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Kuala Lumpur: Five Of The Best

By Josh Hill

Posted: 15th December 2014 16:38

The capital of Malaysia has grown from a small Chinese fishing town into an electrifying metropolis consisting of 6.5 million people in a period spanning only 150 years.  The excitingly diverse city of Kuala Lumpur gives travellers the chance to live big on a budget.  The city is home to some of the cheapest shopping, cheapest five-star hotels and some of the best natural wonders.

The awe-inspiring skyscrapers, temples and green oases located around the pivotal Petronas Towers provide a wonderful clash of Malay, Chinese, Indian and Western influences.  These astounding sites are enveloped by the mighty Klang and Gombak rivers that flow through the heart of the urban sprawl.

With some of the best shopping malls in Southeast Asia and copious cultural and historical sites to explore, Kuala Lumpur lacks very little.  It even serves up wonderful food, ideal for any taste and budget.  But the joys of the city don’t come close to halting as the daylight fades; on top of Kuala Lumpur’s rich nightlife, are the bright lights of splendid structures that shimmer through the starlight and create a whimsical ambience.

FIVE OF THE BEST

Thean Hou Temple

In Kuala Lumpur sits one of the oldest and largest temples in Southeast Asia and this is it.  The six tiered Buddhist temple is the most visually stunning attraction in Malaysia.  The shrine, dedicated to Thean Hou, the heavenly mother, holds a remarkable statue of her in the middle of the main hall.  The views from the temple are also as sensational as the temple’s design.  The cherry on top this wonderful layered cake are the thousands of red lanterns used to decorate the temple on Chinese New Year.

Bukit Bintang

A hive of activity, Bukit Bintang is the prime destination for a huge range of fantastic shops and a first-class nightlife to go with it.  The most enthralling aspect of this vibrant playground is its emporiums.  From top rate high street stores located in glamorous malls to lively traditional Chinese markets selling an assortment of quirky goods and gifts at bargain prices, Bukit Bintang offers endless surprises.  An estimated 2.5 million people stroll through to browse every month so something must be drawing them!

Bird Park

When the frenetic city centre gets a little too much, the KL Bird Park is the perfect place to escape and be immersed in a beautiful burst of fauna and flora – plus it’s only a 10 minute drive.  The 60 hectare park houses over 3,000 birds from over 200 international species including the very unique Hornbill, a bird that, like the name suggests, has a bill as a horn.  The sights and sounds of the world’s largest free flight aviary are undoubtedly spectacular and wondrous. 

Batu Caves

The Batu Caves are a must-see destination for tourists and worshippers alike.  On the grounds stand mesmerising temples, shrines and limestone caves measuring a staggering 400 metres long and 100 metres high.  The limestone that surround the Hindu relics is believed to be more than 400 million years old and the luscious woodland that coats the incline is home to an array of exciting wildlife.  A place that certainly needs hiking boots, climbing the 272 steps that lead to the caves are well worth it and the views of the Kuala Lumpur skyline are unrivalled. 

Bukit Ceylon

As the day draws to a close and the moon sits high above the Petronas , it’s time to find the finest nightlife spots that Kuala Lumpur has to offer with a visit to Bukit Ceylon.  A strip lined with vibrant bars means you can hop from one to another until the early hours of the morning.  One establishment worth a visit for its superb atmosphere and service is No Black Tie; a sophisticated wooden bar that gives you a taste for Jazz, Brazilian Funk and poetry and owned by Kuala Lumpur’s cultural child Evelyn Hii.  

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