City Guide for the First Time Visitor: Kuala Lumpur

Today’s guest post is brought to you by Katie Anderson.

First time visitors to Malaysia would be wise to plan a visit to the city’s capital city; Kuala Lumpur. In English, the name translates as ‘muddy estuary’; but don’t be fooled. This modern city is one of prestige, sophistication and profit. Like many big Asian cities, it mixes tradition and innovation delightfully. Because of this, it holds the honour of being the fifth most visited city in the world.

Flying to Kuala Lumpur, you can expect to find traditional street markets and places of worship besides ingenious skyscrapers and huge shopping centres. The result is a magical city which is as notable for its architecture as its history. Though the modernization of the city has been rapid; authorities have ensured that much of its original charm has been maintained. Tranquil gardens and open spaces are still a-plenty; the Lake Gardens and Tasik Titiwangsa are highly recommended.

Cultural must-sees in the city include such sites as the Istana Budaya (the Palace of Culture) which is Malaysia’s main venue for theatre and performance. The building itself is a site to be seen; a perfect example of the capital’s desire to mix modern functionality with traditional Malaysian style. For a palace of another kind, and maybe even a glimpse of royalty make sure to visit the Istana Negara; national palace and residence of the King of Malaysia. The Istana Negara sits in a twenty eight acre site and overlooks the picturesque Klang River.

For a more religious cultural experience, a visit to some of the city’s iconic mosques is a must. In particular, schedule a trip to Masjid Negara which is Malaysia’s national mosque along with Masjid Jamek which is one of the oldest and most beautiful in the city.

Kuala Lumpur is notable for its ethnic diversity. The city is shared by Malays, Chinese and Indian immigrants and British colonials. The beauty of this diversity is reflected in much of the city’s culture – especially its cuisine and entertainment. You’ll find restaurants and street vendors offering foodstuffs originating from across Asia – a seriously good eating experience! The shopping and nightlife are great too; and both activities will add serious enjoyment to your visit.

The city of Kuala Lumpur is something of a sight to be seen. It acts as a perfect gateway to Asia, and draws in literally millions of tourists every year. Because of this, hotels and flight deals are numerous. If you’re planning a trip, though, do be sure to take note of the weather forecast. Malaysia has a tropical rainforest climate, meaning that it is warm and sunny but does have abundant rainfall. Be particularly wary of visiting between October and March when the northeast monsoon season is at its peak. June and July tend to be the driest periods – and are therefore great months to visit!

Katie wrote this post for us. She is a blogger and writer based in Glasgow’s West End. She enjoys good food, good wine and good holidays.

*photos in this post courtesy of Khalzuri on Flickr.

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