CAMERON HIGHLANDS

COOLING HIGHLANDS

Cooling Cameron Highlands has always been one of the favourite hideouts (holiday destinations) in Malaysia.

The highlands is located the district of Pahang occupying 712.18 sq km, approximately 90 km from Ipoh ,and is the smallest municipality in the state.

CAPTIVATING LANDSCAPE IN TANAH RATA

Surveyed by geologist William Cameron in 1885, the outpost consists of three sub districts namely Ringlet, Tanah Rata and Ulu Telom. It has eight settlements – Brinchang, Bertam Valley, Kea Farm, Tringkap, Kuala Terla, Kampung Raja and Blue Valley.

Developed in the 1930s, the tableland is one of the oldest tourist spots in Malaysia – comprises of tea estate, orchards, nurseries, farmlands, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, wildlife, mossy forest, golf course, hotels, places of worship, bungalows, museum and the Orang Asli settlement.

BOH TEH PLANTATION

Indeed, it is popular destination among the locals and Singaporeans due to its  cool weather and slow pace lifestyle.

Not only the highlands is cooling with temperature as low as 18 c, it is also a place to get away from the noisy stressful city life.

WATER CREST PLANTATION

Farming activity is prominent in the highlands where one can visit farms, orchards and gardens namely rose garden, cactus, water crest, vegetables and tea plantation.

Obviously, I will stop over at the Boh Teh Plantation situated midway Tanah Rata and Ringlet. One can either enjoy its scenic plantation from atop coupled with a cup of Boh Teh or walk along the crooked patch along the tea plantation (RM3 entrance fee).

HAVE A CUP OF BOH TEA

A must see is an English tudor boutique style hotel, the Ye Olde Smoke House built in 1939, located at Tanah Rata. The hotel offers one of the finest dining venues featuring a distinctive collage of traditional breakfast and modern cuisines followed with afternoon tea in the sculpted garden.

SMOKEHOUSE

Other than sight seeing, tourists can walk along the shops – for food or souvenir.

MIXED GRILL, SMOKEHOUSE

The popular food offered in the highlands are – Indian food (capati/roti canai/tosai/kebab) or steam boat (fresh vegetables).

LAMB CHOP, SMOKEHOUSE

Some tourists look out for jungle walk which is another interesting activity here, such as Robinson River Walk, TNB Walk and Tanah Rata Walk. Be warned,do not go deep into the jungle – just follow the Jungle Walk path way. If you need a guide, you can employ one from the tourist agency available in Tanah Rata.

Visited on August 9 - 12, 2019

CAMERON HIGHLANDS

AUTHENTIC CAMERON HIGHLANDS

No doubt Cameron Highlands lies in the district of Pahang, but Perakians enjoyed the mountain resort more than any other state's residents.

To the north, its boundary touches that of Kelantan – Gua Musang while to the west it shares part of its border with Perak.

BEAUTIFUL BLOOMS IN CAMERON HIGHLANDS

The reason is that – the location of Cameron Highlands is near to Perak – where visitors used the Gopeng stretch of road to enter into the hilly mountains. It takes about two hours drive from Ipoh to Cameron Highlands. 

SMOKE HOUSE

From my younger days until adulthood – I never missed Cameron Highlands – which I have selected as one of my list of travel destination, in Malaysia.

If one wants to escape from the lower grounds hot weather – I suggest you go to Cameron Highlands for a change of cold, misty and fresh weather.

Every year, my family made an effort to visit Cameron Highlands for a 3D2N stay at our usual Copthorne Hotel (formerly Equatorial Hotel), where the hotel is seated at the highest peak. Here, one can view the entire Cameron Highlands township.

HIGHEST PEAK - PUNCAK BRINCHANG

PLACES OF INTEREST

There are 10 Best Things to do in Cameron Highlands – go visit the Rose Garden, Cactus Farm, Brinchang Wet Market, Tea Plantation, Bee Farms, Strawberry Farm, Water Crest Orchard, Orang Asli Settlements, Butterfly Farm and Sam Poh
Temple.

SAM POH TEMPLE, AT BRINCHANG

SUNGEI PALAS TEA PLANTATION

Cameron Highlands is the largest tea-growing region in Malaysia – most of the estates owned by Boh (1929) and Bharat (1950). One can take drive up a narrow path surrounded by tea plantation to reach the Boh Sungei Palas Tea Estate Factory and Cafe site. Visitor can have a good view of Camerons from atop, and a good place for photography session. Nearby, visitors can also attempt to reach the highest peak in Brinchang called Puncak Brinchang.

BOH TEH PLANTATION - BEST SPOT FOR PHOTOGRAPHY

For the more adventurous travelers – why not follow the jungle trail available here, and go for a hiking expedition. My brother and me used to hike out the Robinson Trail – as the path is not only brief but less dangerous. 

READY FOR A JUNGLE WALK AT ROBINSON TRAIL

SMOKE HOUSE

One 'must visit' place is the Smoke House which is located between Brinchang and Tanah Rata. The Smokehouse features English cottage-style accommodation with views of its award winning gardens or the golf course. It has a restaurant and bar. Visitors here will like the beautiful gardens and the old colonial style decoration. At the restaurant, it offers one of the finest dining venues in the Highlands, featuring a distinctive collage of traditional nd more cuisine types.

MARDI AGRO TECHNOLOGY PARK

Another worth visiting is the MARDI Agro Technology Park is divided into six main areas namely English garden, Herb Garden, Orchid Garden, Rose Garden, research centre and an information centre where tourists can also buy souvenir.

Mardi's Agro Technology Park is home to 40 varieties of roses, 10 strawberries, 100 citrus fruits, six areas of C Rose, orchid, English, Herb and Orchid Gardens.

MARDI'S AGRO TECHNOLOGY PARK

The Park is actually MARDI's oldest research station in the country and since Cameron Highlands is a popular destination, MARDI has followed through on the idea to turn it into an Agro Technology Park.

FOOD

A trip will be incomplete if one leave Cameron Highlands without having a Steamboat Dinner, which is available in any Chinese restaurants in Tanah Rata or Brinchang.

STEAM BOAT

Other than steamboat, there are plentiful of English food served in any hotels or Smokehouse.

Another 'must try' is the Indian food where outlets are mushrooming on the main road of Tanah Rata – chapati, roti canai, tosai, and Indian mixed rice.

CACTUS FARM

BACKGROUND

Cameron Highlands were named after William Cameron, a British explorer and geologist who was commissioned by the colonial government to map out the Pahang-Perak border area in 1885.

GUA MUSANG

Cameron Highlands is surveyed by geologist William Cameron in 1885, the outpost consists of three sub districts namely Ringlet, Tanah Rata and Ulu Telom. Its eight settlements are – Ringlet, Tanah Rata, Brinchang, Bertam Valley, Kea Farm, Tringkap, Kuala Terla, Kampung Raja and Blue Valley. All are nesetled at elevations ranging from 800 m to 1,603 m above sea level.

BOH TEH SHOPS

Developed in the 1930s, the tableland is one of the oldest tourist spots in Malaysia.

Apart from tea plantation, the plateau is also noted for its cool weather, orchards, nurseries, farmlands, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, wildlife, mossy forest, golf course, hotels, places of worships, bungalows, land rovers, museum and its aborigines (Orang Asli).

ORANG ASLI SETTLEMENT