Fraser's Hill is perhaps the prettiest of all hill resorts in Malaysia. Nestling at 1,524 meters above sea level on the majestic Titiwangsa Range, it is about one and a half hours drive from Kuala Lumpur. This charming little hideaway with a population of about 1,000 is not unlike a quiet Scottish village. Granite mock-Tudor cottages sit amidst the brilliantly-colored blooms of an English-style garden. Most of these bungalows are private residences but some have been converted into holiday bungalows for visitors. They enable visitors to enjoy a country-style holiday in a cool, refreshing ambience, where avenings bring along swirling mists to descend upon the little hamlet while cold winds breeze though the lofty pine trees.
Fraser's Hill takes its name after a Scottish adventurer, Louis James Fraser who set up a tin ore trading station in the forested mountains on the Pahang - Selangor border. In later years, Bishop Ferguson-Davie mounted a search for Fraser but could not find him. Instead, the potential of hills as a cool getaway was discovered.
Little Hamlet
Life in the little hamlet of Fraser's Hill revolve around the market square dominated by a small clock tower, the most photographed object in this highland retreat. Picturesque colonial-style buildings have found new uses as the post office, police station, a clinic, a tourist information centre, cafes and restaurants. For the bird lovers, there is also a Bird Interpretive Centre at the sport complex. Though equipped with adequate visitor amenities, development at this resort hideaway has been careful to preserve the environment. Thus, visitors are assured of Fraser's Hills' original charms.
