Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia’s capital city. It is the main economic and cultural centre of Malaysia, home to both the House of Parliament and the Istana Negara (or National Palace). Malaysia itself is a multicultural melting- pot of different ethnic groups and cultures. As the cultural and tourist capital of this diverse country, Kuala Lumpur draws tourists from across the globe. As a result, it is one of the most visited cities in the world with almost nine million tourists visiting per year.
You can arrive in Kuala Lumpur via one of two international airports: the KLLCCT or the KLIA. On arrival, there is an airport bus and rail link to the city and travel time is quite speedy.
Central districts which are popular to stay in include the old town and the ‘golden triangle’, a business district with exclusive hotels, and the famous Petronas Twin Towers. The diverse cultures that make up Kuala Lumpur ensure that there is an amazing variety of ethnic cuisine on offer throughout the city. The Chow Kit district near the Twin Towers is an excellent shopping area and the Kampung Baru food market is deservedly famous. The area is an amalgamation of traditional villages and it holds a nightly food market on Saturday evenings. The visitor can walk through miles of stalls of ethnic food served buffet style. Here, you can grab a plate of meats, seafood, mixed rice dishes and rojak salads, while sauntering through colorful market displays. It is one of the best ways to get an immediate sense of the ethnic and cultural diversity of Kuala Lumpur.
The Petronas Twin Towers are the tallest twin buildings in the world, making them Kuala Lumpar’s most famous tourist attraction. The steel and glass façade of the towers loom over the city; they are particularly impressive at night, and even more so at sunset. There is an entrance fee and advance booking is necessary to gain admittance. However, it is worth it to view the city from the tower’s sky-bridge and observation points. Walk along the sky-bridge and you are literally walking above Kuala Lumpar, in the evening you can see the lights of the city spread below.
Visit Chinatown and you will get a sense of the religious diversity of Kuala Lumpur: mosques, temples and churches almost brush against one another. The visitor to Kuala Lumpar should also ensure that they don’t miss a visit to the Islamic Arts Museum. Within its stunning dome architecture are numerous Islamic artefacts, art works in porcelain, works of pottery and texts. The Islamic Arts Museum holds one of the world’s principle collections of Islamic art and is a noteworthy destination to include in your itinerary .
Posted: 2012 • 8 • 15