KUALA LUMPUR

Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia is a bustling metropolis. With its iconic skyscrapers and the remains of its rich past, this fascinating city, but was able to remain on a human scale, offers an interesting contrast between two eras. His ability to combine old and new creates a harmonious contrast which makes this attractive city: it is one of the most dynamic cities in Asia. Activity night markets calm tropical parks, timber houses Malay Quarter with colorful Indian temples, the many facets of this colorful town are invitations to discover the Malaysian multicultural melting pot.

Petronas Twin Towers

Amounting to 451.9 m high, the twin towers, world famous are the most famous symbol of the country. The walkway on the 41st floor offers a truly panoramic view of the city. With its futuristic external architecture consisting of glass and steel and traditional interior design, this 88-storey building reflects the aspirations of Malaysia to move forward while preserving its national identity and traditional values.

Negra Istana or the Agong palace

The King's Palace is a symbol of sovereignty of Malaysia. Located on a site of 110,000 m² over the hill Bukit Petalin This sumptuous palace is the official residence of the king and can not be visited. Visitors can however watch the changing of the Royal Guard.

War Memorial

The Tugu Negara National Monument and was built to recognize and honor those who sacrificed themselves for the cause of peace and freedom for the nation's struggle against communism. This monument stands at 15.54 meters high and consists of seven human figures in bronze, sculpted by Felix de Weldon, resting on an oval base. Each face represents a seven qualities, courage, leadership, sacrifice, strength, suffering, unity and vigilance.

National Mosque

The national mosque was built in 1963-1965 and is the symbol of solidarity Malay. Designed by Malaysian and built by the Chinese and Indians, the cost was borne by Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and Hindus, ...

Jamek Mosque (Masjid Jamek)

Designed by Arthur Benison Hubbock, passionate Mongolian architecture of India, the oldest mosque in the city built in 1907 is located in the place of the birth of Kuala Lumpur where both Klang and Gombak rivers meet. Jamek comes from Arabic and means a gathering place for religious purposes.

Independence Square (Dataran Merdeka)

It is on the former British cricket field that was proclaimed in 1957 independence (Merdeka) of Malaysia. This is where the Malayan flag was hoisted for the first time in history, August 30, 1957 at midnight, on a mas 100m high, the highest in the world!

Sultan Abdul Samad Building (cannot be visited)

On the Independence Square, the building now houses the High Court and the Supreme Court.

Colonial District

It stretches around the Independence Square, center of the British presence during the colonial period. Lined with splendid buildings that blend harmoniously Victorian and Moorish styles, this huge site remains the historic heart of the capital. Symbol of the sovereignty of the nation, the flag hoisted on a mast of a hundred meters constantly floats over the city.

Other colonial buildings: (Open Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 17 pm Free admission.).
Beside Building Sultan Abdul Samad Building stands the old City Hall, now home Infocraft craft center.
Another interesting building, the Kuala Lumpur Memorial Library, which has a small permanent exhibition on the history of the capital.

Menara KL

Perched on the hill in the heart of Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve (Pineapple Hill), the Kuala Lumpur Tower is one of the most prominent landmarks of the city. The observation tower offers fantastic views over the city. A restaurant offers excellent cuisine and admire the 360 ​​° view of the city. @ 360 KL

Batu Caves

15 km north of Kuala Lumpur Ipoh on the road. Open every day from 7 am to 18 pm. Free admission.
Batu Caves are a set of caves, some of which have been converted into temples in a limestone hill situated 10km north of Kuala Lumpur. They are the largest Hindu temple outside India. To get there, one must climb 272 steps to enter this sacred place. Dedicated to Murugan Kartikeya (the god of war in Hinduism), whose imposing statue in front of the illuminated staircase with its golden color and its 42 meters high, these sanctuaries are among the most popular of which are outside the India. The name comes from the Batu Batu Batu River and the village nearby.
The Batu Caves are the scene of the impressive Thaipusam festival, where hundreds of thousands of pilgrims come trance honor Muugan

Little India

Historic district in Kuala Lumpur, Little India is mainly inhabited by the descendants of the Indians.
The area that stretches around Masjid India, impressive marble mosque in South Indian accent, lives to the rhythm of the Indian minority. In a similar atmosphere to that of the souks, merchants spread on objects sidewalks Muslim or Hindu worship, the two main religions of the Indians settled on the peninsula. Saris with flamboyant colors, sarongs, oil lamps and gold jewelry, occupy the front of the high-street stores. You will also find medicinal herbs and spice stalls but many Indian restaurants and mamak (Tamil).

Bird Park

Located next to Lake Gardens, Taman Burung Kuala Lumpur and the largest indoor aviary in the world with more than 3,000 birds of 200 different species of which 90% are local birds.

Planetarium Negra

Located atop a hill in the Lake Gardens, between the bird park and the national museum which it is connected by an overhead pedestrian bridge, it is recognizable by its impressive blue dome resembling a mosque that allows the distribution of omnimax film ( panoramic vision) projected on the interior ceiling. In the main hall, permanent exhibits are related to space science: there are a telescope located in the observatory and replicas of ancient observatories used by Chinese and Indians in ancient times.

