Travel like local in Malaysia - 4 Days in Kuala Lumpur

Muzium Negara (the national museum) is a palatial structure built in the style of Rumah Gadang, an aspect of Minangkabau architecture. Its facade comprises elements of traditional Malay and modern features. Muzium Negara was opened on 31 August 1963, and it serves as a repository of Malaysia’s rich cultural and historical heritage. Muzium Negara is a three storied structure of 109.7 meters long and 15.1 meters wide and 37.6 meters at the central point. The museum houses four main galleries allotted to ethnology and natural history. The displays range from free-standing tableaux showing cultural events like weddings, festivals and costumes; to traditional weapons, musical instruments, arts and crafts, ceramics, and flora and fauna.

The original building was built in 1888 by the British in colonial British Malaya. It was used as a wet market for Kuala Lumpur citizens and tin miners. The Wet Market was very convenient to the early city dwellers because it was within the vicinity of the Klang bus stand, the hub of feeder bus service for Kuala Lumpur and the train station. The Central Market Kuala Lumpur is arranged in a stall concept, representing the traditional market in Kuala Lumpur since the 1800s. Travellers can scroll through the many sections within the Central Market, from the Lorong Melayu, Straits Chinese, and Lorong India, located on the west wing. The second floor hosts a food court, offering an array of food. Notable are two-storey and single-storey buildings resembling the kampong-style houses, representing the many ethnic groups living harmoniously in Kuala Lumpur.

Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown centers around the bustling Petaling Street, where dozens of vendors gather daily to sell imitation designer clothing and handbags, electronics, souvenirs, fruit, vegetables, and spices, and every form of knick-knack imaginable. At night, the street transforms into a vibrant night market, illuminated by the red Chinese lanterns strung above the street. This is also the place to find KL’s best Chinese food, from bargain street vendors to fine dining restaurants. Although now a popular tourist attraction, Chinatown’s oriental heritage can still be found in places like the historic Chan See Shu Yuen Temple.

Kwai Chai Hong “The Devil’s Alley” is a spot in downtown Kuala Lumpur, which is a small alley behind Petaling Street with numerous murals depicting the daily life at this place in the old days, hidden alleys and local eateries. A lovingly restored laneway of historical pre-war architecture shop houses. As it was a hotbed for drunkards, gamblers and opium addicts in the past.

Pulau Ketam, also known as Crab Island, is a small island off the coast of Port Klang in Selangor, about 50km west of Kuala Lumpur. Mangroves cover the vast majority of the island, but there are two small villages. The larger of the two is also called Pulau Ketam and where most visitors come. The population (6,000) is made up of Hainanese fishing families, who originally settled here in the late 19th century. The village consists of a number of houses and eateries built on stilts on the edge of the water. Renowned for their seafood dishes, which tend to feature fresh prawns and crab.

Little India resembles the atmosphere and environment of India. The Indian heritage of Malaysia can be tasted here, as this little place is dedicated to Indian temples and Indian living. The streets in Little India are full of eateries offering Indian dishes. The shops and retail outlets sell Indian traditional items and clothes, along with a few Malaysian and fusion varieties.

The Merdeka Square is located exactly opposite the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and right beside the Royal Selangor Club. This is the historical place where the Union Flag was lowered and the Malayan flag was raised for the very first time at the struck of midnight of 31st August 1957. From then on, Merdeka Square has been the venue for the annual Merdeka Parade. The flagpole which holds the flag of Malaysia is the highest in the world, towering at a height of 100 meters. Merdeka Square is a historical site where Malaya declared its independence.

