Masjid Jame'
Located in Jalan Tun Perak, this Moorish mosque rests on the
confluence of the Klang and Gombak Rivers, the birth-place of
Kuala Lumpur. This is the very spot where the first settlers of
Kuala Lumpur built their shacks.
The mosque, which dates from 1908, is the oldest in the city.
It was designed by Arthur Benison Hubbock, an architectural
assistant in the Public Works and Survey Department, who was
intrigued and inspired by the Mogul architecture of India.
Malaysia Tourist Information Complex (MATIC)
A good place to begin any visit to Kuala Lumpur is the one-stop
information centre, which provides a general picture of what the
city and Malaysia have to offer. Audio-visual equipment provides
background information on each state in the country. You can book
a tour, arrange to go on a trishaw ride in the city, change your
money, and book air or bus tickets to various destinations in
Malaysia. International calls, facsimile and telex services are
also offered. For your first taste of Malaysian cuisine, there is a
restaurant in the
right wing of the building.
National Museum
The National Museum, located atop a hill at Jalan Travers,
provides an interesting introduction to the history and culture
of Malaysia. Built in the style of a Malay palace, its impressive
facade of two large murals depicts scenes of the country's
colourful past. The museum houses various galleries, each with
its own theme. The Historical Gallery traces the different
periods in the history of Peninsular Malaysia. The Cultural
Gallery is a collection of various aspects of the Malaysian
culture, from common everyday pastimes
to important ceremonial customs. Included in the exhibits are a
Malay wedding scene, a royal circumcision ceremony, and an
presentation on the heritage of the Straits-born Chinese. The
Metalwork and Musical Instruments Gallery showcases various
objects and utensils from kitchenware and ceremonial ornaments to
weapons and traditional instruments of Malaysian music. Other galleries
include the
National Sports Gallery and the Natural History Gallery.
Dataran Merdeka
The Dataran Merdeka (formerly the Selangor Club
Padang) was once the focal point, and cricket green, of the
British colonial presence in Malaysia. Like the surviving Dutch
buildings in Malacca, the structures
edging the Dataran Merdeka are startling testimony to colonial
residents' desire to recreate the physical environment of their
native land. Situated on one corner of the square is the Selangor
Club, which once served as the social centre for British
residents. Although its membership today reflects Malaysia's
remarkable cultural diversity, the building itself is plucked
from the merry old England of the Tudors. Close by is St Mary's
Cathedral, a neo-Gothic church more than a hundred years old.
Appropriately enough, it was on the Dataran Merdeka that at
12:01 am on August 31, 1957, the Union Jack was lowered and the
Malayan flag hoisted, signalling Malaysia's independence as a
nation. A 100-meter flagpole, one of the tallest in the world,
marks the spot. Beneath the Dataran Merdeka is the Plaza Putra,
an underground food, leisure, and entertainment complex, which
houses the Putra Indoor Golf Centre, the first Par-T-Golf in the
city.
Sultan Abdul Samad Building
The gleaming copper domes and 130-meter clock tower of the Sultan
Abdul Samad Building are by far the most impressive architectural
feature of the Dataran Merdeka. This elaborate edifice is a
fantastic blend of Moghul, Moorish, Arab, and British
neoclassical architecture, a style far more expressive of the
British colonial imagination than of Malay culture. Designed by
architects Norman and Bidwell, the building took more than two
years to build and was completed in 1897. It served initially as
the center of British colonial administration in Malaysia. Today,
it houses the Judicial Department on one end and Infokraf, a
centre for Malaysian handicrafts, on the other.
Kuala Lumpur Railway Station
Located at Jalan Hishamuddin, this Moorish-style terminal was
designed by architect A.B. Hubbock, who also designed the Masjid
Jam. Built in 1910, it underwent extensive renovations in 1986.
It is equipped with air-conditioned waiting halls, snack kiosks,
money changing booths, souvenir shops, restaurants and a tourist
information counter. Across the street is the Malayan Railway
Administration Building, another fine example of the British
colonial adaptation of Moorish architecture. It is linked to the
station by an underground thoroughfare.
National Art Gallery
Located at Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin (opposite The Kuala Lumpur
Railway Station), the National Art Gallery is housed in a 1932
building which is conserved under the National Heritage Trust.
The building was formerly the Majestic Hotel. The art gallery
showcases a the works of contemporary artists, and a permanent
collection of works of local and foreign origin are also
displayed.
National Mosque
The boldly modern National Mosque is located near the railway
station, along Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin. Its roof, designed in
the shape of an eighteen-pointed star, has the appearance of a
partly opened umbrella roof. The mosque was completed in 1965,
and it is situated among five acres (13 hectares) of beautiful
gardens. Visitors are required to remove their shoes. Special
robes are provided if you are not appropriately attired.
Central Market
Fifty years ago this site was occupied by a wet market. Today,
the art-deco structure of the Central Market is a centre for the
display and development of Malaysian culture,
arts and crafts. There are many performances, demonstrations, and
activities offered here, including batik painting, fortune
telling, shadow puppet plays, glass blowing, dance classes, art
classes, and many others. The building won the Coronation
Architecture Design Award in 1953.
Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens
Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens (Taman Tasik Perdana) dates to the
1880s and is the city's most popular park. Built around an
artificial lake, it encompasses 91.6 hectares of undulating
greenery interspersed with flowering shrubs, shady trees,
exceptional botanical gardens, and other notable features. The
Panggung Anniversary, set in a secluded valley, is a regular
venue for musical and cultural performances. There is a
children's playground, jogging tracks, exercise stations, and
rowing boats. Among the notable gardens and places of interest in
the Gardens are the following:
The Orchid Garden showcases more thousands of
international varieties of the most beautiful flower in the
world. The garden contains over 800 species from Malaysia
alone.
