Kuala Lumpur is the bustling capital city of Malaysia, and is also the country’s most populous (and one of the most visited) cities. Fondly called “KL” by locals and tourists alike who can’t help but fall in love with the place, the city showcases the best of the old and the new, the cutting-edge with a rich Malaysian heritage.
As you go around Kuala Lumpur, you will be amazed with how these contrasts exist wonderfully side-by-side, making this city one of the most dynamic places you will ever have the chance to explore.
Just like the rest of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur is culturally diverse. Malays, Chinese, and Indians make up most of the population, although an increasing percentage of the people who live in the city are made up of a host of other nationalities due to the number of multi-national corporations (as well as foreign embassies) that have their offices in and around Kuala Lumpur. Exploring the city will open your eyes to a multitude of nationalities, languages and dialects, scents, cuisines, and architecture that will make you want to explore the hidden wonders of Kuala Lumpur even more!
Your KL Home Away from Home
You will find a wide array of accommodations in the city, with options that cater to almost every budget and facilities preference. Dormitory-type lodging houses for the budget conscious are normally located in the outskirts of the city (around 10 minutes from the main tourist attractions), while international chain hotels are more often found right in the heart of the city centre.
Going Around
Kuala Lumpur has a tropical climate throughout the year, which means that you will have to deal with the heat and the humidity as you go around the places you want to visit. Wear lightweight clothes so you can be as comfortable as possible as you go around, but make sure that you also dress appropriately especially when you plan on visiting mosques and other places of worship. It will be a good idea to bring sunglasses and a hat to protect you from the intense heat while you go around the city; an umbrella will come in handy for the rains that may suddenly come down especially during the afternoon.
ATMs and moneychangers can be found all around the city, so you don’t have to worry about running out of cash. Moneychangers often offer better exchange rates from your currency to the Malaysian Ringgit, and those that have stand-alone businesses or branches (outside of the shopping malls) are open until late at night.
Taking the public transportation (by bus or by monorail) will let you experience how it is to commute in KL. The buses and monorail can take you to the places you wish to visit around the city, and will also enable you to explore unplanned attractions along the way. You can also take the taxi if you prefer a little more privacy and comfort in going around the city; however, it is best to insist on using the meter for the taxi fare, as drivers have the tendency to try and negotiate a fixed rate (which is often hugely inflated) with their passengers.
Explore Kuala Lumpur
The Petronas Towers, KLCC, and Menara KL
Kuala Lumpur is almost always synonymous with the Petronas Towers (also called the Twin Towers), so seeing and experiencing it for yourself is a must when you are in the city. Standing at the foot of the 451.9-meter tall towers will give you a breathtaking perspective of the imposing structures; you can also go up the Skybridge which is 170 meters above the ground, or go up to the Observation Deck on the 86th floor to get a bird’s eye view of the rest of the city. Connected to the feet of the Petronas Towers is Suria KLCC, an upscale shopping mall that also includes a Science Center, an underwater aquarium (Aquaria), a philharmonic theater, and an art gallery. You can explore the outdoors around the Twin Towers by going around the KLCC Park which has a children’s playground, walking and jogging paths, wading pools, and a fountain with an incorporated light show. If you want another view of the city from a high vantage point (and a view of the Twin Towers from a distance), go up to the observation deck of the Menara KL (KL Tower) which is 421 meters high; schedule your trip here before sunset and you will surely fall in love with the spectacular view.
Shop Until you Drop!
Kuala Lumpur is one of best cities to go to when you want to do some serious retail therapy, as the city alone has 66 shopping malls that cater to almost every budget and fashion preference. Bukit Bintang (located in the Golden Triangle) is the city’s premiere shopping district, where luxurious shopping options (such as the Starhill Gallery) are just a few steps away from places where budget-conscious individuals can shop their hearts out (such as Sungei Wang). The districts of Jalan Ampang, Midvalley, and Bangsar also have shopping malls, department stores, and hypermarkets where you can buy almost anything and everything to satisfy your love for shopping. If you want to veer away from the retail giants and want to search for unique souvenirs and Asian-inspired items, you should spend a few hours exploring Chinatown (especially Petaling Street), the nearby Central Market, and Little India.
The Wonders of Nature
Kuala Lumpur may be a bustling metropolis, but there are also places in this city where nature and animal lovers can go to satisfy their passions. Three large urban parks dot the city: KLCC Gardens, The Lake Gardens, and the Titiwangsa Lake Gardens. The Kuala Lumpur Bird Park located in the Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens is dubbed as the “world’s largest free-flight walk-in aviary”; this 20.9-acre bird park is home to over 3,000 birds of 200 local and foreign birds species. The Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve located close to the Menara KL (KL Tower) and spanning approximately 27 acres, is one of Malaysia’s oldest permanent forest reserves, and the only tropical rainforest in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. You can combine an appreciation of nature with religious significance with a short drive from the city center that will lead you to the Batu Caves – one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside of India, consisting of caves and cave temples; the biggest, the Temple Cave or Cathedral Cave, can be reached only by a steep uphill climb of 272 steps, so you better have comfortable and sturdy footwear!
Historic and Cultural Landmarks
The best way to explore KL’s historic landmarks is to go on a walking tour, starting with the Old Railway Station’s Moorish-inspired architecture, then on to the distinctive electric blue dome of the National Mosque, on to the Merdeka Square or the Independence Square and its huge flag mast. You can conclude the walking tour at the birthplace of Kuala Lumpur, where the Gombak and Klang rivers meet. Get a chance to discover much more about Malaysia’s cultural heritage by going to the National Museum.
Flavorful Food Feasts
All that walking around the city will leave you famished, but you don’t have to worry as there is a wide range of dining options you can choose from. Western, fast-food, and international chain restaurants can be found in the shopping malls if you want food choices that are familiar and within your comfort zone. If your taste buds are craving Thai, Chinese, Indonesian or Malay cuisine, you will find the most flavorful dishes at the roadside stalls (“hawker stalls”) in Chinatown (Jalan Sultan, Jalan Petaling, Jalan Tun HS Lee, and Jalan Hang Lekir), Little India, and in the Jalan Alor area; most of these roadside stalls and restaurants start their operations at 5:00PM, and stay open until 10:00PM or even later.
The multitude of new experiences you will have as you go around Kuala Lumpur will definitely whet your appetite to exploring even more of the rest of Malaysia. The unforgettable attractions, cuisine, and architecture you see in KL can be regarded as just previews of what the rest of the country can offer you in terms of a great adventure. As you go around Kuala Lumpur, you will learn that what makes this city so dynamic -and at the same time so rich in cultural heritage -are the reasons why local and foreign tourists alike can’t help but fall in love with the wonder that is KL.
Photos by carawah, Raffaell, Sheep”R”Us’, Ehsan Khakbaz, Auswandern, carawah, Khalzuri and fpaulus