The River of Life is one of the most iconic parts of Kuala Lumpur. Located near Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, the oldest mosque in the city, it is a convergence point of two rivers: the Klang River and the Gombak River. The Klang River, known as Sungai Klang by the locals, streams through the regions of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor and eventually into the straits of Malacca. The Gombak River is another major river in the Klang Valley. The converging point of the two rivers at Masjid Jamek was once muddy, murky and filthy. The Malaysian Government then initiated the River of Life project to transform the polluted Klang River into a thriving and lively waterfront with commercial value. The whole project was divided into several components: River Cleaning, River Beautification and Commercialisation and Tourism. This program took seven years to complete, and covers a total area of 781 hectares and 63 hectares of water bodies. The river is now a popular tourist attraction with riverside cafés along its banks, biking paths and dancing fountains along with extravagant night light shows that turn the water a striking blue. The River of Life has been listed as one of the top 10 most beautiful waterfronts in the world!

The iconic Batu Caves. The temples are located in some huge limestone caves.There are the stairs with 272 steps leading up to the caves. It is the biggest Hindu complex outside of India, so it attracts a lot of visitors every year. The pilgrims who are devoted to the Hindu faith. Next to the stairs is a huge golden statue of 42,7 meters / 140 feet high. The statue represents Murugan, which is a Hindu deity. It is the tallest statue in Malaysia and also the second-tallest statue of a Hindu deity in the world. It stands proudly since 2006 next to the steps leading up to the sanctuary. There are 4 caves which are the Temple Cave, Dark Cave, Cave Villa, and Ramayana Cave. Every year in January/February (the 10th month of the Hindu calendar) they hold the Thaipusam festival around the caves. More than a million Hindus visit the caves during these festivities. Be aware that there is a dress code. Shoulders and knees should be covered, especially for women. Men sometimes get in with shorts. If you are not dressed appropriately, you can rent a scarf at the entrance.

Kampung Baru or Kampong Bharu (meaning "New Village") is a Malay enclave in central Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Kampung Bharu came into existence in 1900, when the land encompassing seven villages and an area of 220 acres, was gifted by the Sultan Abdul Samad, the erstwhile Sultan of the state of Selangor. The conditional transfer of land to the villagers was based on the term that the land would remain under perpetual Malay ownership, making Kampung Bharu a Malay Reserve Area. At the same time, a self-governing authority for the seven villages called the Malay Agricultural Settlement Board of Management (MAS) was formed, with representation from each village through an elected village head. Over a century later, land in the Kampung is largely under the ownership of the original families, partly due to the practice of a system of Islamic inheritance called Hukum Faraid, under which the land title is passed from generation to generation and shared amongst family members. As a result, small parcels are frequently held by multiple titleholders; one parcel in Kampung Bharu is held by as many as 208 individuals. The proposed redevelopment threatens to displace long-term residents of the area, including renters and small business owners. The kampung remains one of the last enclaves of Malay culture and heritage in central Kuala Lumpur and is known for its authentic Malay cuisine and traditional architectural styles, making it a popular tourist destination. The Kampung is also known to have played a significant role in Malaysia’s political history.

The Petronas Twin Towers were the tallest towers in the world from 1998 until 2004, when Taipei 101 in Taiwan was built. These towers remain the world’s tallest twin towers today. The Skybridge that connects the two towers is the highest two story bridge in the world. The Petronas Twin Towers are designed with a steel and glass façade resembling motifs from Islamic art, Malaysia’s primary religion. The Suria KLCC Shopping Centre is located at the base of the Petronas Towers and offers upscale shopping, lots of restaurants, and a movie theater. It is a beautiful, modern mall with something to do or see for everyone.

The Saloma Link is a single span steel structure bridge that is illuminated with 4,100 diamond facade panels that come with state-of-the-art LED lighting. Which is a futuristically designed bridge that connects Kampung Baharu to KLCC. It created to reflect the Malay culture. The overall design represents the Sirih Junjung or Betelnut Leaf arrangement. The Sirih Junjung is traditionally offered in Malay weddings and ceremonies as a symbol of unity in the Malay culture that dates back a long way. It named Saloma, she was a very famous Singaporean-Malaysian singer, film actress, trendsetter and a fashion icon who became well known in the late 1950s to the 1960s.