12 Things to do in Kuala Lumpur
If you are planning a trip to Malaysia, the vibrant city of Kuala Lumpur is a good starting point. We were in KL (as it is commonly called) for five days. The first couple of days were to adjust to the time zone and the remaining three to explore some of the many things to do in Kuala Lumpur.
Before going into the list, it is relevant to mention that we found the Malaysian people just adorable. They are welcoming, friendly, always smiling, saying “hello” and trying to interact. You will hear many times, “where are you from?”.Often, before you even have a chance to ask for help, someone has already spotted you and is ready to offer assistance. We were truly impressed, especially considering Kuala Lumpur is a cosmopolitan city.
So here is our list. Hope you enjoy it.1 – Petronas Towers
The emblematic Petronas Twin Towers are a must-visit! You cannot miss them, as their sight is pretty much omnipresent as you walk around town.
The towers were built in 1998 and add 88 floors each. The Argentine American architect Cesar Pelli who designed some of the tallest buildings in the world, was responsible for the project. They were once considered the tallest buildings in the world, at a height of 452 meters. At the 41st and 42nd floors there is a Skybridge and a Viewing Deck on the 88th floor.
Entrance Price for non-Malaysians (at the time of this article)
Adults – 85 MYR / Children under 12 – 35 MYR / Senior Citizen 45 MYR
**Opened Tuesdays through Sundays from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm.
(CLOSED on Mondays and between 1.00 pm – 2.30 pm on Fridays)
Tickets start being issued at 8:30 am– The number of daily tickets is limited and available on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Click for location on Google Maps2 – KL Tower (Menara KL in Malay)
The 421 meters tall KL tower was built in 1995. It is the 7th tallest communication tower in the world and the tallest in Southeast Asia. The Menara KL is located inside the Eco-Forest Park, one of the oldest reserves of Malaysia and the last piece of rainforest in the heart of KL.
Amongst the attractions at the tower, you can find the Observation Deck, the Sky Deck, Sky Box, various restaurants including the revolving restaurant called Atmosphere 360º, a gift shop and other activities to choose from, especially in the park.
One of park’s ancient attraction is an over 110 years old Jelutong Tree (Dyera Costulata), which has been carefully protected to survive the construction of the tower and ensure its long life.
3 – Bukit Bintang – The center of the golden triangle
Jalan Alor was our favourite street to find dinner. Here you will find food from Malaysia, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, China and probably a lot more! Although at first glance it looks like the streets are full of street food, in reality, they are mostly restaurants with seats on the street. The buzz, the smells and variety of foods, colours and smells is just fascinating!
After dinner, you can head to Changtak Bukit Bintang, perpendicular to Jalan Alor, for a very heterogeneous international hangout, where the temperature picks up with different rhythms thumping out from bars, pubs and clubs of all tribes.
Before heading back to the hotel, stop at one of the many foot massage spas spread around Bukit Bintang and indulge in relaxing bliss before resting in preparation for another day in vibrant Kuala Lumpur.
4 – China Town – Jalan Petaling
This part of town was founded in 1857 and is considered the Old Kuala Lumpur. This is where the Chinese settled and gathered around Market Square, the main commercial hub in those days.
As the population grew and spread out, Jalan Petaling became know as China Town, although the actual area of China Town is spread out to a greater extension, including temples and traditional local commerce.
If you are looking for imitations of luxury brands, this is the place to go. You will find bags, wallets and various accessories from Giorgio Armani, to Louis Vuitton, Hugo Boss, Montblanc, Gucci and many others.
5 – Guan Di Temple
The Guan Di Temple is a Taoist temple, built in 1888 in honour of China’s greatest warrior and God of War, Guan Di. His statue is featured at the entrance guarding the temple. His face is painted in gold colour to symbolize his status. Other Gods such as Guan Yin (Goddess of Mercy), Choy Sun (God of Prosperity) and Wen Chong (God of Education and Learning) are also represented in the temple for worship.
We visited the temple on a Sunday and although I am not sure if that is a particularly special day for followers to visit the temple, we had the honour to observe some of the ritual offerings, incense burning and prayers to the different Buddha images. It was nice to see the number of young dedicated men and women going into the temple to pay their respect to the Gods and ask for protection and wishes.
6 – Sri Mahamariamman Temple
The Hindu Temple Sri Mahamariamman, sits at approximately fifty meters from the Guan Di temple. Situated at the border of China town, this is one of the top tourist attractions of Kuala Lumpur. It is the oldest and richest Hindu Temple in KL, built in 1873 byprominent K. Thamboosamy Pillai. He was a wealthy Malaysian businessman and philanthropist of Tamil origin, born in Singapore. The temple was originally built for the Pillai family as a private sanctuary and was eventually opened to the public in the 1920’s. In 1968 the temple was rebuild to take its present form.
