Vibrant Kuala Lumpur
In our opinion, a visit to Malaysia is not complete if you haven’t spent a few days in the versatile Kuala Lumpur. The city, also popularly called KL, has much more to offer than what we can put on this travel blog. But below we make a very brief attempt.
Some history
Kuala Lumpur was founded in the middle of the 19th century because of the presence of tin at the place where the two rivers Gombak and Kelang meet. Soon the early settlement grew into a melting pot of Asian cultures. Less than half a century later, the city was proclaimed the capital of the country. Between 1913 and 1957, Malaysia fell under British rule. Everywhere in the city you can find remains from that colonial period.
What to see and do in Kuala Lumpur
One of the most famous buildings of the city are the more than 450-metre-high Petronas Twin Towers under which you have a luxury shopping mall (Suria KLCC), a concert hall and a metro station. Another high tower is the 421-metre-high Menara KL TV tower. You also have many luxury shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur. Examples are the Suria KLCC and the nearby Pavilion. In some malls you will find very special attractions to attract customers.
Berjaya Times Square even has a roller coaster. Just a few of the many other fun attractions are China town (for delicious food however go to Little India!), the government building Sultan Abdul Samad Building, the super cosy Jalan Alor full of eateries on the street, the caves of Batu (11 kilometres to the north of KL) and the botanical garden of Perdana. But don’t forget to visit the Hindu temple Sri Mahamariamman and the National Museum. The divers among us can also find their entertainment in the large aquarium of the KLCC shopping mall.
Moving around within the city
Just like in many other major cities in Asia, Kuala Lumpur is suffocated with cars and mopeds. Since the end of the last century, a lot has been invested in the accessibility and flow of traffic within the city in order to reduce congestion. The international airport has been moved far outside the city, metro lines and a monorail have been built, and regional and international railway lines too. Since 2010 you will also find above-ground pedestrian viaducts in the city centre. These are mostly covered and air-conditioned, and well secured.
Parts of the city are easy to walk but keep in mind that KL is not used to walkers. It is often better to take the metro or a taxi. These are easy to pay for. Agree with the driver in advance that he will turn on the meter! Besides metro and taxi, you can also take the GOKL bus. This is a free bus that runs between Chinatown, Bukit Bintang and KLCC. The bus takes you past almost all the sights.
Accommodation in Kuala Lumpur
In Kuala Lumpur there’s plenty of accommodations at a reasonable price. We stayed a few times in the area of Little India because of the proximity of exquisite Indian food! Find accommodation in Kuala Lumpur.
