Kuala Lumpur: “Muddy Estuary” Only by Name
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s largest city, is one of the most important cities in South East Asia. The skyscraper capital of Malaysia, the city’s name “Kuala Lumpur” is literally translated from Malay as “muddy estuary”. Kuala Lumpur is home to some of the tallest buildings in the world (including the world famous Petronas Twin Towers)and is a very modern city with infrastructure and public utilities to match. The city is also the cultural capital of Malaysia. The city’s size and hectic lifestyle coupled with the amazing nightlife make Kuala Lumpur the only urban megalopolis in Malaysia. The city’s clean environs only add to the value of the many Kuala Lumpur tourist attractions.
Places in Kuala Lumpur
Cheap accommodation, low taxes on goods and excellent food have made Kuala Lumpur one of the region’s preferred shopping destinations. Kuala Lumpur is also one of the most important business tourism centres in Asia and plays host to numerous conferences, seminars, exhibitions, etc. The city’s infrastructure is well developed in the regard and Kuala Lumpur is well equipped with conference halls, convention centres, hotel, etc.
The most prominent Kuala Lumpur tourist sights include City Centre (the oldest part of the city that is home to KL’s colonial architecture and many important state structures including Dataran Merdeka, Sultan Abdul Samad Building, National Mosque, National Museum, Islamic Arts Museum, Police Museum, Lake Gardens, Chinatown, etc), Golden Triangle (Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Petronas Twin Towers, Aquaria KLCC, Menara KL Tower, etc) and Northern Suburbs (National Zoo, KL Bird Park, Batu Caves, etc).
The above list is certainly very limited and Kuala Lumpur is best explored by wandering randomly. The city’s public spaces are well-designed and very beautiful; the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Kuala Lumpur Sentral (South East Asia’s biggest railway station and the hub of the region’s rail network) are post-modernist masterpieces. The older Kuala Lumpur Railway Station is one of the best examples of Indo-Saracenic architecture in the world.
Kuala Lumpur- Travel tips
Kuala Lumpur is very safe for tourists; nevertheless, it is advisable that certain rather necessary precautions be taken including avoiding certain areas after dark, keeping valuables out of sight, etc. Though very fast and hectic, Kuala Lumpur is beautiful and is home to some of the best Moorish and Indo-Saracenic architecture in the world. The city is also a heaven for admirers of post-modernist architecture. Besides having some of the best avenues and buildings in the world, Kuala Lumpur also boasts a very vibrant and very good nightlife. The city is home to a multitude of restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, parks, discos, etc. Kuala Lumpur is also home to some of the best malls and resorts in the country. English is very much understood by most of the locals. The local currency is Malaysian ringgit (MYR). The local cuisine draws influences from a variety of cuisines and has its own unique and distinct flavour. What’s more, it is freely is available at very affordable prices. Kuala Lumpur is also home to a large number of eateries catering to all types of cuisines and suited to all types of budgets; it is also home to some of South East Asia’s best and most prolific restaurants.
Visit Kuala Lumpur
The best time to visit Kuala Lumpur is from April to August.
Reaching Kuala Lumpur
- By Air: Kuala Lumpur is one of South East Asia’s most important air travel hubs, and is connected to most major destinations in the world via regular flights.
- By Rail: Kuala Lumpur is one of the major railway stations on the Malaysian rail network, and forms the terminating or originating point for many express and inter-city trains in the country. The rail-based intra-city transport network in Kuala Lumpur is quite expansive and covers all the major parts of the city. It comprises a monorail, three light rail lines and multiple conventional rail lines.
- By Road: Kuala Lumpur is well connected to all national and regional destinations and popular attractions. Further, Kuala Lumpur is also one of the major centres of Malaysia’s road transport system and as such offers comfortable transport options for almost all of the nearby Malaysia attractions. The city is the hub of intra-country bus travel in Malaysia. The road network within the city is excellent but often very congested and prone to traffic jams. The city’s intra-city bus network is among the most effective and modern in the world.
Accommodation
The Kuala Lumpur accommodation scene is very active and wide enough to cater to all budgets and needs. Kuala Lumpur is home of some of the finest hotels in the continent. Further, many local and international tour operators offer Kuala Lumpur vacation package tours. These tours cover most of the Kuala Lumpur tourist destinations, but do not carry the element of risk and adventure that going solo does. One might even miss out on the many hidden attractions and surprises the lovely “muddy estuary” may hold.