St Mary's Cathedral

St. Mary's Cathedral. Erected in 1895, the oldest church in Kuala Lumpur, Anglican, was rebuilt several times.

Masjid Jamek

The oldest mosque in the city is undoubtedly the most picturesque. The "Friday mosque" remains one of the favorite places of worship Malays who flock there wearing checkered sarongs for the great prayer.

Chinatown

On the other side of Independence Square, 10 minutes walk from it.
Bustling day and night, the old Chinatown is a maze of narrow streets lined with shophouses, including wooden shutters painted patina were at the mercy of time and weather. Workshops and traditional stores are still present but yield gradually instead restaurants and finest boutiques. Upon nightfall, life centers around Jalan Petaling and its bustling night market, with its stalls of all kinds, one of the busiest in the capital.

Chinese Temples The neighborhood is home to many temples, where the faithful come to lay fruit cups as an offering and burn incense sticks whose sacred scent fills the surrounding air.

Sri Mahamariamman Temple

At the heart of Chinatown, a large Hindu temple houses a silver chariot dedicated to Lord Muruga. Each year, on the occasion of the festival of Thaipusam, this truck is the focus of the procession that goes to the Batu Caves, which gather tens of thousands of faithful. Bethel, this colorful temple decorated with many statues of deities also serves as a living place for the community that is found there on occasion, for example, traditional dance performances.

Central Market

Close to Chinatown, a craft and antique sales center. Its fairways are full of souvenirs of all kinds, batik with blowguns, through jade jewelry. Some contemporary artists exhibit their works in the large central hall. Outside, near the river, a small amphitheater occasionally other cultural performances.

"shophouses"

Rows of Chinese shophouses, built by the first settlers, are a major architectural element Malaysian cities. Threatened with destruction in the past, most are now protected and gradually restored, especially in the most tourist cities.

Southern District

Slightly away from the city center, this part of the city dominated by the pleasant gardens of the lake contains the most interesting museums in the capital.

Islamic Arts Museum

Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 18 pm. Admission fee.
In front of the National Mosque, Islamic Arts Museum offers an overview of Muslim history, in an open space under a mosaic dome

National Mosque

Is visited every day outside of prayer times.
It can accommodate about 10,000 faithful. National Mosque, mixture of modern Islamic architecture, symbolizes the dynamism of the Malaysian Islam, looking to the future.

Old Station

Located just outside the old city, this magnificent building with towers, domes and minarets, inspired by Moorish architecture. Since 2000, only a few commuter trains continue to stop there since a brand new railway station was built on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. Nostalgic do not miss a ride on the deserted docks that once welcomed travelers of famous Orient Express between Singapore and Bangkok.

Amok or the madness

The "catcher amok", camisole to hold the people experiencing a kind of temporary insanity, is undoubtedly one of the most amazing sights on display at the National Museum.

Lake Gardens

Open daily from 9 am to 20 pm.
Built by the British in the 1880s near the colonial center, these pleasant 92 hectares of gardens center around Tasik Perdana, artificial lake where you can walk in the boat on weekends.

Theme Parks

Open daily from 9 am to 18 pm. Paying visitors.
Safe havens slightly away from the busy city center, the gardens contain several theme parks that give a glimpse of the rich fauna and flora of the country. Parks Birds and Butterflies to contain several thousand species in reconstituted natural environments. The gardens of hibiscus and orchids are a delight for the eyes and nostrils.

National Museum

Open every day from 9 am to 18 pm. Admission fee.
At the southern end of the lake gardens, this building, reminiscent of traditional Malaysian architecture palace, traditionally brings together the collections presented in a national museum. The sections on the history of Kuala Lumpur and cultural malaise traditions, Chinese and Indian are the most provided.

Golden Triangle

The prestigious Capital business area brings together a welcoming skyscrapers concentration of headquarters of large companies, luxury hotels, trendy bars and gigantic malls.

Kuala Lumpur City Center (KLCC)

Symbol of the rapid economic growth of the country, the Petronas Towers, rising to 452 m above the city. Unfortunately it is impossible to reach the summit.But the panorama lovers can visit the bridge that connects the ground 170 m (Open Tuesday to Saturday from 8 h h 30-17. Free admission). At the foot of the towers, luxury shops have taken up residence in the Suria KLCC shopping mall. Terraces of cafes, aligned on the esplanade of this ultra-modern complex is one of the favorite haunts of the wealthy youth. A few steps away, a park of some forty hectares was built on the site of the old racecourse. You can admire the futuristic mosque Asy Syakirin.

Bukit Bintang Road

Bukit Bintang Road and its immediate surroundings have long been the most important detail belt Kuala Lumpur home to many shopping malls landmarks, outdoor cafes, chic bars, night markets, as well as Hawker style restaurants. This area is popular among tourists and locals, especially among young people. Part of Bintang Walk is designated as an "Arab street."

Jalan Bukit Bintang

This shopping street lined with restaurants and cafes attracts Western shopaholics, in recent years become a favorite pastime of Malaysians. Away from the commercial frenzy, the stalls of Jalan Alor, a small side street, offering fresh juices and culinary specialties in an atmosphere 100% Chinese.

Kampung Baru

This traditional Malay Quarter extends around the mosque of the same name. Starting point for inter-ethnic violence of 1969, he was also the scene of important events following the arrest in 1998 of Anwar Ibrahim, former number two in the country, very popular within the Malay community. Time seems to stand still in these streets, where one can admire the most beautiful wooden houses of the capital, in an environment of village clean the Malay culture.

Markets night

The night markets are an institution in Malaysia. In the evening, the merchants come install them their food stalls, clothing, plastic or leather accessories toys. There are also itinerant stalls offering delicious and cheap food to be enjoyed around the many tables or take in polystyrene boxes.

Selangor

Selangor's economic development dates back to the late nineteenth century and relied on the exploitation and marketing oftin. Today the Klang Valley gathers industries and new cities. But nature has kept its rights north of the state, where one can enjoy the cool altitude resorts.

Orang Asli Museum

Open Tuesday to Thursday from 9 am to 17 pm and Saturday to Sunday from 8 am to 17 pm. Admission fee.
On the edge of the jungle, this museum dedicated to the Aborigines of the peninsula is an excellent introduction to the culture and lifestyle of the Orang Asli. Historical explanations, beauty secrets, masks, musical instruments are exhibited on two floors. A miniature bamboo hut has even been restored.

Kuala Selangor

At 64 km northwest of Kuala Lumpur.
First capital of the State of Selangor, this coastal city is dominated by the Melawit hill, only a few sections of walls remain today, but the view is beautiful.
A second fort houses a sunken royal mausoleum where are buried three sultans.

Selangor Firefly Park

An hour's drive from KL center, the small fishing village of Kampung Kuatan offers a unique attraction in the area: the Firefly Park is a refuge for one of the largest colonies of fireflies worldwide: thousands of fireflies, whose flashing like a Christmas wreath, invaded mangroves along the Selangor River Sometimes hundreds of fireflies on one tree and another, some flash in sync. . To watch this show, small boats boarded the visitors after dark to conduct nearly magical trees.
We also found in this park golden monkeys.

Genting Highlands

At thirty kilometers northeast of Kuala Lumpur.
This hill station accessible by road and by cable car is a giant amusement park that attracts the weekend the Chinese communities in Malaysia. Main motivation of the trip: the only casino in the country.

Bukit Fraser

At 103 km northeast of Kuala Lumpur, at the border of the State of Pahang.
Perched at 1524 m, this hill station during the colonial atmosphere. Surrounded by dense jungle, little fitted for hiking, Bukit Fraser is much less crowded than the resort of Cameron Highlands. Bird-lovers can admire the 250 species of birds identified.

Shah Alam 25 km southwest of Kuala Lumpur.
The new capital of the state of Selangor, is a modern city dominated by the impressive Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque, known as the "Blue Mosque" because of the color of its aluminum dome decorated with Quranic verses.

Klang

At 33 km southwest of Kuala Lumpur.
Also known as Klang, derived from an old word sumatrais meaning "tin", the ancient royal capital of Selangor has retained some vestiges of its past glory. The mosque Sultan Suleiman, the British colonial administration gift, mixing styles décor and Oriental art medium.

Putrajaya

40 km south of Kuala Lumpur.
Following the example of Brazil and Ivory Coast, Malaysia has decided to build in the early 1990s of a new administrative capital. Ultimately, this futuristic city, organized around an artificial lake of 600 hectares, should become the technological showcase of the country. Putra Mosque and pink domes, whose architecture is inspired by Sheikh Omar mosque in Baghdad, and Perdana Putra Complex, Mughal style building that houses the prime minister's office, are to date the most impressive buildings in Putrajaya.
30 km east of Seremban, in the town of Sri Menanti, hides the Istana Lama, former wooden palace built on 99 carved pillars.

Negri Sembilan

South of Selangor, Negri Sembilan is the home to the Minangkabau culture, native of Sumatra, on the peninsula. Its influence is reflected in the architecture, characterized by large roofs resembling buffalo horns, and in a matriarchal social system.

Seremban

At 64 km south of Kuala Lumpur.
Little visited by tourists, the capital of Negri Sembilan houses some colonial buildings such as the State Library, neoclassical pleasant landscaped gardens and especially many minangkabaus buildings. The State Assembly Building is undoubtedly the most attractive. Three kilometers from the city center, the Taman Budaya Seni cultural complex gathers the Muzium Negri, reconstruction of an old wooden palace dedicated to the history of the state and two traditional houses Minangkabau (Open every day from 10 am to 18 h. Free entry).

Port Dickson

30 km southwest of Seremban.
Beach 16 km attracts citizens of Kuala Lumpur at the weekend is not very attractive compared to the beautiful islands of sandbars or the east coast. On a clear day you can see the Indonesian island of Sumatra top Tanjung Tuan Lighthouse.