Kuala Lumpur or simply KL, is the capital of Malaysia. Literally meaning “muddy estuary” in Malay, KL has grown from a small sleepy village to a bustling metropolis (metro population 6.9 million) in just 50 years. With the world’s cheapest five-star hotels, great shopping and even better food, increasing numbers of travellers are discovering this little gem of a city.Kuala Lumpur is a fairly sprawling city for its size. For many visitors the center of the city lies in the Golden Triangle, between Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Bukit Bintang,Jalan Pudu, Jalan Tun Perak and Jalan Ampang: this is where most of the city’s shopping malls,five-star hotels and trendiest nightspots are, and the Kuala Lumpur City Center (KLCC) development home to the famous Petronas Twin Towers is at the northern edge. But the traditional core of the city lies more to the south,where Merdeka Square has many of KL’s best-preserved colonial buildings and Chinatown bustles with activity late into the night. Further south yet, the suburb of Bangsar is a popular restaurant and clubbing district.

Places To visit

Sultan Abdul Saman Building

A stately, historic building rich in character, it was built in 1897 to house several important government departments during the British administration. This Moorish-inspired building, topped by a shiny copper dome and a 40m high clock tower, is a major landmark in the city. It serves as the backdrop for important events such as the National Day Parade on August 31 and the ushering in of the New Year. This heritage buildings now occupied by the Supreme Court and the Textile Museum.

National Museum

The National Museum or Muzium Negara is located just outside the Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens, and is Malaysia’s main museum. The building itself is a mix of traditional Malay and modern architecture, built in 1963. Outside, a restored old railway train greets visitors along with other old transportation vehicles such as the very first Proton Saga car, bullock carts and a vintage automobile.The museum consists of two wings that house a variety of exhibits, dioramas and galleries which include historical relics and artifacts, cultural items, arts and handicrafts, flora and fauna, weapons and currencies. From time to time, there are special theme exhibitions to educate and enthrall visitors.

Batu Caves

Lying just north of Kuala Lumpur not far from Templer Park are the Batu Caves, another visually enchanting natural marvel. Carved out of limestone, these meticulously sculpted caverns are sacred Hindu shrines. Nevertheless, visitors are allowed to visit daily. Inside you’ll find a Hindu Temple, as well as an art gallery featuring mythological Hindu statues. Discovered in 1878, the Batu Caves are part of a large limestone outcrop and house several items of religious significance to Hindus. An exhausting, 272-step climb, during which scores of cute but aggressive monkeys beckon for munchies, brings you to the Temple Cave,which features a Shrine to Lord Subramania, a Hindu deity.

Dataran Merdeka

Facing the Sultan Abdul Samad Building is Dataran Merdeka or Merdeka Square, an immaculately-tufted 8.2 hectare area of historical interest. A 100 meter-high flagpole marks the spot where the Malayan Flag was hoisted on August 31, 1957 signifying the independence of the country from British rule. At the opposite end of the square is an inviting spot where visitors can relax amid soothing rushing waters of fountains, elegant colonnades and colorful beds of zinnias and marigolds. Beneath the square is Plaza Putra, an underground food, leisure and entertainment complex.

Tugu Negara

Tugu Negara, literally the “National Monument” in Malay, is a sculpture that commemorates those who died in Malaysia’s struggle for freedom, principally against the Japanese occupation during World War II and the Malayan Emergency , which lasted from 1948 until 1960. It is located in the Federal capital, Kuala Lumpur. The Malaysian Houses of Parliament is situated near the monument.The monument depicts a group of soldiers holding the Malaysian national flag, the Jalur Gemilang, aloft. Each of the bronze figures symbolizes leadership, suffering, unity,vigilance, strength, courage and sacrifice.

Best Time Visit

KL is hot and humid almost all the time. Although there is rain through the year, March to April and September to November are the wettest months. KL’s wide ethnic diversity means that celebrations of one kind or another are usually going on somewhere around the city; these can make transport more crowded than usual. Public holidays are a surprisingly good time to be around, as most locals head for the beaches and hills. In more liberal KL, Ramadan doesn’t pose the same ‘where to eat?’ problems that affect the more devout Muslim areas on the east coast.

Getting Here

By Air

Kuala Lumpur is served by two airports, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Subang Airport. KLIA is the aviation hub of Malaysia and it is situated about 50 km south of the city. This airport has good air-connections, domestic as well as international. The Kuala Lumpur airport connects KL with all the major cities across the world, while Subang Airport is used only to cater chartered and turboprops flights. Both the airports are well-connected to the city through expressway.

By Train

Kuala Lumpur Railway Station is the main station that caters to the train travelers. A wide network of rail tracks throughout Peninsular Malaysia connects the city with other domestic

towns and cities. Trains from Kuala Lumpur Railway Station run daily across the length and breadth of Peninsular Malaysia, covering every town and city. In fact, Kuala Lumpur is also

connected to the neighboring countries of Singapore and Thailand by train.

By Road

Kuala Lumpur boasts of an extensive network of roads. Each & every part of the city is well-connected to other cities & towns of Peninsular Malaysia by highways. In fact, the city is also connected to Singapore and Thailand by roadways. Numerous high speed roadways or expressways traverse the city, connecting it with the rest of the country. These are usuallytolled roadways, where motorists have the option of paying by cash, or by stored value cards.

By Sea

Port Klang is the major seaport to reach Kuala Lumpur; it is located about 64 km southwest of the city. It is the largest and the busiest port in the country. Moreover, it connects KL to all the major destinations by sea. From here, one can take ferries and cruises to places, like India, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, East Malaysia, etc.

hotels

www.asiahotels.com/location-listby-name/Kuala_Lumpur-Malaysia-1.asp

www.kl-hotels.com/