Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The capital city of Malaysia is loved by the modern businessperson and culture seeker alike. Kuala Lumpur is at once a gleaming metropolis at the forefront of international business, and a traditional Asian city. Its truly a mixture of old and new. From the bustling ghettos to the ritziest boroughs, Kuala Lumpur is a world of its own.
How To Get There
Flight time from London is around twelve hours.
Subang Airport is close to the city but only serves domestic flights. The big new Kuala Lumpur International Airport is further away 75 kilometres (47 miles) outside of town - but the KLIA Express train will have you in Kuala Lumpur in less than half an hour. Taxi rides are available though expensive, even with the coupons you can get inside the airport.
Travelling Around
Kuala Lumpurs public transport system is an efficient way of getting around. It is comfortable, easy to use, and has recently been revamped. The city has new expressways, rail networks, and a train station, and although buses are widely used by locals, we recommend hopping aboard a Light Rail train. Theyre fast and cheap, and offer the most frequent services.
When to go
Kuala Lumpur is hot and humid all year round. Its best to avoid the periods of March - April and September November if you want to miss out on heavy rains. Events are held throughout the year, and public holidays see locals heading out of the city to the beaches and hills.
What To See
Start your tour of the city in the Golden Triangle, home to classy hotels and restaurants and best shopping district in Malaysia. The majestic twin Petronas Towers rule the skyline. On many days throughout the year the tops of the towers are shrouded in cloud. Take a ride up to the observation deck of Kuala Lumpur Tower on a clear day and youll get amazing views of the city and surrounding landscape.
Make your way down to the Lake Gardens, Kuala Lumpurs botanic garden and science centre. The gardens make up an expansive area of ninety two hectares, and are home to a butterfly park, a planetarium, an insect museum, an aviary, an orchid garden, and a hibiscus garden. While youre in this area, the Islamic Museum is worth a look, with models of the worlds most famous mosques and other architectural gems.
The citys colourful Chinatown is a great place to try some traditional food and stroll past the street vendors selling their wares.
A visit to Merdeka Square provides an insight into the history of Kuala Lumpur. The square is in the heart of the downtown district, and is the site of Malaysias proclamation of independence in 1957. Merdeka Square is known as Padang to locals, and is home to a many historic buildings, such as the Royal Selangor Club, the Sultan Abdul Samad building, National History Museum and Library, and the Dayabumi Complex. All are built in a striking combination of Victorian and Moorish style.
Hotspot
The Sri Maha Mariamman Temple is Kuala Lumpur's main Hindu temple. Built in 1873, it features intricate carvings of Hindu gods decorated with precious stones and gold leaf, and houses a huge silver chariot used in the yearly Thaipusam festival. The 23-metre-high pyramid gate tower is adorned with artwork by southern Indian craftsmen.The temple is shaped like a human lying on its back with its head pointing west and feet facing east. The complexs tallest building is the tower which is the threshold between the earthly and spiritual worlds.A visit to the temple is a great way to discover Malaysias Hindu heritage, and marvel at the craftsmanship of the buildings.
Night Life
Kuala Lumpur has several bustling night markets which offer an eye-opening view of buzzing Malaysian street life. To soak up the night scene, head to Golden Triangle and Bangsar for bars and clubs.
Quick History
Kuala Lumpur sprang up from Malaysias tin industry. In the 1850s a Malay chieftain drafted some Chinese tin workers to open some larger mines. They landed at the meeting of the Sungai Gombak and Sungai Klang rivers, and called the settlement Kuala Lumpur meaning muddy estuary.The tin settlement became a trading post which suffered from natural disasters and civil war under Captain Yap Ah Loy. In 1880, the capital of Selangor state was moved from Klang to the strategically located Kuala Lumpur. 1881 saw the town ravaged by floods and fires, so British imperial figure Frank Swettenham declared that structures should be rebuilt in brick and tile instead of traditional thatch. This resulted in the distinct shop-house architecture typical of the region. The construction of a railway line made Kuala Lumpur more accessible, and development continued through the late 19th Century. In 1896 Kuala Lumpur was chosen as the capital of the new Federated Malay States. The town was settled by many races. The Chinese gravitated to Market Square and south into Chinatown. The Malays established a community to the north, near Indian money-lenders and Muslim traders. West of the river at Merdeka Square was the centre of British rule. Kuala Lumpur continued to grow through the world wars, the rubber and tin commodity crash and a communist insurgency. Malaya gained independence from British rule in 1957, and Kuala Lumpur became its capital in 1972.
Lingo
English is commonly spoken, but locals are always happy to hear you make an effort. Here are some Malay basics:
Hello HeloGood morning Selamat pagiGoodbye (if youre the one leaving) Selamat tinggalGoodbye (if youre the one staying) Selamat jalanThank you Terima kasihYes YaNo Tidak
Money
There are around seven Malaysian ringgits to the British pound. Up-to-date exchange rates can be found on a currency converter.