Old architecture, fabulous food and a beautiful culture make Kuala Lumpur one of the must-visit Tourist Destinations at Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur (KL), the capital city of Malaysia, is much more than a stopover destination today. Though KL is a glamourous town, its residents exemplify kindness and grace, and the city has a unique vibe to it. A place known for its multicultural community – Malay, Chinese, Indian, Tamil, Thai and many more people call KL their home – KL is an amazing city with a mix of everything, which makes it a must-see tourist destinations of Malaysia.
Merdeka Square
One of the best known attractions in KL is the Merdeka Square. An area packed with history and colonial buildings, Merdeka Square seems to be nothing more than a giant field with perfectly manicured green lawns and a centrepiece of the tallest flagpole in the world (95m) proudly displaying the Malaysian flag. Step inside the church of St Mary, one of the oldest Anglican churches in the country. The 18th century Sultan Abdul Samad Building that originally served as secretariat for the British colonial administration is also located here. Today, it is home to the offices of the Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture of Malaysia.
Petronas Tower
While no one can leave KL with visiting the famos Petronas Tower. Come here in the evening to watch the sunset over the city skyline. Along with the Petronas Twin Towers, Menara KL Tower is easily Malaysia’s most recognisable landmark. This tower is 421 metres high but it trumps the Petronas Twin Towers with an even more spectacular view of the city. This gleaming tower’s spindle-like apex is visible from any part of Kuala Lumpur.
Adventure Park
About 15 km southwest of KL is Sunway Lagoon Theme Park. It has a variety of watery rides on offer and plenty of dry-land activities too. Water slides that whirl and twirl, a manmade ‘river’ ride, a surf beach, a wave pool, a 360° revolving pirate ship… the list of fun attractions here is extensive. Built on the site of a former tin mine and quarry, when it first opened the highlights of this multi-zone theme park were its water slides and the world’s largest manmade surf beach. These days, it has expanded and encompasses a total of five different zones – the water park, Scream Park, Amusement Park, Extreme Park and Wildlife Park.
Batu Caves
Located approximately 11 kilometres to the north of Kuala Lumpur, Batu Caves is a limestone hill comprising three major caves and a number of smaller ones. This labyrinth of limestone caves is home to one of the biggest Hindu shrines outside India. The caves are reportedly 400 million years old and were once used by the native Temuan people of Malaysia. At the foot of Batu Hill are two other cave temples – the Art Gallery Cave and Museum Cave – which houses numerous Hindu statues and paintings.
Foodies Paradise
The colourful Chinatown is a bargain hunter’s paradise. The prices are low and the selection is outstanding. At night, its main market area, Petaling Street, transforms into a lively and vibrant night market, filled with hundreds of stalls offering all kinds of goods at affordable prices.
KL’s biggest collection of roadside restaurants sprawls along Jalan Alor, just north of Jalan Bukit Bintang. Every evening (from 5pm till late) the street transforms into a open-air restaurant, with hundreds of restaurants serving seafood. Both sides of the street are flanked by a row of hawker stalls, with plastic tables and chairs spilling out onto the road. The city’s street food scene is full of unique flavours, like the roasted duck or frog leg porridge.
In KL, it’s not about where you eat, rather it’s more about what you eat. The Central Market is another place to be. The stalls here serve every kind of food for the traveller. KL is also famous for its bustling nightlife – try to find a spot that overlooks the Petronas Tower. It just makes the night prettier.