Kuala Lumpur Sightseeing
Sightseeing Overview
The heart of Kuala Lumpur is around Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) and this open space makes a good starting point for a city tour. The Royal Selangor Club sits on the square and is an excellent example of colonial architecture, while the Sultan Abdul Samad Building (the seat of the high and supreme courts) is an intriguing mix of Victorian and Moorish architecture.
Elsewhere around the city, in striking contrast to the British-built architecture, are the stunning Masjid Negara (National Mosque) and Masjid Jamek (Friday Mosque). The ornate Kuala Lumpur Railway Station is something of a hybrid of the two, looking more like a dreamy Moorish palace than a transport hub. These days, it no longer functions as an important railway station, giving it a lost, old world feel that definitely merits a visit.
Those looking to get an insight into the layout of the city should ascend to either the observation level of the Petronas Towers or the viewing platform at the Menara Observation Tower. The latter is a better option as it gives 360-degree views that include the Petronas Towers from its hilltop position. Menara also has a restaurant, a cafe and a small museum.
KL’s harmonious ethnic diversity is one of its greatest charms and a visit to the divergent areas of the city is essential. Chinatown, with its traditional shops and lively night market, Little India and the art deco Central Market, which showcases cultural displays and Malaysian arts and crafts, all shed light on their respective communities.
The main attractions in the Golden Triangle business, hotel and shopping district are the towering Petronas Towers themselves, the KLCC Park, the fashionable and vibrant Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Sultan Ismail.
An unlikely newcomer on the tourist route is the western suburb of Bangsar Baru. Located a short journey from Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station, the pavement cafes of Bangsar are popular with visitors and locals alike and are increasingly becoming the place to see and be seen.
Further out from the city, you can visit the new administrative city of Putrajaya and the hi-tech city of Cyberjaya can be visited on day tours, offering a fascinating insight into town planning on a grand scale.
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Kuala Lumpur Hotels Guide
$$$$ (over RM600)
$$$ (RM450 to RM600)
$$ (RM250 to RM450)
$ (up to RM250)
These prices are the starting prices for a standard double room per night and include sales tax but not service charge. Breakfast is not included, unless otherwise specified.
A sales tax of 5% and a service charge at 10% are added to the bill in most hotels in Kuala Lumpur. Additional tips are not necessary, although it is perfectly acceptable to tip the porter at more expensive hotels.
Business
This award-winning central hotel, located in attractive gardens, is the choice of many visiting businessmen. It boasts 681 modern, stylish and spacious air-conditioned guest rooms and 39 suites. In-room facilities include voicemail, TV, mini-bar, movies and safe. The Horizon Executive Floors are well worth the additional cost with a whole host of extras, including all day nibbles and complimentary drinks, and access to a lounge with sweeping views of the city.
11 Jalan Sultan Ismail
Tel: (03) 2032 2388.
Website: www.shangri-la.com
Price: $$$$
A previous winner of Bloomberg’s ‘Best Business Hotel in Malaysia’, the Sheraton Imperial is perfect for business travellers. Guest rooms are large (with fax machines in every room), the service is smooth and business facilities include eight conference rooms, catering for functions that accommodate anything from 20 to 1,000 delegates. The Executive Rooms are worth the extra cost and offer the use of a dedicated lounge, with free refreshments all day and cocktails in the evening. The Imperial Spa boasts a string of eateries, and there is the excellent Mandara Spa and a modern gym. The split-level Imperial Suite meanwhile is one of the finest in the city with a private Jacuzzi and sauna.
Jalan Sultan Ismail
Tel: (03) 2717 9900.
Website: www.luxurycollection.com/kualalumpur
Price: $$$$
Luxury
This modern glass and steel construction is handily located in the heart of the city’s business district known as the Golden Triangle. Recent renovations have seen it reclaim its place as one of the more glamorous addresses in the city. All of the hotel’s 439 rooms and 77 suites are elegant and comfortable, offering guests private safes and spacious bathrooms with deep bathtubs.
73 Jalan Raja Chulan
Tel: (03) 2141 9988.
