# Hill stations

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
### Cambodia

* 10.630408104.0172671 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. (updated Feb 2022)

### East Timor

* -8.838056125.5972222 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. (updated Feb 2022)

### India

    See also: Hill stations in India
* 27.037588.2630563 Darjeeling. Perhaps the most famous hill station in the world, known all over the world for its tea plantations. (updated Feb 2022)
* 31.10333377.1722224 Shimla. Hill station that was the official summer capital of India during British colonial rule. (updated Feb 2022)

### Indonesia

* -7.266667110.45 Ambarawa. (updated Oct 2022)
* -6.902186107.6187566 Bandung. (updated Feb 2022)
* -7.222653110.3664677 Bandungan. (updated Feb 2022)
* -7.8672112.52398 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. (updated Feb 2022)
* 3.18333398.5166679 Berastagi. (updated Feb 2022)
* -6.597803106.79926310 Bogor. (updated Feb 2022)
* -7.207005109.86411111 Dieng. (updated Oct 2022)
* -7.3998110.417712 Kopeng. (updated Oct 2022)
* -7.98112.6213 Malang. (updated Feb 2022)
* -5.246667119.86194414 Malino. (updated Feb 2022)
* -8.266667115.0515 Munduk. (updated Feb 2022)
* -7.662343111.14584416 Tawangmangu. Located on the slopes of Mount Lawu in Central Java near Solo. (updated Feb 2022)
* -7.675556112.60517 Tretes. (updated Feb 2022)

### Malaysia

* 4.86228100.79318 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. (updated Feb 2022)
* 4.529167101.33888919 Cameron Highlands. Built by the British during the colonial era, it is today home to Malaysia's premier tea-growing region. (updated Feb 2022)
* 3.711944101.73638920 Fraser's Hill. Quaint little hill station close to Kuala Lumpur, today known for its colonial buildings and golf course. (updated Feb 2022)
* 5.422778100.26583321 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. (updated Feb 2022)

### Myanmar

* 22.02805696.47055622 Pyin U Lwin. Home to the beautiful National Kandawgyi Gardens, a botanical garden built by the British during the colonial era. (updated Feb 2022)
* 20.63333396.56666723 Kalaw. (updated Feb 2022)
* 16.62277897.46027824 Thandaung. (updated Nov 2022)

### Pakistan

    See also: Hill stations in Pakistan
* 33.904273.390325 Murree. The most popular hill station in Pakistan. (updated Feb 2022)

### Philippines

* 16.411944120.59333326 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. (updated Nov 2022)
* 10.5123.10227 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. (updated Nov 2022)

### Sri Lanka

* 6.96666780.76666728 Nuwara Eliya. (updated Feb 2022)

### Vietnam

* 15.995556107.99416729 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. (updated Feb 2022)
* 11.941667108.43833330 Da Lat. Built by the French during the colonial era to escape the heat of the plains below. (updated Feb 2022)
* 22.335701103.84168931 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. (updated Feb 2022)
* 21.4569105.594632 Tam Dao. (updated Feb 2022)

## Stay safe

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.