Hill stations are towns at a higher altitude than the nearby plains or valleys. The term "hill station" generally refers to the towns in South and Southeast Asia developed by Western colonists as refuges from the heat of the nearby lowlands, up where temperatures are cooler.
Destinations
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Map of Hill stations
- 1 Bokor Hill Station. Built by the French during the colonial era, but also used as a retreat by the royal family, it was abandoned following the rise to power of the Khmer Rouge. Most of the buildings from the colonial era continue to stand in various states of decay, though they are gradually being rehabilitated in an effort to turn the site into a luxury hill resort that started in the 2010s.
- 2 Maubisse. Built by the Portuguese to escape the heat of the plains below, today it is home to numerous buildings from that era, including the former colonial governor's mansion.
- 3 Darjeeling. Perhaps the most famous hill station in the world, known all over the world for its tea plantations.
- 4 Shimla. Hill station that was the official summer capital of the British Raj.
- 5 Ambarawa.
- 6 Bandung.
- 7 Bandungan.
- 8 Batu. Long used as a resting place by the Javanese royal families, it was developed into a hill resort for Dutch colonists during the colonial era. The Kartika Wijaya was built as a private villa for the Sarkies family, who are known for founding several of Southeast Asia's most luxurious colonial hotels, and later converted into a hotel.
- 9 Berastagi.
- 10 Bogor.
- 11 Dieng.
- 12 Kopeng.
- 13 Malang.
- 14 Malino.
- 15 Munduk.
- 16 Tawangmangu. Located on the slopes of Mount Lawu in Central Java near Solo.
- 17 Tretes.
- 18 Bukit Larut. Known as Maxwell Hill under British colonial rule, it is today home to numerous colonial-era bungalows, and known for its extremely rich biodiversity.
- 19 Cameron Highlands. Built by the British during the colonial era, it is today home to Malaysia's premier tea-growing region.
- 20 Fraser's Hill. Quaint little hill station close to Kuala Lumpur, today known for its colonial buildings and golf course.
- 21 Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera). Established by the British as a refuge from the heat of nearby George Town, today it is a major tourist attraction known for the funicular railway that leads to the top.
- 22 Pyin U Lwin. Home to the beautiful National Kandawgyi Gardens, a botanical garden built by the British during the colonial era.
- 23 Kalaw.
- 24 Thandaung.
- 26 Baguio. The first hill station to be built by the Americans in 1900, it served as a retreat for American troops stationed in the Philippines during the colonial era.
- 27 Mambukal. First established by the Americans as a hill station in 1923, the most prominent reminder of that history is the Ishiwata Bath House, the first permanent structure to be built in the area, designed by Japanese architect Kokichi Paul Ishiwata and completed in 1927.
- 29 Ba Na Hills. Founded by French colonists, it was heavily bombed and abandoned during the Vietnam War. It was rebuilt and redeveloped into a theme part at the start of the 21st century.
- 30 Da Lat. Built by the French during the colonial era to escape the heat of the plains below.
- 31 Sa Pa. Originally populated by minority ethnic groups like the Hmong and Yao, it was developed into a sanatorium for French military officers during the colonial era.
- 32 Tam Dao.
Stay safe
[edit]Travelers visiting hill stations at 4,000 m (13,000 ft) or higher may suffer from altitude sickness. Therefore, they should rest at a hotel after arriving at the hill station to adapt their body for low oxygen.