Website: www.hotelistana.com.my
Price: $$$$
A previous winner of Business Traveller’s ‘Best Business Hotel in Asia Pacific’, this modern, luxury hotel, is situated next to the Petronas Towers in the heart of the business district. It offers accommodation in 643 deluxe rooms, including 41 suites and 51 exclusive apartments. Many of the rooms have views over the expanse of Kuala Lumpur City Centre Park. In-room features include high-speed Wi-Fi access, modem data ports, a digital phone system with fax and deluxe bathrooms. A nice touch is the 300 original works of art displayed in public and guest rooms.
Kuala Lumpur City Centre, PO Box 10905
Tel: (03) 2380 8888.
Website: www.mandarin-oriental.com/kualalumpur
Price: $$$$
Moderate
This 10-storey, colonial-style hotel is handily located for the shopping and entertainment facilities of Jalan Bukit Bintang. All of the 97 clean and simply furnished rooms are air conditioned with en-suite bathroom, TV and telephone. Additional guest services include safety deposit boxes, postal service, car hire, laundry and an on-call doctor. As hotel prices rise across the city the Bintang Warisan remains a popular choice and is often booked solid.
68 Jalan Bukit Bintang
Tel: (03) 2148 8111.
Website: www.bintangwarisan.com
Price: $$
Located within easy walking distance of the city’s business and shopping districts, the Park Inn offers accommodation in 431 neutrally decorated and comfortable rooms, including 11 suites. In-room features include TV, in-house films, telephone, mini-bars and en-suite bathrooms. The hotel also offers a travel service, outdoor swimming pool, health club, bureau de change, shopping arcade and a business centre.
51A Changkat Bukit Bintang
Tel: (03) 2715 3888.
Price: $$
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National Art Gallery will hold the 24th Asian International Art Exhibition (AIAE) starting from 20th November until 31st January 2010. A total of 250 artists from China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korean, Macau, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam and host country Malaysia will be participating in this international exhibition.
This is the third time for the National Art Gallery to be chosen as the host to organize the AIAE after the 5th and the 13th AIAE in 1990 and 1998 respectively. The collaboration is between the Malaysian Artists Organisation and the National Art Gallery.
AIAE is seen as an international art exhibition that serves a greater role for contributing the progress and maturity of the Asian contemporary painting and also as a medium to exchange ideas and art inspiration among the member countries.
This exhibition will gather famous painters from the countries involved, such as Zhengyoa Zou and Xun Liang from China; Kim Bong Tea from Korea; Norito Udagawa and Yoko Mitsuyuki from Japan; Savanna and Surnaryo Setiawan from Indonesia; Huang Guanghui from Macau; Thongchai Rakpathum from Thailand; Baruudorj Lursandorj from Mongolia; Beat Yeko Kuan and Leo Hee Tong from Singapore; Koo Chung Kuang from Taiwan; and Nguyen Xuan Tiep Pham Huy Thong from Vietnam; Ramon Orlina from the Philippines; Eddie Lui from Hong Kong and several other big names who represent the host country.
In accordance with the goal of AIAE, a forum entitled “ASIA @ AIA”: Manifesting Diversity “ will be held at the National Art Gallery on 21st November 2009. The purpose of the forum is to draw public attention to the ordinary changes occurring to the cultural practices, social structure and way of life in Asian societies as a whole.
Type: Exhibition
From: Fri Nov 20, 2009
To: Sun Jan 31, 2010
Time: 10am-6pm daily. Closed on public holidays.
Address: National Art Gallery (Balai Seni Lukis Negara) 2, Jalan Temerloh, Off Jalan Tun Razak Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03 40267000
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Syed Ahmad Jamal: Pelukis
A premier display of retrospective status is being held for our National Artiste, Datuk Syed Ahmad Jamal. In conjunction with his 80th Anniversary, The Syed Ahmad Jamal Display : The Artist will elevate his literary works, thoughts, intellectual, leadership as an artist who has Islamic element in his works from the beginning of his endeavour until today. All his contributions towards the arts community will be exhibited and documented for public viewing.
