National Mosque

National Mosque

The National Mosque is Malaysia's principal mosque and one of the most prominent buildings in the city. It is located near the railway station, along Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin.

The National Mosque, which took three years to construct, was opened on Aug 27, 1965. It is situated among five acres (13 hectares) of beautiful gardens.

Reputed as one of the more beautiful mosques in South-east Asia, this uniquely designed mosque embodies a contemporary expression of traditional Islamic art, calligraphy and ornamentation.

The most striking feature of it is the multi-fold umbrella-like roof which symbolises the aspirations of an independent nation. It has 18 points, one for each of the country's 13 states as well as the five tenets of Islam.

Standing prominently against the skyline is the sleek and stylish 73m high minaret. The National Mosque serves as the principal mosque for the city dwellers.

Visitors are advised to observe the rules of dressing and decorum which are listed at the entrance. They need to remove their shoes and must be respectably dressed. Special robes are provided if you are not appropriately attired.

China town(kuala lumpur)

Chinatown / Petaling Street

Petaling Street - KL's very own Chinatown is a hive of sound and activities. Located at the heart of KL's bustling Chinatown, Petaling Street is the place to head for those who are interested in experiencing the excitement of bargaining for their purchases.

Petaling Street is endowed with a distinct character of its own. Its popular night market is a daily feature. Walk, linger or browse as the sights and sounds capture one's imagination. Flanking both sides of this treet are shops selling anything from textiles to Chinese Herbal medicines.

 

This is a good place to purchase Chinese artifacts lie igurines, incense-holders, paintings, joss-sticks and bric-a-brac. Other interesting items include herbs for traditional remedies and sweetmeats.

Aged craftsmen at work in their shophouses can be seen producing goods such as lanterns, tinware and calligraphy items along the streets. Baskets and bouquets of fresh flowers make a refreshing sight amid the bustle and din of hanggling over prices.
Petaling Street is also known for its jewellery shops with their fascinating variety of beautifully crafted gold items set with priceless gemstones. Traders spread out their mats along narrow five-foot ways, offering brightly coloured trinklets, wall hangings, teapots, curios and ornaments from India and Myanmar.

Shops here stock a variety of goods from dresses and shoes to fabrics, costume jewellery, and many more. There are also a number of restaurants serving authentic regional Chinese cuisine.

Thean Hou Temple(Kuala Lumpur)

Thean Hou Temple

Located on top of Robson Hill off Jalan Syed Putra, the Thean Hou Temple is one of the largest Chinese temples in South-East Asia.

The decorative beams, spectacular roofs, domed ceiling, calligraphic couplets, murals and elaborate embellishments reflect the features of Chinese architectural beauty in Malayisa.

Managed by the Selangor and Federal Territory Hainan Association, the temple belongs to the Chinese community in the country and public donations have enabled the famous tourist destination to develop by leaps and bounds.

The original temple was said to be built some 100 years ago in Jalan Sultan, Kuala Lumpur. After years of planning and fundraising, the ground-breaking ceremony for the new building was held on Aug 30, 1981.

In 1987, the RM 7 mil project was completed but it was only opened on Sept 3, 1989 by Tan Sri Lee Kim Sai who was then the Housing and Local Government Minister.

The temple has 4 levels. The lowest level houses the marriage registration office, souvenir shops and food court while the first floor is the main hall where cultural and religious activities are held.

 

On the second level, one can find the administrative office and resource centre. The main temple shrine is located on the third floor.

Upon reaching the temple shrine, one will be amazed by the dragon-inspired columns and pagoda rooftops. It is also a perfect place to relax and enjoy the panoramic view of the temple set against the Kuala Lumpur skyline.

Inside the temple, the Thean Hou Goddess sits majestically between the Goddess of the Waterfront (or known as Swei Mei Goddess) and the Goddess of Mercy or known to the Chinese as Kuan Yin.

Since the opening, the temple has been endorsed by the Tourism Development Council as a tourist destination that represents the Malaysian Chinese.

Thousands of people visit the temple every year to offer prayers to the three deities.

Apart from being a place of worship, the temple is also a place for cultural activities. It hosts an average of 100 activities annually.

Among them are the grand birthday celebrations for Thean Hou Goddess, Kuan Yin and the Goddess of the Waterfront, Dharma Prayers, Wesak Day, Mooncake Festival and the 15-day Chinese New Year celebration. The Thean Hou Goddess' birthday celebration at the temple is touted as the biggest ever held outside China.

