Places to Visit in Kuala Lumpur

The unmissable Petronas Twin Towers, a chrome and steel marvel, glints in the distance and beckons everyone in the city. The Petronas Twin Towers are one of the most visited tourist places in Kuala Lumpur. At one point of time, they were the tallest buildings in the world, but now, at 452 metres, they are the world’s tallest twin towers. The Petronas Twin Towers are located in the KL city centre. Awe-inspiring and beautiful at the same time, the twin towers houses several corporate offices as well as Suria KLCC, a very popular shopping mall. Adjacent to the twin towers is a glorious water fountain that hosts a show every evening. One of the most popular places to visit in Kuala Lumpur, the Petronas Twin Towers also has an observation deck on level 86 and a Skybridge which also provides some amazing views of the city.

Another popular tourist place in Kuala Lumpur are the Batu Caves. Located just 11 kms away from the city, the caves are known to have a 100-year-old temple inside. It’s an important religious place of worship for many Hindus but what’s interesting is that the limestone formations around the temple, the actual caves are supposed to be around 400 million years old. Batu caves are comprised of three big caves and several smaller ones. The largest of the big caves is called Cathedral Cave and has a 100-metre-high arched ceiling, under which there are several Hindu shrines. There are two other cave temples as well – Art Gallery Cave and Museum Cave, where there are several Hindu statues and paintings. During the Hindu festival of Thaipusam, thousands of devotees arrive here for a colourful and intense celebration. Reaching the top of the cave, one has to complete an arduous climb of 272 steps.

For spectacular views of the city, one of the must visit places in Kuala Lumpur is Menara KL Tower. The Menara tower offers an even better viewing point than the Petronas Twin Towers and from here, the city spreads out in front of your eyes remarkably. During the night, the view gets even more spectacular. The tower has been built on top of the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve and is mainly used as a telecommunications tower. The pinnacle of the tower has been inspired by a spinning top and adds to its allure. Some of the elements that make this one of the most intriguing places to visit in Kuala Lumpur are the main lobby with the glass domes that shine brilliantly or the revolving restaurant Atmosphere 360 where you can dine looking down at the city from your perch above. The tower also has a theatre, an amphitheatre and souvenir shops as well.

This 1897 building in Jalan Tun Perak is an ode to the Moorish style of architecture, and was named after the then presiding Sultan of Selangor. There is an air of distinguished importance about the building and it used to be the secretariat for colonial British administration and later on, the superior courts of Malaysia, before they were shifted to Putrajaya. The building now hosts the Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture. For those who admire architectural styles, this is one of the most interesting places to visit in Kuala Lumpur with its arches and colonnades, the copper cupolas and the tall clock tower.

Look no further if you have children with you or you are a child at heart. One of the most visited tourist places in Kuala Lumpur is the Sunway Lagoon Theme Park which is located in Petaling Jaya, around 15 km from the city centre. The water rides here are fun and quirky with water slides, manmade ‘river’ rides, surf beach, wave pool and several other fun attractions. Walk through this 80 acre park and enjoy the five different zones here – the Water Park, Scream Park, Amusement Park, Extreme Park and Wildlife Park. The water park has a Waters of Africa section which is extremely popular with its Congo challenge and Cameroon Climb. Fun and enjoyment will leave you pleasantly tired as you return to your hotel that evening but you will definitely want to come back for more. The Scream park is for those who love getting scared with its scare zones, haunted house and a zombie apocalypse section as well.

One of the most popular tourist places in Kuala Lumpur is Chinatown. Vivid and colourful, it is a recreation of Oriental charms but what people do enjoy most about here are the bargains in the shops. From clothing to accessories to food, everything is affordable and can go lower with the right amount of bargaining. There are also Chinese temples here which pitch the perfect Oriental vibe. If nothing else, come here for the food!

With the towering Petronas Twin Towers above, KLCC is a hard to miss spot. The iconic towers draw thousands of visitors daily while KLCC is one of the most popular entertainment and business hubs in the city. The KLCC Park is a gorgeous 50 acre garden along with a magnificent manmade lake with water fountains that put up a spectacular show. Other popular Kuala Lumpur sightseeing spots here include Suria KLCC at the base of the Petronas Twin Towers and Aquaria KLCC, a glorious aquarium with more than 150 species of marine creatures.

Lake Gardens, also known as Tun Abdul Razak Heritage Park, is a vast park, right in the middle of the city. No wonder it’s one of the top places to see in Kuala Lumpur. This is a 227 acre park so there are literally a huge number of things to do and see here. Whether it is the Perdana Botanical Gardens which includes the Orchid and Hibiscus Gardens, or the Islamic Arts Museum with its huge exhibition space featuring an extensive collection of Islamic art from all over the world, or the National Monument dedicated to the people of Malaysia who died during the First World War, or the National Planetarium, there are simply too many things to see and do here!

This 1965 mosque which represents Malaysia’s Islamic outlook is an elaborate structure with 48 small domes and a main star shaped dome at the centre. The mosque has several intricate decorations all done in the Islamic style and it is beautiful in an understated and yet glorious way. Verses from the Quran are inscribed on the walls while the abstract and geometric latticework gives it a unique touch.

With its bright blue dome, the planetarium beckons visitors, especially if they’re children. The interactive exhibits and the Space Theatre make this a great Kuala Lumpur sightseeing spot which is educational and informative. The Space Theatre especially shows widescreen IMAX science and space films but the Observatory Park is the most popular place here where you can observe the planets using a telescope.

One of the famed places to see in Kuala Lumpur is the Pavilion Water Fountain found outside Pavilion Shopping Centre. While the mall itself is beautiful and resembles a Greek temple, the Liuli Crystal fountain at the entrance has attained national landmark status. The best time to see the fountain is at night when it is lit up with neon lights and waterworks.

One of the Kuala Lumpur tourist attractions to not miss at any cost would be the Central Market, also known as Pasar Seni. Located not too far away from Petaling Street, this is a lovely collection of kitschy and quirky handicrafts and other local merchandise. The light blue coloured building features an art deco style and is a great confluence point for the art community in Kuala Lumpur. During festivals, the market becomes more effusive and elaborate.

An hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur will bring you to iCity Shah Alam which is also known as the City of Digital Lights. The theme park offers plenty of LED lit attractions, a huge water park, 3D and wax museums, as well as the biggest snow park in the country and a trick art museum as well. As evening falls, the entire park lights up with millions of LED lights making it stand out in a quirky and unforgettable way.

There are numerous other Kuala Lumpur tourist attractions that you should certainly not miss when you are visiting the city. From museums to national landmarks, to temples and churches and to the teeming markets and snazzy shopping malls, Kuala Lumpur offers a spectacular number of delights to see and become enthralled. Before booking your Kuala Lumpur tour packages, it’s a great idea to check the SOTC website so you won’t miss out on some of the great offers and deals available on Malaysia tour packages.