This exhibition will be divided into six (6) division. They are Painting and Sculpture, Drawing, Design, Writings, Art Educationist and Art administrator. Collective selection of the group of curators that consist of national arts historian, curators, scholars and designers are specially invited to make this programme successful from the perspective of curatorial research, writing, display and overall exhibition concept.
SHARING KNOWLEDGE :
Every Tuesday and Thursday, from 10.00 am until 11.00 am, you can spend time with Syed Ahmad Jamal (S.A.J) to share knowledge about art and his art works.
*Every session is limited to 25 participants only. For registration or inquiries, please contact Education Branch, National Art Gallery at 03 – 4026 7000
Type: Exhibition
From: Tue Sep 29, 2009
To: Sun Jan 31, 2010
Time: 10am – 6pm daily (except for public holidays)
Address: Gallery 1A, National Art Gallery (Balai Seni Lukis Negara), Jalan Tun Razak, KL
Tel: 03 4025 4990
Entry Fees: Free
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‘Rhythm of the 21st Century – Monologues of Raja Shahriman’ will be showcasing 20 new large-scale sculptures, 45 drawings and 15 paintings by Malaysia’s foremost contemporary sculptor, Raja Shahriman Raja Aziddin, symbolising the destructive nature of man. The exhibition will open to the public from 29 October 2009 until 24 January 2010. Admission is free.
Raja Shahriman’s artworks are strikingly surreal and grotesquely beautiful at the same time. In creating the sculptures, he employs the Malay blacksmithing traditional methods but expresses the material in contemporary cosmopolitan context, whereby the forms incorporated in his sculptures allude to the nature of mankind.
His paintings meanwhile are expressed in dark outlandish panache, simultaneously combining both figurative and abstract elements. This is definitely one exhibition that is not to be missed.
From: Thu Oct 29, 2009
To: Sun Jan 24, 2010
Time: Tuesday – Sunday: 10am – 6pm; Closed on Monday
Address: Galeri PETRONAS, Lot 341-343, Level 3, Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, KL
Tel: 03 2051 7770
Entry Fees: Free
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Cerita Ori
The Centre for Orang Asli Concerns is proud to present Cerita Ori, a series of activities that centre around the original folklore of Peninsula Malaysia’s indigenous peoples.
This not-to-be-missed series of events combine inspired dance choreography, ink drawings, poetry reading, Temuan music and live storytelling sessions. Amongst the event highlights is the launch of a new book, ‘Orang Asli Animal Tales’. You can also browse other Orang Asli related books in our reading corner, participate in a craft-making workshop, or shop for Orang Asli arts & crafts in the mini-bazaar.
EVENTS
Exhibition of Illustrations for ‘Orang Asli Animal Tales’
Tue 12 Jan to Sun 17 Jan
Sun to Thu, 11am to 8pm
Fri & Sat, 11am to 9.30pm
Exhibition Launch & Dance Performance
Wed 13 January, 8.30pm
Craft Demonstrations, Workshop, Storytelling, Dance, Poetry Reading
16 January, 11am – 6.30pm
From: Tue Jan 12, 2010
To: Sun Jan 17, 2010
Time: Tue 12 – Sun 17, Jan 2010 (Tue to Thu & Sun, 11am to 8pm; Fri & Sat, 11am to 9.30pm)
Address: The Annexe Gallery, Central Market Annexe, Jalan Hang Kasturi, KL
Tel: 03 5632 7982
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Whoa! Willow!! an Original Musical, by the EtHos Society UiTM, is a fund-raising event for Tasputra PERKIM.
Whoa! Willow!! is a fantasy adventure musical that revolves around a young, buoyant man named Willow. In Willow’s world, anyone who doesn’t marry by thirty is punishable by law and therefore, the people in his world are obsessed with getting married. The magnitude of love itself is elapsed as marriage becomes everyone’s sole aspiration.
Disagreeing with this kind of living, Willow is convinced that there is such thing as love. To his surprise, Willow found out that he has time-travelling abilities and with this at his disposal, Willow sets to go back through time, find out the person who crafted the decree and stop it from being made. His adventures ultimately lead him to Brooke – the girl who is said to have changed the world.