Couples like to come to the temple to take their wedding photographs. The temple is also renowned for its marriage registration services offered.

Every year, more than 5,000 young couples register at the temple.

Sultan Abdul Samad Building(Kuala Lumpur)

Sultan Abdul Samad Building

Prior to the building of the Petronas Twin Towers, the Sultan Abdul Samad building has long been a famous landmark for Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur. It is situated at centre of Jalan Raja.

Unique moorish-style design, this building, which designed by British architect A.C Norman was completed in 1897. Its architect added an Islamic touch that suitably reflects the cultural background of Malaysia to the mostly Renaissance design. The Sultan Abdul Samad Building was also the forerunner in establishing the nation's Moghal design style.

 

The building once served as the administrative offices for the government during the British administration, but now it is home to the Supreme and High Courts. It also houses the Textile Museum.

This is the most photographed building in the city, with a 40 metre clock tower affectionately dubbed "Big Ben", topped with a golden dome and flanked on both sides by two domed towers.

The clock tower is significant to many major events; from the lowering of the Union Jack at the strock of midnite when Malaysia (then Malaya) gained independance to the numorous new year eve celebrations.

During state occasions, coloured lights twinkle in the arches, making it look like a scene from an Arabian Nights' tale. The section of Jalan Raja is closed in order for the people to enjoy the night scenery of the area.

Lake Gardens(Kuala Lumpur)

Lake Gardens / Taman Tasik Perdana

Located at Jalan Perdana, Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens (Taman Tasik Perdana) dates to the 1880s and is the city's most popular park.

The brainchild of Alfred Venning, the British State Treasurer in the 1880s, this botanical garden, set amid lakes in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, is the city dweller's favourite rendezvous.

 

Here, you may see a sprawling 91.6 hectares of close-cropped lawns, undulating hills and carefully cultivated gardens. It provides a showcase of harmony, beauty and tranquility created by both man and nature.

Built around two lakes, the tropical garden is a pleasant oasis within the city providing a cool and soothing ambience as one walks through a vista of exotic blooms, luxuriant foliage, imposing sculptures, creative theme parks and majestic-looking raintrees.

Lake Gardens offers locals and visitors a wide range of facilities such as children's playground, jogging tracks, exercise stations and rowing boats.

The Panggung Anniversary, set in a secluded valley, is a regular venue for musical and cultural performances. While other attractions within the park include a bird park, a butterfly park, a deer park and flower gardens.

Aquarium @ Kuala Lumpur

Aquaria KLCC

This “ ocean of discovery ” is unveiled at the Aquaria KLCC right in the heart of the city. It is the first commercial aquarium in the Federal capital and a wonderful place to spend the school holidays with the family.

It's a RM60 million aquarium featuring some 5,000 aquatic and marine animal exhibits of over 150 different species from Malaysia and around the world – some caught, some sourced and some given. Boasting of an area spanning two levels and covering over 5,500 sq m, making it the largest in the world, the Aquaria has 19 tanks with various environments to keep and display fishes from various parts of the world.

 

Themed around two of the world ’ s major rainforests – Malaysia and the Amazon – Aquaria KLCC exhibits terrestrial, fresh water and marine creatures and it is also the first in Southeast Asia to exhibit the rare Sand Tiger Sharks from South Africa.

According to Aquaria KLCC public relations officer Amanda Chong, they have only been in business for two months and the response has been overwhelming. There will be at least 1,000 visitors per day and up to 5,000 visitors during public holidays.

The aquarium is also home to monkey-eating catfish from Endau Rompin, sharks from Singapore and the endangered fresh water tortoise called “ Chitra-chitra ” which were saved from the cooking pot.

A lot of visitors come here to learn more about the marine life and see what we have to offer, the feeding times are extremely popular with the crowd. Sometimes, there are divers get into the tanks to feed the fishes and marine life, and visitors crowding around the tanks during that times.

Chong says the aquarium also features interactive information and discovery kiosks, which are thematically linked to the aquarium.

Fully loaded with information on the existing exhibits at the aquarium, the information kiosks even provide real “ live ” video footage of some of the most fascinating exhibits.

Lost world of tambun

Hidden amongst the lush greenery of Tambun, Ipoh is this latest jewel in the Sunway crown.A fully themed water park that appears to emerge from the surrounding limestone cliffs and vibrant jungle - new world of adventure just waiting to be explored.
What was once a valley of old has now exploded to life with the river of adventure, raging waterfalls, rushing rapids, majestic cliffs, magnificent tigers, ancient caves and hot springs with ancient therapeutic properties.