Places to Visit in Kuala Lumpur

The Petronas Twin Tower is the most famous landmark and an iconic structure in Malaysia. The twin towers are situated on the Jalan Ampang Road in the city of Kuala Lumpur. Even though the original purpose of the towers is to accommodate the various offices that operate out of Kuala Lumpur, it is now much more than just an office centre.

Its mind-boggling height, modern architecture, and location have made it an important tourist attraction in the city.  The construction of this magnificent tower started in 1993 and it was completed in 1996. The twin towers were finally inaugurated on 31st August 1999. Between 1998 and 2004 it was also the tallest tower in the world, with a height of 451.9 metres or 1,483 feet from the ground level.

The Petronas Twin Towers, which were designed by Argentina-born American architect- Cesar Pelli, is one of the tallest towers in the world. The towers were built in Postmodern-Islamic architectural style, using steel, glass and reinforced concrete and it cost 1.6 billion U.S. dollars. The Petronas Twin Towers have 88 floors, with 5 additional underground floors.

The two breath-taking Towers are joined on the 41st and 42nd floor by a spectacular double Decker Skybridge. The 192-feet-long bridge is the highest two-storey bridge in the world. The Skybridge also acts as a safety device and stabilizing structure against turbulent winds in bad weather conditions.

Apart from being an iconic structure on the Kuala Lumpur Skyline, it is also home to many world-class restaurants and breathtaking viewpoints from where you can see the entire city sprawled out under you. You can also check out the many tourist attractions, temples, mosques and the famous Malaysian markets located close to the Petronas Twin Towers.

The Aquaria KLCC is said to be the world’s largest aquarium, holding over 5000 freshwater and marine creatures, which include massive arapaimas, giant groupers, gar fishes and many more. Some of the major attractions of the aquarium are the scary tiger sharks, bright coral fishes, lethal sea snakes, seahorses, and blue rays. The Aquaria KLCC is one of the country’s foremost sightseeing attractions involving the real depth and complexity.

Location: The Aquaria KLCC is located on the concourse of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center.

Price: The entry fee approximately starts from 64 MYR for an adult and 53 MYR for a child.

Plane in the City in Kuala Lumpur is a one-of-a-kind restaurant, where you can dine inside a full-sized Boeing 737, while also enjoying unique experiences like walking on the wings of the plane and entering the pilot’s cockpit. It is a striking restaurant located in the heart of the city, which replicates a real-life simulation of being inside an aircraft. The whole restaurant is located inside a Boeing 737 plane that has been grounded. The interiors and ambience, both reflect the interiors of a real plane, with air hostesses serving you and live music keeping you company as you enjoy your meal.

One of the most attractive features of the restaurants is the fact that you can explore all the aspects of an aircraft that you otherwise cannot do when you are flying inside one. Because the restaurant is located inside a real plane on the ground, you can simultaneously enjoy other unique experiences such as walking on the wings of the plane. Apart from taking memorable selfies on the wings, you can also explore the cockpit and look out the windows which can be opened. You can also pose beside the turbine and take incredible photos that would otherwise be impossible to capture in a real airport.

Plane in the City is much more than a traditional restaurant. You can sign up for a 90-minute tour which will start when you “check-in” to the welcome lounge. There are stewardesses who take you around the aircraft for your photo session. As for the meal that is served inside the restaurant, you can expect nothing short of the best meals. The food is prepared by some of the best chefs in the world from Elements in Kuala Lumpur which is a 5-star restaurant, and you can enjoy a delicious 3-course meal aboard your “flight”.

Just like in a real aeroplane, you can book your package or “class” according to your budget. At the end of the experience, you can collect all the photographs you have taken throughout your tour from the lounge while leaving. You can book your seat (in pairs) from beforehand to enjoy a seamless dining experience and a memorable tour of this striking attraction in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

The Menara Kuala Lumpur is a communications tower built right in the heart of the city, very close to the famed Petronas towers. It is one of the most recognisable structures of the entire city and is also considered to be a building of cultural importance. The tower, being a part of the World Federation of Great Towers, is often used by various organisations for their broadcasting requirements.

Besides the awe-worthy spectacle of the tower being used for Falak observation, the tower has over time also become a venue for interesting and amusing events. A race is organised here annually, where participants compete in a bid to reach the top of the stairs before anyone else. It is also used to observe the moon to declare the month of Ramadan.

