Kuala Lumpur, whose name means "muddy estuary" and is often abbreviated as KL, is the largest city of Malaysia, and its capital. The population, within the city limits, is 1.6 million people; Greater Kuala Lumpur, stretching out into the Klang Valley, contains 7.2 million people. Every international airport offers direct or connecting
flights to Kuala Lumpur .
The British colonials built most of the city around 1850-90, but never in a consistent style. Most of this old construction fused such conflicting architectural styles as British Victorian, Moorish, Moghul, and Malay, often at times all in one building. Walk around Merdeka Square to see several examples. The Royal Selangor Club, though re-built in the 1970s, mostly represents the original 1910 structure. For a building with more of a Moorish influence, take a look at the 1897 Sultan Abdul Samad Building, with its tall clock tower, onion domes, copper cupolas, arching windows, and ornate plasterwork.
The twinned Petronas Towers (named for the national oil company) and the Menara Communications Tower, of course, overshadow all these colonial buildings. Even on the cheap flights to
Kuala Lumpur , you'll catch a glimpse of both of these structures as you come in for a landing.
Petronas Towers, eight-eight floors and 452 meters tall, is ranked as one of the world's tallest buildings, and is still the world's tallest twin-towered building. The view from the skybridges that connect the two towers at the 41st and 42nd floors is very good, but be aware that tourists are allowed only on the 41st floor skybridge -- on the 42nd floor skybridge, it's building tenants only. Go to the basement of Tower 2 8:30-10 AM to pick up a free skybridge ticket.
The observation deck of the Menara Communications Tower, at 421 meters, is much higher than the Petronas skybridge; the view is fantastic at dusk, with the lights of the city blinking on. There's also a restaurant, the revolving Seri Angkasa, one floor up from the observation deck. Check out the bulging shape of the Menara Tower, patterned after the Malay spinning toy top, from the Petronas skybridge.
Kuala Lumpur has an energetic nightlife, and is both safe and sociable. The ethnic mix of visitors and immigrants from India and China, along with the cultural mix of the inflow of varied peoples of the Malay peninsula all make for a cityscape that is both challenging and exhilarating. Best examples of this mix show up in the sheer variety of cooked foodstuffs available in the streets and restaurants, and by the innumerable Hindu shrines, Islamic mosques, and Buddhist temples that fill every neighborhood.
When you do take one of those many
Kuala Lumpur flights into this region of the Klang Valley, be sure to visit both Little India and Chinatown, adjacent to each other in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Try browsing the shops of the modern Golden Triangle, or stroll the city's street markets, that sell everything from raw fish, cooked food, and farm produce, to inexpensive clothing, jewelry, and accessories.
