This is out of the regular posts that I usually write. This post is nothing related to crunchy, succulent or juicy. Instead, this post is about eerie, spooky and haunting. The name of this place is called “Crag Hotel”.
This name and owner of this place were changed many times. The original name of this place is called The Crag Hotel. It was once a famous hotel located on a hill shoulder in Penang Hill, commanding a panoramic view of Penang Island from a height of 833m. The hotel was established by the Sarkies Brothers.
The idea to go into the hotel business came about in 1885, when the Sarkies brothers met the Khaw family, who had their hands in various enterprises all the way between Penang and Bangkok. Meanwhile, up in Penng Hill, a Scotsman by the name of Captain J. Kerr had leased a plot of land and erected his bungalow named The Crag. The Sarkies brothers acquired the bungalow from Captain Kerr, and opened the Crag Hotel there in 1895.
The Crag Hotel was said to operate until the Second World War. In 1955, it was leased to the International School of Penang, commonly known as Uplands School, to operate as a primary boarding school. The first intake of 60 pupils began classes there in mid-January, 1955. The Uplands School occupied Crag Hotel and Grace Dieu not too far away, until 1977.
After then, this place was operating on a small scale of homestay until 1999 and has been in disuse since then.
Today, there are 2 ways to get to The Crag Hotel, the first way which is the easiest way to get there is by the tar road of Botanical Garden, but the problem of this trail is you will always get blocked by a bunch of dogs and the caretaker of this place. As for the other route is via the Batu Ferringhi Trail that requires 14km of hike. With the second trail you will be able to enter this place as you will be entering via another entrance.
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The whole place here looked gloomy and humid even though it was scorching hot outside. I got goose-bumps due to the chilling wind when entering some of the chalets.
In between this place, there are some huge rocks that have been stacked up to make into a triangle-like entrance. This is like an entrance to some secret path.
Although this place has been kept away from civilization for decades, the condition of the building is not as bad as we thought.
According to folklore, this place became haunted due to a school girl was found hanging herself due to some depression issues. Since then, students claimed to have seen her soul lingering around this place. The school also started to get lesser students and finally they ceased operation in 1977.
Until now there are still some joss papers sticking around the building.
A friend of mine told me of his own supernatural experience at this place. It was way back in 1990s’ when he was still in secondary school. He came here for vacation with 3 other friends. Back then, this place was known as “Royal Simla Club” (RSC).
The 4 friends were staying in 2 rooms that night. According to him, they slept on the bed in separate rooms. But when they woke up all 4 of them were sleeping under the bed and placed in a very straight position. They were so afraid and left without packing in a blink of an eye.
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Another friend of mine also told me that he was at RSC with a group of friends back then for campfire and gathering. When they were happily singing and chilling around, they heard some noises at the bushes nearby. With the flash of the torchlight, there was nothing there. At first, they thought it was just some dogs that ran across. However, the frequency of the noise was getting higher and at that time they were at different places. Some of them felt someone had touched on their shoulder. Not long after that, they all screamed and immediately dashed out from the place.
As for my own experience, while I was taking pictures at the main hall of RSC, I heard something like a fallen can at the corner of the hall. I looked at that place and there was no one there. After a few seconds, I heard another can fell at the other corner. I quickly went out and regroup with my friend and told him there was someone inside the house. We didn’t talk much and left this place immediately.
Royal Simla Club or also known as Crag Hotel is full of mysteries and undiscovered truths. I wonder why this place is still left untouched until today despite the high demand of Penang properties.
You’re wrong it wasn’t called the Royal Simla club, it was used as a TV set for a BBC series called Indian summers a show which is set in Simla in Indian during the colonial era but is actually filmed in Penang. In this show the building acts as the Royal Simla club, that’s why the sign is still there and I guess must be why it’s in such good condition. It’s probably worth watching the show because in the show these bungalows are stunningly beautiful.
Source:
https://www.radiotimes.com/travel/2016-03-13/secrets-from-the-set-of-indian-summers/
I was a student in the 60’s up there and some of us regularly get together in Penang once a year and I’ve never heard of any female student that hanged herself there.
Secondly, someone is telling porkies about this being called The Royal Simla Club (RSC) once. That name was given to it in the series Indian Summers which was mostly all filmed there. In fact someone has been telling porkies about their story there.
I too was up the hill, in the early 70’s and never heard of anyone hanging themselves.
It is still owned by the last serving member of the Sarkis family.
It was never known as the Simla Club.. just as previously said, was the backdrop for a series starring Julie Walters.
Agree with Roxanne and John. I was at school here when it was called Uplands School, together with my brother Hugh and for a very short time with sister Alison. My mother worked for a short time as the school nursing sister (Molly). i loved this school although felt very homesick as so young to be boarding and missed home. I think it was an extrodinary experience to have been at school here and know that there was probably nothing quite like it anywhere. Indian Summers brought all these buildings and views back from my memories – just to make sure that it really wasnt just a dream.
It was also used for the filming of the French film ‘Indochine’ starring Catherine Deneuve.
So sad to see my beautiful school so dilapidated and uncared for. I was there in 1960/61 and have incredible memories of it. Lucky to have experienced it.
Ah, I see someone has already mentioned that the RSC was for the filming of Indian Summers. I was at Uplands School in 1970-74, with my older sister, and it remains an extraordinary period of my life. Steven mentions dogs, and indeed there were always wild and scary dogs roaming about. When I revisited finally in 2018, the caretaker’s wife was very welcoming and I had a good mooch about the site. I’d forgotten where my old dormitory was located and didn’t find it but it was magical (and not too spooky on a hot and bright day) to reminisce in situ with two colleagues you also found the trip memorable.
