in the wettest region, it gets the most amount of rainfall in Malaysia.

History 

Now known as Bukit Larut Maxwell Hill, the oldest hill station in Malaysia was founded by Wiliam Edward Maxwell in 1884. He was the designated British Assistant Resident of Perak, whose work was to look after the needs of the British officers. To get respite from the sweltering heat of the lowlands, a few cottages were built where the British officers, along with their families, could come and take a break for a few days. Some of the bungalows built for the British plantation owners can still be seen at Maxwell Hill.

Things to Do at the Maxwell Hill Resort

• The best way to explore Bukit Larut Maxwell Hill Resort is through various nature trails that the quaint little hill station offers.
• The Hanging Bridge and the Lookout Tower are two good places to get some picturesque views and a few good clicks.
• The most popular activity in Maxwell Hill is bird watching in the Gunung Hijau trail. Upon reaching the top of Gunung Hijau, lucky visitors can also get a clear view of the west coast peninsula, starting from Penang to Pangkor Island.

Accommodation

There are no hotels in Bukit Larut. Visitors to the hill station can stay at one of the bungalows available on rent. The bungalows are not luxurious but have basic amenities like bed, bathroom, and cooking facilities that are just right for a one night stay. Some of the bungalows where visitors can stay are listed below.

• Beringin, which was earlier known as the Watson Rest House is a fairly well-maintained property having two bedrooms and can accommodate a maximum of 8 people. The rent of the bungalow is RM150/night.
• Tempinis, which was formerly known as Treacher, is a bungalow having four bedrooms and can accommodate a maximum of 10 people. The bungalow can be taken on rent for RM100/night.
• Rumah Rehat Gunung Hijau, earlier known as Speedy’s Chalet, has four rooms and can accommodate eight people at a time. Per night rent of the bungalow is RM60.
• Rumah Rehat Bukit Larut has four rooms and can accommodate eight people at a time. The bungalow can be taken on rent for RM60 per night.
• Sir Angkasa, also known as the Federal Bungalow, can be taken on rent only by VIPs.
• Cendana Hut is a refurbished colonial time bungalow made into a holiday lodge. There are two family rooms with attached bathrooms and three double rooms with a common toilet. Food is prepared by the caretaker on request but has to be paid separately. It is the only bungalow with a cafe.
• The Nest is a privately owned house with six bedrooms with queen beds and bunker beds. The place also has a big lounge area. The tariff per person is RM70/night and is inclusive of lunch, dinner, and the next day’s breakfast.  

How to Get There

There are numerous buses to Taiping from Kuala Lumpur. Passengers can board the buses from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan, KL, or at Hentian Duta, KL. The journey from Kuala Lumpur to Taiping takes anywhere between 2-5 hours by bus with the first bus at 9:00 in the morning and the last bus at 10:30 at night. For a comfortable bus journey, visit www.redbus.my to buy online bus tickets at a discounted rate.

From Taiping, there are two ways to reach Bukit Larut – Hiking and Jeep Ride.

• Hiking

The way up to the Maxwell Hill Station is 13 kilometers, and many visitors prefer hiking. The walk takes about 7 hours to reach the summit but can vary according to the fitness level of individuals.

• Bukit Larut Jeep Ride

Visitors who are not hiking enthusiasts can hire a land Rover from the main entrance to the Maxwell Hill Resort. The 30-minutes Jeep ride for children between 4-10 years costs RM5, and for 11 years and above, it is RM11. In the case of excess luggage, passengers have to bear an additional cost.

Jeep Rides are available all 7-days of the week but have specific timings. From Saturday-Thursday, the first Jeep leaves at 8:30 AM, and the last ride is at 2:30 PM from the foothill, and the first jeep ride downhill is at 11:00 AM and the last one at 4:00 PM. On Fridays, the first jeep departs from the foothill at 8:30 AM, and the last is at 3:00 PM, whereas the first downhill ride is at 10:30 AM, and the last one is at 4:30 PM.

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Traveling tips

• Bukit Larut Jeep Ride cannot be booked over the phone.
• Visitors who wish to take the first jeep ride would do well to reach the ticket counter at the Maxwell Hill Admin Office by 7 in the morning.
• Only 200 tickets are available per day, so it is advisable to book tickets for both the way at once.
• Call up the office in advance to know whether the Jeep services are available for the day.
• People with a tendency of motion sickness should take medicines before the ride since there 72 sharp turns, which may cause uneasiness.

Now that you have all the details about Maxwell Hill plan a visit there using redBus! Enjoy your vacation at this hill station without any worries after booking your travel on redBus. To travel to Taiping by bus, avail online bus tickets at discounted rates on www.redbus.my.