"Colourful cosmopol ..." a Kuala Lumpur Travel Page by cheezecake_deli

Kuala Lumpur was founded in 1857 at the muddy confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers by a group of 87 Chinese prospectors who discovered rich tin deposits in what is now the Ampang district of the city. By the end of the 19th century, the promise of riches lured not just Chinese tin miners, but also British investors, Tamil Indian workers and native Malay farmers to the burgeoning town. KL grew to become the capital of the Federated Malay States in 1896, and the original shanty town was transformed by buildings designed by British architects from India. Some of KL’s most famous buildings, including the Sultan Abdul Samad building and the Moorish old train station, date from this early period. KL developed steadily in the first half of the 20th century, and was fortunate to suffer little physical damage from Japanese bombing and invasion during the Second World War. Independence from British colonial rule was declared by Malaya’s first Prime Minister in KL’s Padang (now Merdeka Square) in 1957, and five years later the city become the capital of the newly created Federation of Malaysia, with the joining of Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore (the latter was expelled from the Federation in 1965). Cosmopolitan KL has been the engine of economic progress in Malaysia since Independence, and development during the heady 1980s and 1990s was particularly fast and furious. Today, greater KL sprawls west and south of its Ampang origin, incorporating satellite towns in the surrounding state of Selangor (Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Klang) as well as the newly developed Multimedia Super Corridor (Putrajaya, Cyberjaya). Around 3 million people live in this metropolitan area, the political, economic and cultural heart of Malaysia.

Many visitors rush through KL en route to other destinations in Malaysia or elsewhere, barely scratching the surface of the city. While KL is not as famous as its rival big cities in the region (e.g. Bangkok or Singapore), there is enough to hold your attention for several days. For all its frantic development, KL remains an easygoing place, somewhere to kick off your shoes and relax. It is also a city of contrasts: old and modern, east and west, neat and messy. For many people, the big draw is the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, still the world’s tallest twin buildings. Other sights include a smattering of interesting mosques and temples, the colonial buildings around Merdeka Square, and the exquisite Islamic Arts Museum. Finally, don’t forget to sample the local food – Malay, Chinese, Indian, Nyonya and Malaysian. The sheer quality and variety of the food here make it one of the best places in the world to eat, and, for many, the highlight of the trip.

1. Admire the view of and from the Petronas Twin Towers, day or night
2. Eat and shop your way through Jalan Petaling (Chinatown)
3. Pick up local handicraft at Pasar Seni (Central Market) – bargaining required
4. Visit the Islamic Arts Museum
5. Ascend the Menara Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumpur Tower) for more dizzy views of the city
6. Visit a mosque (try Masjid Jamek), a Chinese temple (try Thean Hou temple) and a Hindu temple (try Sri Maha Mariamman temple)
7. Admire the eclectic British colonial buildings around Merdeka Square
8. Chill out at the Butterfly Park or the Bird Park (or both)
9. Climb the steps of the Batu Caves to the Subramaniam Swamy temple
10. Eat out on the streets of KL, just like a local