Formerly known as Maxwell Hill, Bukit Larut has been Taiping’s oldest tourist attraction. Unlike Cameron Highlands, Bukit Larut is not as commercialised as yet. With its beautiful colonial bungalows and a charming ambience to boot, it would be a shame if it is not taken care of properly.
“Some plans we have in mind are to build a café, a flying fox or any activities relating to nature and a souvenir shop,” said Roslee Ahmad Rafie, Taiping Municipal Council’s head of the Community and Social Affairs on Wednesday, May 4, atop Bukit Larut.
“Cyclists are welcome to cycle up the hill on Wednesdays from 5pm to 7pm. However, we’ll charge them a fee, as Bukit Larut is a permanent forest reserve and its integrity needs to be preserved. Joggers can jog up here anytime for free,” he added.
Growing strawberries and roses are part of the plans as well. They have started on the roses by having pots of it around the hill.
However, despite the plans to increase the attractions, there will still be a cap on the number of visitors allowed as Taiping Council does not want to destroy the beauty of the country’s oldest hill station.
Presently, only five Land Rover trips are allowed up the hill a day. That translates to about a hundred people daily. “Perhaps in future we would focus on rooms instead of bungalows. Bukit Larut is about romance and a bungalow would be too big for a couple to stay in,” Roslee reasoned.
The cost of development is estimated at between RM2 to RM3 million. Money, however, is not the issue but rejuvenating Bukit Larut is what matters.
Khaleeja
