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The Cameron
Highlands (Malay: ''Tanah Tinggi Cameron'') is one of Malaysia’s most
extensive hill stations. The size of Singapore, it occupies an area of 712
square kilometres (275 sq mi). To the north, its boundary touches that of
Kelantan; to the west, it shares part of its border with Perak. The
Cameron Highlands is one of the 11 constituencies of Pahang, West
Malaysia.
Situated at
the northwestern tip of Pahang, the “Camerons” is approximately 90
kilometres (56 mi) from Ipoh or about 200 kilometres (120 mi) from Kuala
Lumpur. The three townships are Ringlet (1,100 metres (3,600 ft)), Tanah
Rata (1,400 metres (4,600 ft)) and Brinchang (1,450 metres (4,760 ft)).
The five settlements are the Bertam Valley, Kea Farm, Tringkap, Kuala
Terla and Kampung Raja. The eight vicinities are linked via a
34-kilometre-long road that stretches from Ringlet to Kampung Raja.
The Cameron Highlands got its name from Sir William Cameron, a British
surveyor who was commissioned by the then colonial government to map out
the Pahang-Perak border area in the 1885.
Discovered by Sir William Cameron in 1885, the outpost consists of three
districts, namely Ringlet (5,165 hectares), Tanah Rata (2,081 hectares)
and Ulu Telom (63,981 hectares). Its eight sub-districts are Ringlet,
Tanah Rata (the administrative centre), Brinchang, the Bertam Valley, Kea
Farm, Tringkap, Kuala Terla and Kampung Raja. All are nestled at
elevations ranging from 1,100 metres (3,600 ft) to 1,600 metres (5,200 ft)
above sea level.
The mean annual temperature of the retreat is about 18 °C (64 °F). During
the day, the temperature seldom rises above 25 °C (77 °F); at night, it
rarely drops to as low as 9 °C (48 °F) at the higher reaches.
The resort has a diverse population of more than 38,000 people. It
comprises Bumiputeras (Malay (7,321); others (5,668)), Chinese (13,099),
Indians (6,988), non-Malaysian citizens (5,193), and other nationalities
(202).[3] Most of the residents here are entrepreneurs, service industry
employees, farm workers, retirees or government servants. The languages
spoken are Malay, Mandarin, Tamil and English. Islam, Buddhism, Taoism,
Hinduism, Christianity and Sikhism are the main religions of the haven.
Developed in the 1930s, the tableland is one of the oldest tourist spots
in Malaysia. Apart from its tea estates, the plateau is also noted for its
cool weather, orchards, nurseries, farmlands, waterfalls, rivers, lakes,
wildlife, mossy forest, golf course, hotels, places of worship, bungalows,
Land Rovers, museum and its aborigines (Orang Asli).
The Cameron Highlands can be accessed by road via Tapah, Simpang Pulai,
Gua Musang or Sungai Koyan. Tapah and Simpang Pulai are the two approaches
from Perak. Gua Musang and Sungai Koyan are the entryways from Kelantan
and Pahang, respectively.
Sources:
Wikipedia
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