About Kuala Lumpur

Photo by Zukiman Mohamad

Kuala Lumpur, also known as KL, is the national capital of Malaysia as well as the largest city in Malaysia. The words ‘Kuala Lumpur’ literally mean ‘muddy confluence’. The Petronas Twin Towers, the Kuala Lumpur Tower and the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. among others, have been important landmarks for this alpha world city. Nowadays, Kuala Lumpur is truly a metropolis with a big central business district with many tall skyscrapers, internationally renowned hotels and numerous luxurious shopping malls.

With warm tropical climate, KL is warm and sunny throughout the year, along with abundant rainfall. Temperatures tend to remain constant and hover between 31 and 33 °C.

Malaysian food is very much reflective of the diversity of its rich culture. In Kuala Lumpur alone, food enthusiasts can find an abundance of food choices to thrill their taste buds with, from Malay to Chinese food, from Indian to Italian food, from Thai to Japanese, from Indonesian to even Vietnamese, Korean, Arabic, German, French, Spanish, South-American and much more. The list goes on and it is impossible to list all available eateries, restaurants, food courts and bars in Kuala Lumpur. 

It is also known as one of the best shopping havens in the world, with some of the world’s most well-known brand names such as Christian Dior, Prada, Gucci, Calvin Klein, and more awaiting to be explored. With ‘highly-concentrated’ shopping malls along a famous stretch known as Bintang Walk, shoppers can already feel the excitement of this vibrant city as masses of people, laden with shopping bags, moving from one mall to the other.

The city is a melting pot of cultures and traditions, with three dominant ethnicities—Malays, Chinese and Indians, and its colourful heritage and an amalgamated culture are well reflected in its architecture, cuisine, costumes and festivals. One can marvel at the ancient Jamek Mosque with a Moorish, Indo-Saracenic or Mughal architecture, Chan See Shu Yuen Temple with beautiful wall decoration reminiscent of China, extravagantly decorated Sri Mahamariamman and the top ten most sophisticated theatres in the world, Istana Budaya or also known as the Palace of Culture.

Kuala Lumpur is the city of intriguing contrasts and diversity and the cultural centre of Peninsular Malaysia, resulted from trading activities and migration since many centuries ago. At the confluence of culture, few can say they are not in some way moved by the heritage and legacy that flows in the streets of the city; and the hearts of all who live in it.