TANAH RATA
Tanah Rata is a major town
located in Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia. The name "tanah rata" means flat
ground in Malay language and it refers to the relatively flat area on which the
town is located amidst this highland region. It is the main town of Cameron
Highlands. It has a population of about 8,000, mostly those involved in the
hospitality, food and service sectors.
The town is the administrative centre for Majlis Daerah Cameron Highlands
(or the District Council). That means there are a number of local government
offices, police station, general hospital and clinics as well as post office.
The Post Office is located on the
main road in Tanah Rata.
The heart of the beguiling little
town centres around Jalan Besar, the main street. Flanked two row of quaint shop
houses on one side, the town has a sense of warm communal atmosphere normally
found in mountain hamlets. Tanah Rata consists of one
main road that takes you from Ringlet to Brinchang. Tanah Rata is
well-served by a range of hotel accommodation, eateries, shops, a post office,
banks, a hospital, clinics, travel agencies, a tourist information centre, a
scenic public garden, golf course, a bus station and a taxi stand.
Local and express bus services begin and terminate here in Tanah Rata. The bus
terminal is housed in a pseudo English-inspired design with brick masonry and
clock tower. From Tanah Ratah you get bus tickets to Penang, Ipoh and Kuala
Lumpur, even Mini-bus rides to Kuala Besut (jetty to Perhentian Islands) and
Taman Negara. The town council named it the Freesia
Terminal. It was a badly designed building that was meant to double as a car
parking lot. The ramps were too narrow and anyone who attempt to get in would
get a nice long scratch on their car.
Shop houses
