The Cameron Highlands is one of Malaysia’s most extensive hill stations. It covers an area of 712 square kilometres.
To the north, its boundary touches that of Kelantan; to the west, it shares part of its border with Perak.
Situated at the north-western tip of Pahang, the “Camerons” is approximately 85 kilometres from Ipoh or about 200 kilometres from Kuala Lumpur.
During the day, the temperature seldom soars above 25°C; at night, it is the opposite: the temperature can sometimes drop to as low as 12°C.
The resort has a diverse population of more than 34,000 people. It comprises Malays,Chinese, Indians and other ethnic groups. The literacy rate here is above 88 per cent.
The hill station was first developed by the British in the 1920s. It is made up of three sub-districts, namely Ringlet (5,165 ha), Tanah Rata (2,081 ha) and Ulu Telom (63,981 ha). Of the three, Tanah Rata serves as the administrative centre of the region.
In all, the retreat consists of eight neighbourhoods. The three townships are Ringlet, Tanah Rata and Brinchang. The area's five settlements are the Bertam Valley, Kea Farm, Tringkap,Kuala Terla and Kampung Raja. All are nestled at an altitude of more than 1,200 meters.
The gateway to the highlands is via Tapah or Simpang Pulai. Both approaches are in the state of Perak.
The Cameron Highlands got its name from William Cameron, a British surveyor who was commissioned by the then colonial government to map out the area in 1885.
In a statement concerning his mapping expedition, Cameron mentioned he saw “a vortex in the mountains, while for a (reasonably) wide area we have gentle slopes and plateau land.”
When approached, the late Sir Hugh Low, the Resident of Perak, expressed the wish of developing the flat terrain as a “sanatorium, health resort and open farmland”. A narrow path to “Cameron’s Land” was then carved through the dense jungle. Nothing much happened after that.
Forty year later, Sir George Maxwell visited the locale and decided to transform the place into a hill station. A development committee was formed in 1925.Later, a road was constructed from Tapah to the highlands.
The building of the road was a challenge. The crew not only had to deal with the weather; they also had to live with the risk of being down with malaria.
When the road was completed in 1931, the Britishand the locals moved in to settle on the slopes of the mountain. They were soon followed by tea planters and vegetable growers who found the fertile soil and cool climate to be especially suitable for the growing of their crops.
By the mid-1930s, there was a remarkable change in the territory: it now had a nine-hole golf course, several cottages, three inns, a police post, two boarding schools, a dairy, nurseries, vegetable farms, tea estates, a Government Rest House and an Experimental Agricultural Station.
The district continued to grow until the outbreak of the Second World War. During the Japanese Occupation (1942–1945), there was hardly any development in the area. When the Japanese withdrew in August 1945, the place underwent a transformation.
Today, the haven is not only the biggest and best known of Malaysia’s hill stations; it is also the highest point in Malaysia which is accessible by car.
Townships/settlements
The Cameron Highlands is one of the 11 administrative divisions of Pahang. It comprises three townships and five settlements. The three townships are Ringlet, Tanah Rata and Brinchang.
Ringlet is the first town after the turn off at the Tapah Interchange. It is about 12 kilometres from Tanah Rata. It is one of the agricultural hubs of the region.
Tanah Rata is the administrative centre of the Cameron Highlands. The general hospital, police station and post office are located at this municipality.
Brinchang is four kilometres from Tanah Rata. It is the biggest town of the retreat.
The five settlements in the area are the Bertam Valley, Kea Farm, Tringkap, Kuala Terla and Kampung Raja. All are separated from one another by a considerable distance.
Bertam Valley is five kilometres from Ringlet. It is involved with the growing of flowers and vegetables.
Kea Farm is six kilometres from Tanah Rata. It is the highest village in peninsular Malaysia.
Tringkap is seven kilometres from Brinchang. It is close to the tea estates.
Kuala Terla is five kilometres from Tringkap. Most of the residents here are farmers.
Kampung Raja is the first town after departing the Simpang Pulai Interchange. It is, by and large, a residential area.
Cameron Highland is famous for it's tea plantation.
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