Bukit Kutu facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bukit Kutu
Ghost town
Remains of Bukit Kutu
Etymology: Treacher Hill: former British Resident of Selangor, William Hood Treacher Bukit Kutu: Flea (in Malay language)
Bukit Kutu Location in Malaysia Show map of Malaysia Bukit Kutu Location in Selangor Show map of Selangor
Country	Malaysia
State	Selangor Darul Ehsan
District	Hulu Selangor
Established	1893
Gazetted as wildlife reserve	1922
Area
• Total	1,943 ha (4,801 acre)
Elevation	1,053 m (3,455 ft)
Population  (2020)
• Total	0
Time zone	UTC+08:00 (MST)

Bukit Kutu, also known as Treacher Hill, is a fascinating place in Malaysia. It used to be a popular mountain retreat, but now it's a ghost town – meaning it's abandoned. This hill station was set up in 1893 with two cozy bungalows for visitors. A long path, about 15 kilometers (9.5 miles) long, connected it to the town of Kuala Kubu.

People stopped visiting much, so it was abandoned in 1935. The buildings were sold because they weren't making money anymore. During World War II, the Japanese army bombed the area, turning it into the ghost town we see today. Now, Bukit Kutu is a popular spot for hiking, especially on weekends. It's also home to amazing plants and animals, so much so that it became a wildlife reserve in 1922.

What's in a Name?

Treacher Hill was named after William Hood Treacher. He was a British leader in the area called Selangor. The other name, Bukit Kutu, comes from the Orang Asli people. They said the path to the hill was very long. In the Malay language, Kutu means "flea," and Bukit means "hill." So, it literally means "flea hill."

A Look Back in Time

Bukit Kutu in 1921

Bukit Kutu became a hill station in 1893. It had two main buildings, called bungalows. The first bungalow was built in 1895 using granite and timber. The second one was built in 1904. These bungalows were like hotels where visitors could stay for about $1 a day. Government workers could stay for free. To stay there, you needed a special permit from the Kuala Kubu District Officer.

Each bungalow had bedrooms, a landline telephone, a fireplace, a tennis court, and even a telescope for looking at the stars. The only way to reach the hill station was a 15-kilometer (9.5-mile) path from Kuala Kubu. People at the time said the path was "extremely bad." They thought it was a shame that a better road wasn't built, especially since it was a favorite spot for tourists.

By 1935, the bungalows were falling apart, and Bukit Kutu became a ghost town. The buildings were sold to the British government because they were no longer profitable. Later, during World War II, the Japanese army bombed the hill station. After the town was abandoned, the path leading to it became covered with thick plants. This made it hard to find. Today, all that's left of this ghost town are a chimney, a fireplace, and a well. The chimney was part of a bungalow owned by Tom Sargent, who was an engineer for the railway.

The old trail to the ghost town is now very popular with hikers. It's busiest on weekends. Because it's easy to get lost, all hikers must register with the police. They also need a permit to use the trail. There have been a few times when hikers needed help. For example, a teacher went missing in 2015. Despite searches, her remains have not been found. In 2016, a hiker was rescued after getting a muscle cramp. In 2017, a hiker from Egypt was lost for 16 hours before being found.

Nature and Environment

Bukit Kutu is a very mountainous area. Its highest point is about 1,053 meters (3,455 feet) above sea level. The land is quite steep. It's one of four areas that collect water for the Sungai Selangor River. The other areas are Hulu Selangor, Semangkok, and Fraser's Hill.

Besides the forests that protect the water, Bukit Kutu also has the Lata Medang waterfall. There's also a large stone called Batu Tebung. Sadly, some visitors have damaged this stone. A geography professor named Samuel Robert Aiken said Bukit Kutu was a "minor" hill station. This was because it didn't have much flat land for more buildings. The biggest problem caused by visitors is littering, with rubbish left behind.

Weather at Bukit Kutu

Bukit Kutu has a tropical climate. This means it's warm all year round. The average temperature is about 26.5°C (79.7°F). It rains a lot here, with an average of 332 centimeters (130.8 inches) of rain each year. June is usually the driest month, while November gets the most rain. May is often the warmest month, and December is the coolest.

Amazing Nature and Wildlife

Bukit Kutu is full of amazing biodiversity! Its forests are home to many different trees, moss, fungus, flowers, orchids, ferns, pitcher plants, and vines. You can also find monkeys, bamboo, ants, centipedes, lizards, squirrels, butterflies, birds, and even hornbills. Some people have noticed that the twigs in the forest can look just like reptiles or insects!

This rich variety of life has brought many scientists and researchers to study the area. For example, between 1907 and 1908, researchers found and studied seven types of mosquitoes here. In 1903, a biologist named Dr. Daniels even discovered a new type of mosquito called A. Treacheri. This mosquito was similar to one that carries malaria in Italy. More recently, in 2014, researchers found and studied three new types of dobsonfly. Also, two new types of haematopota insects were discovered in 1931.

Because of all this amazing and diverse nature, Bukit Kutu was made a wildlife reserve in 1922. It covers a large area of about 1,943 hectares (4,800 acres). The Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (PERHILITAN) helps protect this special place.