BRITISH HILL STATIONS IN SOUTH ASIA AND MAINLAND SOUTH EAST ASIA: BRITISH INDIA, CEYLON, BURMA AND BRITISH MALAYA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Robert C M Weebers,Hanizah Idris

doi:10.22452/jati.vol21no1.9

Abstract

Hill stations in South Asia and Mainland South East Asia in British India, Ceylon, Burma and British Malaya were established in the 18th, 19th and 20th century by the British who governed these countries. The objective of this paper is to show the similarities of fifteen hill stations in these countries in terms of location and size, city ranking, purpose and layout, facilities and architecture. The purpose to found a hill station was to escape from the soaring heat in the plains and to recover from tropical diseases contracted and therefor located in the mountains or hills where the air is cool at a height between 2,000 and 9,000 feet. The size of the stations is between 408 (?) and 600 square miles. Some hill stations had the function of the capital of the government of a country or specific area. The hill station possessed characteristics and facilities of the British Home Counties: climate, clubs, golf courses, racecourses, lakes, and architecture in the British (Gothic Revival, Tudor Revival, Elizabethan Renaissance Revival, Victorian or Swiss Gothic) style, botanical gardens, vegetation and life style.

Highlights

In this study, the characteristics of fifteen British hill stations will be analysed, which were established from 18th to 20th centuries in South East Asia and Robert C.M
Hill stations in South Asia and Mainland South East Asia, in the countries discussed in this paper, were established in the 18th, 19th and 20th century by Europeans who governed countries in these regions
The purpose to found a hill station was to escape from the soaring heat in the plains and to recuperate from tropical diseases contracted to which Europeans were so susceptible and did not have resistance

Summary

Introduction

The characteristics of fifteen British hill stations will be analysed, which were established from 18th to 20th centuries in South East Asia and Robert C.M. Weebers & Hanizah Idris. Mainland South East Asia in British India, Ceylon, Burma and British Malaya. In South East Asia in British India eight hill stations (in the North: Simla and Mussoori, in the East: Darjeeling and Kalimpong, in the West: Lonavala and Mahabalishwar and in the South: Kodaikanal and Ootacamund and in Ceylon one hill station (Nuwara Eliya). In Mainland Southeast Asia in Burma two hill sta tions (Maymyo (Pyin Oo Lwin) and Kalaw) and British Malaya four hill stations (Penang Hill, Fraser’s Hill, Maxwell’s Hill and Cameron Highlands). Similarities of Characteristics of British Hill Stations in South Asia and Mainland South East Asia: British India, Ceylon, Burma and British Malaya century that insects carried the malaria parasite. The hill station was a retreat where the colonial could retreat in a European town with European architecture and facilities with a European character: the club, the library and the village church

British India

Ceylon Nuwara Eliya

British Malaya

Conclusion