Penang Hill

Penang Hill
Bukit Bendera (Malay) 升旗山 (Chinese) பகொடி மலை / கொடி மலை (Tamil)
Highest point
Elevation	833 m (2,733 ft)
Prominence	735 m (2,411 ft)
Coordinates	5°25′28″N 100°16′08.1″E / 5.42444°N 100.268917°E / 5.42444; 100.268917
Geography
Penang Hill Location within    George Town in    Penang
Location	Penang Island
Country	Malaysia
State	Penang
City	George Town
Climbing
Easiest route	Penang Hill Railway

Penang Hill is a hill resort comprising a group of peaks near the center of Penang Island, Malaysia. It is located within the Air Itam suburb, 9 km (5.6 mi) west of the center of George Town. Penang Hill is also known by the Malay name Bukit Bendera, which actually refers to Flagstaff Hill, the most developed peak. One of the peaks is known as Strawberry Hill, which was also the name of a house owned by Francis Light, founder of Penang colony.

A number of hills make up Penang Hill, with the highest point being Western Hill, which stands at an altitude of 833 m (2,733 ft) above sea level. Penang Hill is a hilly, forested area that stands out from the lowlands of Malaysia due to its elevation and greenery. The area was used as a retreat during the British colonial period and is now a popular tourist destination because of its history and heritage.

The top of Flagstaff Hill, the most developed tourist area, is accessible via the Penang Hill Railway from its base station at Hill Railway Station Road. To date, this funicular railway system is the only one of its kind in Malaysia, transporting over a million visitors to the top of Penang Hill as of 2014^[update].^[1]

Penang Hill is part of Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve, recognized by UNESCO as the third Biosphere Reserve in Malaysia listed in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR).^[2]