Malaysia's Hill Resorts

Malaysia's hill resorts were set up during colonial times when British
administrators and planters liked to escape to hill resorts periodically to get away
from the oppressive heat of the lowlands. There was no air conditioning in the
early days and the tropical climate took a heavy toll on the health of Europeans
who dropped like flies from malaria and other diseases.

Following the precedent set in India, where the Raj had long enjoyed hill stations
like Simla and Darjeeling, the British in Malaya established a number of hill
stations starting with Penang (late 1700s), Maxwell Hill (Taiping) (late 1800s)
and laterFraser's Hill and Cameron Highlands to serve as health and recreation
centres for expatriate Europeans.

Finding that the cooler climate in these places could support more temperate
species of fruit and vegetables they tried to recreate little corners of Britain with
quaint cottages, complete with fireplaces and chimneys, and pretty gardens.
Fraser's Hill still retains some of that atmosphere while Cameron Highlands has
gone on to develop a unique ambience of its own.

Since Independence, Malaysia has expanded, developed and improved access to

these resorts and also created two entirely new ones, Genting
Highlands and Bukit Tinggi.