Unfortunately, we found the temple closed and did not have a chance to visit. Nonetheless, the images we have seen of the inside portray a spectacular building. We did however, appreciate the most stunning part of the temple: a five-tier gopuram(tower) carved in south Indian style. Every tier features an entrance depicting a total of 228 Hindu deities from the epic Indian Ramayana.
7 – Central Market
Nowadays it is a vibrant market where we can find food, handicraft, art galleries and even tattoo shops. In addition, the Central Market of Kuala Lumpur has an active agenda with cultural events. Lively performances of folkloric dances to cooking demonstration and tastings of typical Malaysian food are just to name a few. Chilli is a common denominator to most Malay dishes, but at the same time the population has a very sweet tooth! The Central Market is a good place to try both styles and pick up a few souvenirs.
8 – Sultan Abdul Samad Building
One of the most iconic buildings of Kuala Lumpur, it was built in 1897 and named after the reigning monarch at the time. English architect A.C. Norman developed the project, inspired by Mughal architecture mixed with Malaysian and English style.
The Sultan Abdul Samad Building served as administrative quarters during the British era. Later, in 1957, it is where the declaration of independence was proclaimed on August 31st.
Over the years the building has been used for various purposes, from originally being the house of the Federated States of Malaysia to the High Court and Supreme Court, in 1972. Presently, it is the base for the Ministry of Communication, Information and Culture, as well as the Tourism Information Center.
Our visit to Kuala Lumpur coincided with the end of Ramadam. We were actually there on the last day of fasting and were privileged to witness the massive celebration that took place in front of the Sultan Abdul Samad’s building. Thousands of followers sat on the street and on the grass of Merdeka Square gardens to enjoy their meal after sunset. It was a very enriching experience in a magnificent tropical night, with the full moon marking the end of fasting.
9 – Majid Jamek
This beautiful Indian Muslim Mughal style mosque is the oldest in Kuala Lumpur. Built in 1907, by English architect Arthur Benison Hubbock, it was inaugurated in1909 by the Sultan Sir Alaeddin Sulaiman of Selangor. The mosque is situated in the confluence of Klang River and Gombak River, with access through Jalan Tun Perak.
We were not allowed to go into the mosque, probably due to Ramadan, however, it is worth checking it out, even if only from the outside, as it is close to other interesting places to visit.
10 – Kuala Lumpur City Gallery
The KL City Gallery, in Merdeka Square, is a tourist information centre. Amongst other attraction, visitors can pick up city maps and information about different attractions in the city.
The ticket costs 10RM (about 2€) and gives access to three exhibitions: – The history of Kuala Lumpur in photos and printed descriptions; – Miniature models of iconic buildings; – “The Spectacular City Model Show”, a sound and light presentation telling the “past, present and future” history of the city, having as highlight the impressive12m x15m (40f x 50ft) model.
On the way out, take fun selfies on the KL reflections area.
11 – Brickfield (Little India)
We found Brickfield totally by change while asking for directions on how to get to Lebuh Ampang. We were actually looking for another little India when a very distinct looking man overheard us. First, he observed our struggle communicating with a local, with a gentle smile on his face. He eventually joined the conversation, in a very polite manner, asking, “what do you want to do there, if you don’t mind me asking”. Immediately we could tell he was an educated man and initially assumed he was British-Indian. As it turned out, he is Malay-Indian and has been educated in a boarding school in the UK. He lived in the UK part of his life and is now getting ready to return with his family.
Hardip, the friendly stranger, dissuaded us to go to the place we were looking for. Instead, he offered to give us a ride to what he considered to be the real Little India. We hopped on his 4×4 and after about ten to fifteen minutes in traffic were dropped off in Brickfield. The moment we opened the door of the car, loud Bollywood style music and scents of Indian food took over.
We walked on the main road, Jalan Tun Sambanthan, looking for a restaurant, as we were already quite hungry. Nonetheless, we could not resist going into the shops with all kinds of Indian products on offer. From traditional Indian outfits to the typical Indian clothes made for tourists, fruit and vegetable, electronics and DVD stores. The numerous restaurants offered dishes from the north and south of India, including vegetarian options. What lovely, lively, colourful place full of friendly people!
12 – Batu Caves
Last, but definitely not least, on the list of suggestions are the overwhelming Batu Caves. I left them for last because they are actually located in Gombak, Selangor, north of Kuala Lumpur. One of the most visited tourist destinations in the region, the Batu Caves are just a quick train ride from KL and should not be missed, unless you have a problem climbing steps!
The Batu Caves are set in one of the ten limestone hills in Selangor. These breath-taking caves were built one hundred years ago in honour of Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of war. It is one of the most important Hindu shrines outside of India. This is where the highlight of the yearly thanksgiving Thaipusam Hindu festival in Malaysia takes place. It is celebrated mostly by the Tamil on the full moon of the Tamil month of “Thai”. “Pusam”, on the other hand, is the name of a start that is at its peak during the festivities. Hindu statues and idols are spread out inside and outside the caves.
A few tips before going to the Batu Caves:
