Kuala Lumpur - The Malaysian Capital

Kuala Lumpur, or KL as it is more commonly known, isn’t so much a place where travellers go for a holiday; more a place they go at the beginning or end of one. Too many don’t take advantage of the fact that they are in the Malaysian capital and stay for more than a day. Those that do are in for a big treat.

Most hostels and budget hotels in KL can be found in the city centre. After you have familiarised yourself with your immediate surroundings, the Malaysian capital’s city centre is full of vibrant districts which are constantly buzzing.

Merdeka Square (Independence Square) is located right in the middle of downtown Kuala Lumpur and is adorned by the largest flagpole in the world, fountains and the city’s famous Clock Tower. The buildings in the area all bear strong influences from British who ruled here until the stroke of midnight on 31st August ,1957 when the Union Jack was lowered for the last time.

The most popular part of KL’s downtown district is Chinatown. Peppered with stalls which sell all kinds of goods and foodstalls selling all types of food, this area is at its most vibrant at night when is it just one bumbling hive of activity.
 

Located just 8 miles north of KL are the Batu Caves, the city’s most popular tourist attraction outside of the city centre. They have a reputation for being little more than a bunch of caves swarmed by tourists who climb the 227 steps to visit them every day, but they are much more than that.

The main cave is the Temple Cave which is perched atop these steps, while other caves which attract most visitors are the Dark Cave and the Museum Cave.

Along with all the caves to visit (which were discovered by an American) on the incline up to the caves you pass by numbers of monkeys which, if you have them, will be only too happy to take some bananas off you!

Upon your return, KL’s Hard Rock Café is one of the city’s most popular haunts, both for food and entertainment. The staff are lively and will make you feel like the only diners there. The food is perfect when you’re after some American food and if you stay there until 11pm you’ll be treated to some live music

Before leaving the Malaysian capital you must visit the city’s most instantly recognisable landmarks, the Petronas Towers. They soar proudly into the Malaysian skies, standing at 452 metres high and, until recently, were the tallest buildings in the world. The two towers are joined by an observatory deck on the 41st and 42nd floors. Open to the public, the view from this deck isn’t to be missed.

If the queues at the Petronas Towers are unbearable, in KL’s Golden Triangle district is Menara Kuala Lumpur (KL Tower). It is the fourth tallest telecommunications tower in the world and boasts breathtaking panoramic views from its observatory deck which challenges the twin towers for having the most impressive views of the city.

Conveniently, KL Tower is located in the area of the city known as the Golden Triangle. In particular, the areas around Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Raja Chulan are lined with bars and restaurants making it the perfect place to finish off a day’s sightseeing