I was there between 56-60, at both Grace Dieu to start with and later the main school. Last saw it 4 years ago, and yes it was in a sad state. I felt the Indian Summers venture could have left it in a better state. Good memories and a marvellous location for a school.
Hey Jackie Jago.. I remember you but not from Uplands., but from the Selangor Club.
I too was there 1960/1963. It was a wonderful school. I have happy memories of it.
I was sent there with my brother from Medan in Sumatra l think 1962/63. I remember it was a free range school, surrounded by jungle and monkeys everywhere. Don’t recall that l learnt much but l enjoyed running around and playing alot. During school holidays we used to fly back to Medan on a rickety old DC3.
I was a student there around 58 to 62. I remember Mr Thurley (Head master). A sadistic Mr Jensen who enjoyed canning us boys. Mrs Debski, Mr Parry, Matron Miss Among, It was an experience with DC3s dropping leaflets around the area. Can’t remember the Headmistress prior to Mr Thurley.
wow… nice to know that, still got student from Upland. 🙂
I was at Uplands from 75 to 80 approx… I was there when we moved down the hill and was in the first secondary class when it opened.. great memories . Headmaster was Mr Drury at the time
Nehru stayed here when he visited Penang in 1947
oh really?? Is any thing strange happened then?
I was also at Uplands from 75 to 77 and like Lindsey I was there when we moved down the hill, we had some great times their remarkable memories, I am going to visit Penang on 11.02.2023 til the 19. and I hope to go for a visit up the hill.
I was at Uplands from 1957-1960. I remember Mrs Debski having orange nail polish! I flew up to Penang in DC3s from Seremban many times by myself! Always met at the airport by School Staff. I went back in 1994 but couldn’t get onto the site. Don’t ever remember any child hanging themselves either but I do remember the cold showers and one warm bath a week!
I was at Uplands late 50s/early 60s and my sister Katharine too.
Remember Mrs Hawkins and then Mr Thurley along with Mrs Debski, Mr Parry, Miss Ang and Mrs Chaplin.
I visited the Crag Hotel in 2012 and was allowed to have a good look around. Amazing location surrounded by the jungle overlooking Georgetown. The outer buildings were very overgrown, however the main building was relatively clear and in quite good condition. I lived on Penang and Butterworth from 1967-70 and went to school at the RAAF School Penang, Hillside. Loved my time there and have been back a few times since. Anyone wanting to see my photos of the Crag can access my YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@WaramangaStudios/videos
Greetings, fellow Uplanders! I was at Uplands for nearly 3 years, 1957-1959. My dad was the American consul in Georgetown, so I went home on weekends. I was one of five Americans. Two of the others were my younger brothers, Andy and John, so we were called Ranard Major, Ranard Minor, and Ranard minimus. My best friend was a boy named Edginton, known as Edge. Three other boys I remember were Rennie, Bates, and Cato. My last year I was head boy, probably by virtue of my age and height. Certainly it had nothing to do with academic achievement!
I have very fond memories of my time there. You Brits were very kind to us Yanks. I had a crush on Mrs. Debski. I was less fond of Mr. Jenkins, who was handy with the cane, and his wife who with very little provocation would explode in rage and throw chalk and the erasers at the students. My first year the headmaster was Mr. Abbott, a handsome man with a beautiful (but shy) wife. He was let go–not sure why.
One very strange event–I wonder if anyone remembers it. Mr. Abbott was very popular and Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins were despised, so when Mr. Abbott was let go and Mr. Jenkins temporarily took over, the students decided that Mr. Jenkins and his witchy wife had orchestrated Mr. Abbotts’ removal. Led by Rennie, students went on a rampage, destroying telephone wires to cut off communication and refusing to attend classes. Jenkins finally brought things under control and began caning the revolutionaries.
A dour, no-nonsense woman by the name of Mr. Hawkins then became headmistress. She was not well-liked, but she was respected. Her husband was a tall kind retired colonel who tutored me in Latin. He had been imprisoned in Singapore by the Japanese during the war.
What a time!
My brother and I were there from 1955 to early 1957 when we were sent to a prep school in England. We enjoyed out time there. Dr Day was the first headmaster followed by Mr Abbott. Rumour has it that the latter was removed because he employed re-habilitated CTs as groundsmen – much to the planters disapproval who were the main founders of the school. I also witnessed, with several other fellow students our first streaker across a tennis court where the girls were playing rounders Great fun and I remember his name to this day but no names no pack drill.
I was at Uplands 1960/61 and loved my time there. There were two Heads during that period, Mrs. Hawkins who I don’t remember much about and Mr. Thurley who I thought was a little bit of a bully when it came to the boys (girls weren’t caned). I also remember Mrs. Debski and her daughter Suzanne. The really happy memories are of the flora and fauna – it was such a beautiful site and I am so glad I had the opportunity to appreciate it. My British boarding school afterwards certainly couldn’t hope to match it. Does anyone remember the amazing view over Penang at night?
Wonderful to read the experiences of fellow Uplanders, especially those who were there between 1960 and 1963. My mother Mrs Lagerstedt was the matron. I have many fond memories of the school. I recall the kitchen being attacked by monkeys who stole food and anything shiny. We were on strict rations until victuals could be brought back up from town. In the meantime we had to protect the food on our plate from equally hungry pupils either side of us. Before going to a meal we had to line up for a hand inspection. Went back in 2014 when uplands was being used as a set for Simla. We were guided around by a very friendly caretaker. I was struck by how primitive the staff quarters were. I recall Mr Parry, the gymn and geography teacher getting into rages and throwing dusters around. Other teachers I recall Mrs Maher, nice lady from Australia. I am still amazed at how much we learned in such a short time. So many memories