Genting Highlands Travel Guide provides useful information for tourists and visitors planning a sightseeing trip there
Genting Highlands is a major entertainment resort in Malaysia. It is located on the main range, Banjaran Titiwangsa, in Pahang, Malaysia.
Roller Coaster in the outdoor theme park at Genting Highlands.
Why am I writing about Genting Highlands? It's a place where everything is artificial, from the smile on the receptionists lips to the very trees in their lobbies. I could not fully comprehend why anybody would choose to uproot perfectly good virgin jungle in the mist-shrouded mountains, and put in its place a labyrinthine world where you could stay just as distant from the rainforest as you would be, back in the city. So why am I writing about Genting Highlands? Because it's part of Asia.
And, I am almost ashamed to say this, I enjoy Genting Highlands. I like the cold air, I enjoy swimming in its heated swimming pool, and it offers some opportunities for theme park photography, something I don't get to enjoy much, living in Malaysia.
Billed as the City of Entertainment, Genting Highlands straddles the border of the states of Pahang and Selangor. Within this rambling complex, owned by the Genting Group, are at least six mammoth hotels namely Genting Hotel, First World Hotel, Highland Hotel, Resorts Hotel, Theme Park Hotel and Awana Genting. Of these, the biggest is First World Hotel. With 6118 rooms, it pushed MGM Grand Las Vegas to second place and took the title as the world's largest hotel - in terms of number of rooms. If you have ever stayed in any of First World's standard rooms, you'd know what life's like inside a closet.
Genting Highlands was founded by Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong. He hit upon the idea of setting up a new hill resort in 1964, while he was in Cameron Highlands, where he was working on a hydroelectric power project. He foresaw an affluent Malaysia many decades into the future, where the population would be keen on having a holiday in the cool retreat of the mountains. The site identified for the project was at the 1800-meter Gunung Ulu Kali, 58 km from Kuala Lumpur.
In partnership with the late Tan Sri Haji Mohammed Noah bin Omar, Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong set up Genting Highlands Berhad on 27 April 1965. Then he obtained approval from the governments of Pahang and Selangor to set aside 12,000 acres and 2,800 acres respectively. On 18 August 1965, work commenced to build a road from Genting Sempah - from which the resort derived its name - to the peak of Gunung Ulu Kali.
The foundation stone for the first hotel in Genting Highlands was laid by the late Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia's first prime minister, on 31 March, 1969. Highlands Hotel (now renamed Theme Park Hotel) opened its doors to the public in 1971.
One thing that requires little advertising at Genting Highlands is Malaysia's only land-based casino. Those who have visited the Casino de Genting claims that it is bigger than those in Las Vegas. For those seeking a more wholesome formk of recreation, Genting Highlands pack a whole list of entertainment programs, including an outdoor as well as indoor theme park, golf course, shopping mall, a sky diving simulator, a winter wonderland, auditorium, heated swimming pool, and lots more.
Getting to Genting Highlands
Genting Highlands is about 60 km from Kuala Lumpur on the Karak Highway. Among the transports available are Limousine, Luxury Coach, Express Bus, Shuttle Service, Taxi and Helicopter.
Limousine service to Genting Highlands is available from anywhere in Peninsula Malaysia and Singapore. Contact (603) 6251 8398 in Genting or (603) 8776 6753 in KLIA.
Luxury Coach 26-seat and 44-seat are available in from Kuala Lumpur, KLIA and other places in Peninsula Malaysia. Contact (603) 6251 8398.
Express bus to Genting Highlands is available from Puduraya Bus Terminal, Pasarakyat, KL Sentral and Terminal Putra LRT Gombak.
Helicopter service is available between KLIA and Genting Highlands. The journey takes 30 minutes. For inquiries, contact Sabah Air at (603) 6257 8604 .
In Genting Highlands, a shuttle bus service is available to the Chin Swee Caves Temple, with a 15-min stop at the Mushroom Farm, for RM5.00 return. Contact (603) 6101 1118 ext 7750.
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Out of the virgin forest a resort springs out.
The Skyway cable car is the fastest cable car ride by speed in Southeast Asia, and one of the longest in this region.
A labyrinthine set of escalators and passageway connects the different hotels of Genting Highlands.
The opulence in one of Genting Highlands hotel lobby.
The kitschy indoor theme park where everything and the trees is plastic.
Parents watch as their kids go around in Genting Highlands Indoor Theme Park.
The thrill of taking the roller coaster is written in the face of the young riders.
Going down under.
One of the heart-stopping rides at the Genting Highlands Outdoor Theme Park.
Tim in Genting Highlands.
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