Official Language:
Bahasa Malay
Secondary Language:
English,Madarin, Cantonese and Tamil
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Currency:
Malaysian Ringgit
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Population:
1.8 million
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Weather:
Climate and current weather information for Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia has a tropical climate with high temperatures and humidlity all year round. Rainfall is spread throughout the year. The heaviest rain occurs from March through May and September through November. Temperatures range 70-95°F/21-35°C. You should expect rain year-round, but it's heaviest and most frequent during the Northeast Monsoon, which runs November-February.
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Cruise ships dock at Port Klang (tel. 03/301-1333). From the port, taxi or bus service is available to take you to downtown Kuala Lumpur.
Buses are available to take you around the city of Kuala Lumpur, but most consider them rather unreliable and extremely crowded, especially during rush hours. A taxi might be your best bet. You should have no problem hailing a taxi from the street, and strict government regulations ensure that you will be charged fairly. If you would like to call ahead for a taxi, contact KL Hotline Cab (tel. 03/255-3399). Lastly, you can take the LRT, Kuala Lumpur's Light Rail Transit, which has 13 stops along a line that spans the entire distance from Jalan Sultan Ismail to Jalan Ampang. The LRT runs from 6am through midnight daily.
The capital of Malaysia is one of the most colorful and dynamic cities of the world. 'KL', as it is most popularly known, is a unique mixture of old and new..where graceful Mosques, elaborately designed Chinese and Indian temples merge with modern skyscrapers and office blocks.
You'll find shops selling traditional Chinese medicine, wizened fortune tellers setting up on pavements, little hole in the wall shops with signs in Arabic, Chinese and Roman..selling everything from incense sticks to deodorants...and all of this amidst supermarkets and malls stocking the latest designer luxury items.
There'll be the ever popular open air stalls (or hawkers, as they're known) serving up all kinds of local cuisine, from South Indian dosas, idlis, wadas to Malay Nonya food to Chinese dumplings and yaung tau foo. And if you fancy Western, try out the plentiful coffee shops, pizzerias and restaurants scattered all over the city.
It's a dazzling blend of cultures and people...all of which contribute to form a colorful milieu..and give an introduction to the country of Malaysia.
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Attractions |
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Kuala Lumpur has a fantastic array of wonderful sites to dazzle your eyes and capture your imagination. The Muzim Negara, or National Museum, is located in Jalan Damansara (03/282-6255) and is nestled amongst the gorgeous
Merdeka Square - Site of the proclamation of independence in 1957, the square formerly known as Padang is the centre of National Day celebrations. Surrounding the square are many buildings of historical interest, including the Royal Selangor Club where KL's elite meet, the Sultan Abdul Samad building, which is a great example of the Victorian-Moorish architecture common to Malaysian cities, the National History Museum and library and the impressive, modern Dayabumi Complex. The square is in the heart of downtown KL, near the convergence of the Kelang and Gombak rivers.
Chinatown - KL's Chinatown is a crowded colourful melange of signs, shops, activity and noise. The central section, Jalan Petaling, is a frantically busy market that is closed to traffic. It is most spectacular at night, when the combination of street stalls, food, haggling and bright lights makes impressions on all five senses. The old buildings - undergoing constant restoration by conservation groups - are interesting in themselves, while bargain-hunters and collectors of kitsch might be in luck as well. Chinatown is about 300m (330 yards) south-east of Merdeka Square.
Lake Gardens- When the bustle gets too much, head to the 'green belt' - 92 hectares (227 acres) of planned parkland less than 1 km (0.6 mi) west of the central city. The main focus of the park is Tasik Perdana - the Premier Lake - where locals and visitors cavort on the banks or in little paddle boats. Attractions in the park can be reached either on-foot, or by regular shuttle buses. If you're into the birds, Bird Park is an enormous walk-in aviary boasting about 160 species from throughout South-East Asia. If the bees are more your thing, you might get lucky at the nearby Orchid Garden, where 800 species of flower vie for your attention. There are also sections of the gardens dedicated to tame deer and butterflies. From the gardens, you can also see the massive bronze National Monument, Parliament House and the Planetarium.
Golden Triangle - If all of KL's peace, quiet and culture is getting to you, head to the high-rise-heavy Golden Triangle: a small city in itself, dominated by the tallest building in the world, the Petronas Towers. Surrounded on all sides by shopping, commerce and entertainment outlets, you'll feel like you're in another country altogether. This area contains all the expensive hotels and restaurants, with nightlife not for the budget-conscious. Visitors will enjoy the Kuala Lumpur Tower - the fourth-highest telecommunications tower in the world - with superb panoramic views on offer from the observation deck.
Batu Caves Just 13km (8mi) north of the city, the huge Batu Caves are among KL's best known tourist attractions. Now used for Hindu festivals and pilgrimages, the caves also form an intense backdrop to the spectacularly masochistic feats performed annually by Thaipusam devotees. The main cave, a vast open space known as the Temple Cave - is reached by a 272-step climb. Beyond the stairs is the main temple. There are several other smaller caves in the same formation, including one with elaborately painted Hindu figures. The caves can be reached by either the 11D bus (from the Central Market) or bus 69 from Jalan Pudu. The trip takes about half an hour.
Petaling Jaya - Originally developed as a dormitory town to Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya - or PJ as it's inevitably called - has quickly established itself as a major industrial centre in its own right. Many engineering industries have their base in PJ, and it is also home to Malaysia's emerging high-tech industries. On the way from KL, the University of Malaya is worth a look. Once in PJ, there is a wealth of shopping and dining options. The biggest attraction for lovers of good times is the Sunway Lagoon, a huge theme park with large waterslides and the world's biggest surf-wave pool. Petaling Jaya is 11km (7mi) south-west of KL and easily accessed by bus from Kelang bus station.
Templer Park - North of the city, Templer Park was established during the colonial period. The 500 hectare (1235 acre) park is a tract of primary jungle featuring marked jungle paths, swimming lagoons and several waterfalls. Just north of the park is a 350m (1150ft) limestone formation known as Bukit Takun. The park is one hour by bus 66 from the Puduraya Bus Station near the centre of Kuala Lumpur.
Masjid Jamek
Kuala Lumpur's oldest mosque sits right at the point where two rivers, the Kelang and Gombak rivers, meet - the birthplace of Kuala Lumpur.
Central Market
Formerly a wet market, this building was spruced up as a retail gallery for budding craftsmen and artists. A unique place to venture and perhaps pick up curios and antiques for a bargain.
Sultan Abdul Samad Building
Kuala Lumpur's most famous landmark bears testimony to the intricacies of Moorish design and architecture.
The National Art Gallery - is located in Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, (03/230-0157) and is the most popular site to study and observe the best works by contemporary artists, most of whom are Malaysian. International exhibitions are also held here, and the diverse collection of artwork is really something to behold.
National Planetarium
One of Kuala Lumpur's latest attractions, the planetarium offers visitors a better insight into mankind's new frontier, outer space. Don't miss the extraordinary lift ride that will give you a spectacular bird's-eye view of Kuala Lumpur.
KL Tower
The third highest telecommunications tower in the world. Completed end of 1995, offer visitors a commanding, view of Kuala Lumpur and its surrounding areas.
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Memorial
Dedicated to the memory of the "Father of Independence", the memorial showcases the many aspects of Malaysia's first prime minister. It offers visitors a deeper insight into the life of a respected world leader and his legacy that continues to inspire the present
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More Information |
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Kuala Lumpur Tourist Information Centre (03)2936664
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