Bukit Larut
Bukit Larut is a hill resort in Malaysia located in the state of Perak, Malaysia, 10 kilometres southwest from Taiping. It was established under the direction of British colonists in 1884 as a place of observation for tin mining activity and as a retreat for the English people who were based in nearby Larut and Taiping. The area was initially named Maxwell Hill after the British Malaya administrator George Maxwell, and was renamed as Bukit Larut in 1979.
Bukit Larut | |
|---|---|
Hill station | |
| Other transcription(s) | |
| • Malay | Bukit Larut (Rumi) بوكيت لاروت (Jawi) |
| • Chinese | 太平山 (Simplified) 太平山 (Traditional) Tàipíngshān (Hanyu Pinyin) |
| • Tamil | மெக்சுவல் மலை Mekcuval Malai (Transliteration) |
Mist at Bukit Larut | |
| Etymology: "George Maxwell," a British Malaya administrator | |
Bukit Larut Bukit Larut | |
| Coordinates: 4°51′44.28″N 100°47′34.8″E | |
| Country | Malaysia |
| State | Perak |
| District | Larut, Matang and Selama District |
| Founded | 1884 |
| Renamed to Bukit Larut | 1979 |
| Elevation | 1,250 m (4,100 ft) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 2 |
| Time zone | UTC+08:00 (MST) |
| Postcode | 34020 |
| Telephone area code | +6-05 |
Bukit Larut is rich in biodiversity. Bukit Larut is home to 621 highland plant species which accounts for 20.4% of the overall highland plant species found in Peninsular Malaysia, as well as 27 mammal, 227 bird, 9 reptile, and 56 amphibian species. The area receives the highest rainfall in Malaysia with precipitation reaching up to 5,800 millimetres (230 in) annually.
After a 1997 proposal to redevelop Bukit Larut with additional tourism facilities was opposed by the public, the government of Perak chose instead to renovate the old colonial-era bungalows and rest houses. Access to Bukit Larut's only road is restricted to four-wheel drive vehicle and foot travel due to the steep and narrow nature of the road. Damage to the road in a 2019 landslide blocked vehicle access until at least 2023, with repairs estimated at RM8 million. Bukit Larut is the location for the annual North Face Malaysia Mountain Trail Festival, which is a qualifier event for the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB).