From bustling street markets to peaceful temples and gardens, Kuala Lumpur's cultural diversity offers its visitors plenty of exciting sightseeing opportunities. Together with fantastic shopping, wonderful food and great value Kuala Lumpur hotels, it is a fascinating and thrilling holiday destination.
Walk around Kuala Lumpur to get a feel of its traditional culture in the back lanes of Chinatown, or enjoy a great view of the city from the viewing deck of one of the world's tallest buildings, The Petronas Twin Towers.
Modern day Kuala Lumpur is very different from its modest past. The city's poor tin miners used to swarm around the mosquito-infested banks of the slippery Gombak and Klang rivers in 1857. They could never have imagined that within a century and a half, Kuala Lumpur would turn into one of Asia's most vibrant and happening cities. Kuala Lumpur, which literally means "muddy confluence", has developed at an amazing speed. The economic growth that gathered speed during the 1980s and continued into the early 1990s has boosted its continuous development.
The pace with which things have changed has resulted in old Chinese houses and faded colonial mansions being overshadowed by huge gleaming glass and steel towers and modern Kuala Lumpur hotels. Now food hawkers and traditional fortune tellers rub shoulders in the streets with busy businessmen and tourists with guidebooks.
The House of Parliament, Kuala Lumpur Tower, Putra World Trade Centre, Dataran Merdeka, Tugu Negara, Istana Negara, Istana Budaya, Negara, the Federal Territory Mosque and Muzium Negara are the major tourist attractions in Kuala Lumpur. Other popular attractions include Aquaria KLCC, Makam Pahlawan, National Science Centre, Eye on Malaysia, Zoo Negara and Batu Caves. Events in Kuala Lumpur such as the Chinese cultural festivals at the Thean Hou temple and the Thaipusam procession at the Mahamariamman temple also attract many tourists.
Formerly the tallest building in the world until overtaken by Taipei 101, The Petronas Twin Towers are situated in the Golden Triangle region of the city. Known as the commercial centre, the Golden Triangle has trendy nightclubs, bars and lounges, which are Kuala Lumpur's major nightlife attractions.
In Kuala Lumpur, a ride on the monorail is a truly unforgettable experience. One minute you will be travelling across the town past the towering, record-breaking Petronas Towers and the next you'd be thrown amidst streets of chaotic traffic and crowded food stalls with hawkers selling delicious fare. There are also a number of possibilities for exploring the city, including a range of exciting tours in Kuala Lumpur.
Kuala Lumpur is a young city compared to Southeast Asian capitals such as Bangkok, Jakarta and Manila. The architecture of Kuala Lumpur is influenced by Asian, old colonial, modern and post-modern Malay Islamic culture and traditions. The colonial buildings of Kuala Lumpur were built towards the 19th and 20th centuries and have Moorish, Tudor, Neo-Gothic and Grecian-Spanish styles of architecture. The architecture of these buildings has been modified using local resources to make the buildings suitable for the hot and humid Kuala Lumpur climate.
The principal national language of Kuala Lumpur is Bahasa Melayu. The two major languages that are spoken in the city are Mandarin and Tamil. English, with its strong presence in business, is a compulsory language taught in schools. Kuala Lumpur has people with a mix of ethnicities like Malays, Chinese, Indians, Eurasians, Kadazans, Ibans and other indigenous races from East and Peninsular Malaysia. The rapid development of Kuala Lumpur has encouraged a huge influx of foreign workers into Malaysia from countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Vietnam and China.
Malaysians consider Kuala Lumpur as their Ibukota (mother city) and treat it with great respect, fondly calling it KL. Malays and the Indian Muslim community practice Islam. The other major religions are Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and Christianity. There are many places of worship in the city for the multi-religious population.
Kuala Lumpur is the country's main economic and business centre. This city is the centre for finance, insurance, real estate, media and arts. The new administrative capital Putrajaya and Cyberjaya - the new Multimedia Super Corridor's key section - are geared towards ensuring that Malaysia becomes a fully developed nation by 2020. This path of progress was initiated by the former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamed.
Kuala Lumpur has rapidly grown into a modern, bustling city in approximately 150 years. In spite of being a modern Asian city full of shining skyscrapers Kuala Lumpur has managed to retain its local flavour and traditions. This is something that is missing in other Asian boom cities like Singapore. The daytime temperatures are constantly warm; the evenings are pleasant because the afternoons are regularly disrupted by thunderstorms and rain, which pass quickly, leaving the evenings cool.
Kuala Lumpur provides a huge number of possibilities and attractions for any visitor. Look through our recommended Kuala Lumpur Hotels, compare prices and book the best hotels in Kuala Lumpur to suit your taste and budget! Select your accommodation in Kuala Lumpur from luxury hotels, villas, apartments, bed and breakfasts and hostels. If you prefer to choose your accommodation in Kuala Lumpur based on the hotel's location, click on our Kuala Lumpur Map first. Don't forget to also check out our wide range of Kuala Lumpur tours to make the most of your stay in this vibrant city.
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