Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia

                A Fascinating Destination

Kuala Lumpur is a global city of Malaysia, blessed with colors of modernism along with rich heritage. Kuala Lumpur is situated at the confluence of Sungai Gombak and Sungai Klang, and probably, that's how it got its name, which literally means 'muddy confluence' in Malay language. Kuala Lumpur is speckled with offbeat skyscrapers and avant-garde shopping malls. You can find here the world’s tallest twin building of the Petronas Twin Towers and also rich Craft Complex. Moreover, Kuala Lumpur is acclaimed to be only city in the world which has dense forests in its precincts. Kuala Lumpur shines brightly owing to its steaming range of tourist attractions. Being the largest and the most happening city in Malaysia, it houses numerous amazing night clubs, pubs, bars, karaoke lounges, restaurants, etc, to offer each swish amusement to the people. To put concisely, Kuala Lumpur is the majestic access to a fascinating destination. Take a break from your mundane mechanical life and bask in the heartiness of Kaula Lumpur !

                                                   

Quick facts:

·         Full Name                     - Kuala Lumpur

·         Area                             - 243.65 Sq.Km

·         National Language         - Malay

·         Other Languages           - English, Chinese, Tamil

·         Currency                       - Ringgit Malaysia (RM)

·         Religions                      -  Muslim, Buddhist, Taoist, Hindu, Christian, Sikh

·         Area Code                    - +603

·         Emergency number       - 999

Location:

Kuala Lumpur is situated midway along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. KL is surrounded by the Titiwangsa Mountains in the east, some minor ranges in the north and the south, and the Strait of Malacca in the west. . The name Kuala Lumpur technically connotes muddy estuary as the urbane city resides in between two rivers namely- Klang and Gombak Rivers. The equatorial climate makes the presents the region humid and warm climatic condition.

Best Time to Visit:        May to September

Route Map:

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How to Reach:

By Air    Kuala Lumpur has 2 major Airports, namely Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Subang Airport. 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 Road    Highways of KL connects each and every part of the city to the other parts of Malaysia. Singapore and Thailand are also connected by roadways from KL. Numerous high speed roadways or expressways traverse the city, connecting it with the rest of the country.

By Rail      KL Railway Station is the main station to the train travelers. Trains from KL Railway Station run daily across the length and breadth of Malaysia, covering each and every town and city. Also KL is connected by train to Singapore and Thailand.

By Sea      The Major seaport to reach KL is Port Klang, which is 64 km from city. This connects all major destinations to KL by sea. This is the most largest and busiest port in the country. From here, the cruises and ferries are available to places like India, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and East Malaysia.

Prime Attractions of Kuala Lumpur:

Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC)

Kuala Lumpur City Centre refers to the commercial centre located in the heart of the city.It  includes the Petronas Twin Towers, the Suria KLCC Shopping Mall, a park, a 5-star hotel and prime office blocks. Also it is one of the main destination for shopping, clubbing and business for both locals and internationals. KLCC is famous for its beautifully landscaped gardens complete with a children’s playground, wading pool and fountains.

The Petronas Towers

The Petronas Towers, designed by Cesar Pelli and completed in 1998, was, until recently, the tallest building in the world and is the country’s pride and joy. While you can’t go right to the top of the towers, you can buy a ticket for the observation bridge which connects the towers. Closer to the ground, one of the towers also houses a a shopping center with designer boutiques, restaurants and a petroleum museum (with interactive exhibits for children).

The Menara Kuala Lumpur

The Menara Kuala Lumpur, with its spiral top, measures in as one of the world's tallest towers. Adorned with Islamic motifs and nearly 1,400 feet tall, this structure is one of KL's most striking landmarks - the distinctive spire is said to be inspired by a traditional Malay spinning top. The upper ground level is open to the public and offers a spectacular view.

Bangsar Shopping Centre

A suburban shopping mall just a short drive from the Bangsar hub at Telawi. Very popular with expatriates who shop for groceries at Cold Storage and Mister Ho's. For the young and impressionable, there are the usual coffee places like Coffee bean and Austin Chase. Weekends are packed due to the street bazaar activity.