The Hibiscus Garden is a small terraced garden
which provides a strikingly colourful panorama of countless
varieties of hibiscus.
The Butterfly Park houses some 6,000
butterflies of over 120 species. The park is an imitation of the
butterfly's natural habitat. It includes more than 15,000 plants
from 100 species that have been used to recreate a Malaysian
rainforest atmosphere. There is a nursery and breeding area for
the butterflies.
Kuala Lumpur Bird Park
, the largest bird park in
South-East Asia, holds thousands of birds representing nearly
every major species of this part of the world.
The Deer Park
, located in the undulating slopes and
sprawling valley of the Lake Gardens. Close to the bubbling
stream at the edge of the valley are several mousedeer. The
mousedeer is the world's smallest hoofed animal and a popular
figure in local folklore due to its legendary wit.
Also within the Lake Gardens is the Malaysian National
Monument, one of the world's largest freestanding bronze
sculptures. The monument commemorates those who died in
Malaysia's struggle against Communist insurgency in the 1950s.
Beside the National Monument are the ASEAN Gardens and the
Memorial Tun Razak, which houses memorabilia of Malaysia's second
Prime Minister, the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein.
Carcosa Seri Negara
Perched on a hilltop overlooking the Lake Gardens is Carcosa Seri
Negara, a pair of nineteenth-century British colonial mansions.
The Carcosa Seri Negara was the residence of the British Governor
and British High Commissioners. Today, it has been converted into
an exclusive hotel.
Parliament House
Standing on elevated ground commanding a panoramic view of the
Lake Gardens is the modern Parliament House. The main building
and its adjoining tower block accommodate the two houses of
Parliament, a banquet hall, library, various offices and
committee rooms. Visitors may view Parliamentary sessions by
prior arrangement with the authorities, who will advise on
protocol and dress code.
Sri Mahamariaman Temple
Built in the late nineteenth century, this is one of the most
ornate and elaborate Hindu temples in the country. The detailed
decorative scheme for the temple incorporates intricate carvings,
gold embellishments, hand-painted motifs and exquisite tiles from
Italy and Spain. The Sri Mahamariaman Temple is the departure
point for the annual Thaipusam
Festival pilgrimage to the Batu
Caves, and the temple houses a giant chariot that is used
each year to transport a deity in the procession. Located along
Jalan Bandar, Kuala Lumpur.
Petaling Street
The center of Kuala Lumpur's original Chinatown. Petaling Street
maintains much of its traditional atmosphere, particularly at
night when vendors spread their wares out on the street. While it
is possible to purchase anything from gems and incense to toys
and t-shirts here, enjoying the night market is really a matter
of just wandering about and enjoying its sights, sounds, and
energy.
Istana Negara
The official residence of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong (The King),
located on a hillock at Jalan Istana. The palace is surrounded by
green lawns, ponds and trees. On ceremonial occasions, the palace
and its grounds are gaily lit-up.
Islamic Centre
Located at Jalan Perdana, facing the National Mosque, is the
Islamic Centre (Pusat Islam), a modern building of cubist and
Islamic architecture. It is the centre of Islamic learning, art,
design, and culture, and houses local and international Islamic
exhibits.
The National Planetarium
Located atop a hill in the Lake Gardens, this centre for Space
Science Studies is indicative of Malaysia's efforts to create a
scientifically and technologically-inclined society. It is also a
fun way to spend an afternoon. A Space and Sky Movie is screened
daily. There is also a working observatory equipped with a
14-inch telescope.
Dayabumi Complex
The massive white modern complex of the famously expensive
Dayabumi Complex was designed to blend in with the pervading
Moorish and Byzantine atmosphere of the structures that surround
it. The complex houses a shopping arcade, City Point, offices and
the General Post Office.
National Library
Located at Jalan Tun Razak. The blue-roofed building was inspired
by a tengkolok, the traditional Malay headgear, and songtet, a
richly-designed brocade fabric. The library is a very recent
addition to Kuala Lumpur, having opened only in 1992. The
extensive holdings include a collection of publications on
Malaysia by Malaysian authors as well as ancient Malay
manuscripts.
National Zoo and Aquarium,
Thirteen kilometers north-east of Kuala Lumpur is the National
Zoo. It contains hundreds of different species of animals, birds,
and reptiles. The aquarium has an extensive collection of marine
and freshwater species.
Masjid Jame'
The Dataran Merdeka (formerly the Selangor Club
Padang) was once the focal point, and cricket green, of the
British colonial presence in Malaysia. Like the surviving Dutch
buildings in Malacca, the structures
edging the Dataran Merdeka are startling testimony to colonial
residents' desire to recreate the physical environment of their
native land. Situated on one corner of the square is the Selangor
Club, which once served as the social centre for British
residents. Although its membership today reflects Malaysia's
remarkable cultural diversity, the building itself is plucked
from the merry old England of the Tudors. Close by is St Mary's
Cathedral, a neo-Gothic church more than a hundred years old.
Kuala Lumpur Railway Station
The Butterfly Park houses some 6,000
butterflies of over 120 species. The park is an imitation of the
butterfly's natural habitat. It includes more than 15,000 plants
from 100 species that have been used to recreate a Malaysian
rainforest atmosphere. There is a nursery and breeding area for
the butterflies. 
Petaling Street