From: Fri Jan 8, 2010
To: Sun Jan 10, 2010
Time: 8 Jan (Fri), 8.30pm–11pm; 9-10 Jan (Sat-Sun), 3pm–5.30pm, 8.30pm–11pm
Address: Auditorium DBKL, Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Raja Laut, Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 017 982 3272 (Acad) / 019 369 7095 (Hajar) / 013 629 8410 (Izza)
Entry Fees: RM18, RM28, RM35, RM45 (tickets priced RM35 and RM45 include free program books)
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Royale Christmas @ Pavilion KL
There’s a host of activities on at Pavilion KL in preparation for the festive season. It’ll be snowing every day at the forecourt at 8pm, for starters, and children who can spot Santa brunching at either Dome Café or Theobroma Chocolate Lounge on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays will get a free gift. (But be vigilant – gifts are limited to the first 50 children to greet Santa.)
If you don’t catch him eating, you can donate RM10 and have a framed photo taken with Santa at his sleigh, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm.
Peter Choo, of The Dance Company, will be directing the fairy godmother and her dancing fairies in a Christmas Musical Theatre production at the Centre Court Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm and 7pm. Take a photo with the Royale Statues, who’ll be wandering around on the weekends at 9pm, and appreciate quality carolling by St Paul’s Church 19&20 December at 6pm.
From: Tue Dec 1, 2009
To: Sun Jan 3, 2010
Time: 12pm-9pm
Address: Pavilion KL, Bukit Bintang, KL
Tel: 03 2118 8833
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Selected European Oil Paintings from 1930-59, Post–Impressionism, School of Paris and Scandinavian Modernism
EQ Fine Art presents its latest collection of museum quality European oil paintings in this exhibition from 25 November 2009 to 31 January 2010. The works are by painters of French, Belgian, Polish, Swedish and Danish descent, whose works are represented in provincial and national museums of their respective countries. All the works on exhibit were painted from 1930-59.
This exhibition presents a rare opportunity to acquire high quality oil paintings executed during a period that was considered to have produced some of the most aesthetically pleasing styles in the history of art. Prices of works in the exhibition range from RM3,000 to RM30,000.
Viewing is by appointment only. Please call 019 280 9985 or 03 6201 0985 to set your appointment.
From: Wed Nov 25, 2009
To: Thu Dec 31, 2009
Time: By Appointment Only
Address: G4 Taman Tunku Apartments, off Langgak Tunku, Kenny Hills 50480 KL
Tel: 019 280 9985 / 03 6201 0985
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Small Change Big Difference
The Pacific Regency Hotel Suites’ Small Change Big Difference programme is a part of their CSR commitments in fulfilling their responsibilities and obligations toward those within the community who are less fortunate and not blessed with those advantages that we enjoy and take for granted.
To this end, PRHS is launching a month long campaign to amass a minimum of RM50,000 for the Lighthouse Welfare Home, a family-oriented home for vulnerable children.
From December 1 to December 31, 2009, 5 cent from every RM1 spent at any of their outlets including banquet and events will be channelled to Lighthouse Education Fund. Not only that, a Christmas Tree of Hope that holds 40 wishes of innocent underprivileged children from Lighthouse, is on display at the hotel lobby. Put a smile on the faces of these beautiful children and incite goodness by picking out and fulfilling any of the wish list.
About Lighthouse:
Lighthouse Children HomeLighthouse Children Welfare Home is a safe home for vulnerable children where they can get away from their difficult backgrounds. This foster home is run by Steven and Jacinta, and focuses on bringing the children up in a loving, family-orientated environment, amongst brothers and sisters of different ages, giving them the chance to develop to their full potential.
To find out more about Lighthouse, or to help/donate/volunteer, please visit http://www.lighthousewelfare.org
From: Tue Dec 1, 2009
To: Thu Dec 31, 2009
Address: Pacific-Regency Hotel and Suites, Jalan Punchak, off Jalan P. Ramlee, KL
Tel: 03 2332 7777 ext 6807 (Audrey)
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