Genting Highlands

At the genting highlands you will have your choice of going to the casino, the restaurant or the theme park. With all there is to do there you will need a whole day to fit it all in. Open hours: outdoor theme park: 10am-5.45pm mon-fri; 8am-7.45pm sat, sun, school & public holidays; indoor theme park: 9am-midnight mon-thu; 9am-1am fri; 8am-1am sat; 8am-midnight sun.

Bird Park

Kuala Lumpur has the largest free flight  aviary in the world–a massive site spanning 20 acres right in the middle of the city that takes hours to walk through. It houses an impressive collection of tropical and temperate-region birds. Especially interesting are the different varieties of hornbills and other indigenous bird species.

Jungle Walk

Kuala Lumpur may be a bustling metropolis, but you don't have to go far to commune with nature. If you want to experience the rainforest, the Forestry Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) is less than an hour’s drive away. Here, you can take numerous jungle treks of varying levels of difficulty. The highlight of a visit to FRIM is the forest canopy walk–a 20-minute walk on a sturdy rope bridge skirting over the very tops of the trees. It’s a steep uphill trek to get to the canopy walk but well worth it.

Jalan Ampang
Take a walk along Jalan Ampang and you'll be taking a walk back in time, all the way to the 1900-s. The old mansions belonging to the tin tycoons at the turn of the century, these old ancestral homes line the streets in their silent splendour bearing witness to the passage of time and the growth of the Malaysian nation.The architecture of the buildings from Islamic architecture to Art-Deco, reflects the diversity and harmony in differences.

The Agong’s Palace
The residence of the Malaysian King who is Agong. The palace has a very beautiful garden and some tennis courts and swimming pools. This is a place where one can watch the "changing of the guards" ceremony like that of the Buckingham palace.

Chinatown at night

Petaling Street is called as KL’s Chinatown, for its night market. It fascinates every visitor by its collections. You can purchase here everything from dodgy looking knock-off designer watches to equally dubious herbal remedies for impotence. It’s a great place to sample local fruits and the food stalls are very popular with tourists.

Batu Caves

Batu Caves are the sacred place for the Hindu’s in Malaysia. There are three main caves and a number of smaller ones. The caves are made of lime stone and 4oo mts long and 100 mts high. They were discovered in 1892. For reaching the magnificient caves, you have to climb 272 steps.  You can find Sri Subramaniam Temple inside the caves. Buses leave on the hour from Pudu Raya Bus Terminal and take visitors directly to the caves.`

Where to Stay:

Kuala Lumpur has a countless range of hotels in different locations that are tailored to all sorts of budget levels. Some of the best hotels are

·         Grand Millennium Hotel Kuala Lumpur

·         Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur

·         Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur

·         Westin Kuala Lumpur

·         Westin Kuala Lumpur

·         Pan Pacific Kuala Lumpur International Airport

·         Ritz Carlton Kuala Lumpur

·         Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur

·         Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur

Where to Eat:

Eating out in Kuala Lumpur would actually be flavorsome because you'll get delicacies of gourmet's delight. There are numerous restaurants serving a variety of cuisines. Some of the best restaurants are

·         Bombay Palace

·         Li Yen

·         Lafitte Restaurant

·         Ciao

·         Seri Angkasa

·         Spice of India

·         Bon Ton

·         CoChine Bistro & Alfresco

·         d'Tandoor

Shopping:

Kuala Lumpur is truly one of the best place for shopping, and you can enjoy shopping, if you plan your visit by July to August. By this time, Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival will be held each year, and the great news is most shopping complex offers discount upto 75% during this time. December end will also be ideal, as Malaysia Year End Sale will be held. You will be amazed of the availability of everything, in low prices, while just strolling along the sidewalks of the city. Enjoy your Kuala Lumpur shopping experience !

Travel Tips:

Wear loose and light summer clothing for outdoor activities, as you sweat a lot. Cotton clothes suits best. For casual wear, Jeans, t-shirts and sandals are acceptable. When you are visiting worship places, dress neatly, such that your arms and legs are covered. Use your right hands for eating, giving or receiving money/gifts from a Malaysian. Don’t give a knife, clock, watch or white flowers as gift, it symbolizes sadness.

The temperature does not go beyond the limit of 19 degree Celsius. The warmth and affection of the natives of Kuala Lumpur will touch the innermost marrows of your heart. 

Enjoy and take the memoirs of Lifetime with you  !