As the 7th tallest freestanding tower in the world, it is visible from a majority of locations around the city. It stands at the height of 421 meters and offers the most splendid of the entire city. The original design of this tower represented the human journey for achieving perfection in life.

The architecture of the tower represents Islamic architectural heritage. With amazing restaurants, interesting entertainment centres and a great view, this tower should be a must-visit on your bucket list!

If you’re looking for a shopping Mecca in Kuala Lumpur, then Pavilion KL should be your ultimate destination. This shopping retreat is located in the Bintang district of Kuala Lumpur and is a one-stop-shop for everything that you can ever think of buying. Whether you wish to give a facelift to your home or you want to buy some of the trendiest clothes, handbags, and shoes, this mall is every shopper’s paradise.

It was opened in 2007, and currently, it has three major sections- an office block, two residential towers, and a retail mall. It spreads across an area of 1.37 million sq ft and offers a host of outdoor and indoor shopping options. The main entrance of this mall houses the tallest  Liuli Crystal fountain, which is a national landmark. A huge number of visitors visit this mall to have a glimpse of this fountain, which also works as a wishing well.

You can toss in the coins over here to make a wish, and later, these coins are donated to charity.The entire shopping complex resembles a grand Gracian temple with milky white marbles and post-modern pillars. It is also a leading hub for entertainment with 13 screens Golden screen theatre where you can enjoy the best shows. You can find here luxury brands like Jimmy Choo, Juicy Couture, Versace MaxMara, and Yves Saint Laurent.

An interesting feature of this shopping complex is the unique holiday décor that sets it apart from all other contemporary malls in Kuala Lumpur.For example, in 2011, the Christmas décor included the set up of a Christmas carnival in its atrium along with Santa’s workshop, giant sleighs, and ten feet high pine trees. Similarly, at every time of the holiday season, it follows some unique theme and gets totally colored in the hues of that theme.

The top floor of the mall is home to beauty retailers and wellness centers, where you can buy some of the best beauty products, and you can also have the most popular beauty treatments here. There is a huge food court on the ground floor where you can have the best Japanese, Korean and local fare. So from shopping to entertainment to scrumptious cuisines, Pavilion KL is a thoughtfully designed heaven for incredible experiences.

Sri Mahamariamman Temple is situated in Jalan Bandar or High Street on the edge of Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Established in 1873, this is the only Hindu temple in the country. Initially, the temple was a shrine that was privately worshipped by K. Thamboosamy Pillai from 1873. However, in 1920, the temple opened its doors to the general. In 1887, the shrine was demolished and a brick structure was erected in its place.

The current temple, as it stands today, was completed in 1968. Italian and Spanish tiles were used along with precious stones and gold motifs to give the temple the brilliant look that it is famous for. The Sri Mahamariamman Temple resembles a human body lying on its back, whose main feature is the “Raja Gopuram” which is constructed at the “feet” of the human figure. This is a lofty 75-foot, five-tiered entrance to the main temple. The entrance is richly decorated with intricate sculptures depicting 228 different gods and goddesses from Hindu mythology and also sculptures depicting historical moments from the Ramayana. The architect of this astounding temple-gate is S.T. Muniappa.

Sri Mahamariamman is the South Indian depiction of goddess Parvati. There are three more shrines around Sri Mahamariamman, devoted to Lord Ganesha, Lord Murugan and Goddess Lakshmi. All of these idols are unique attractions of their own and draws huge crowds of pilgrims and devotees from around the world every year. The temple is also famous for its colourful annual festivals like Thaipusam and Deepavali, which are the two main festivals celebrated with great fervour and enthusiasm every year.

The famous 6.5 metres tall silver chariot, made with 350 kilograms of silver with 240 bells, is displayed here during this time. Due to the central location of the temple, you can also visit other nearby attractions such as the aquarium, the Petronas Twin Towers and the famous market places of Kuala Lumpur when you are in the vicinity.

Bayan Indah is a rustic two-storey bungalow that doubles up as a cooking school, located in the middle of idyllic lush greenery of a Malay village. If you’re looking to mix things up while you’re in Kuala Lumpur indulge in this unique experience at Bayan Indah, a culinary retreat that offers over 70 cooking classes all different in its own special way, ranging from your typical mouth-watering Malaysian dishes to more complicated ones such as pies and tarts. Rohani Jelani, a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef heads the class, with impressive skills on the chopping board and enthusiasm to match.

Location: Kampung Penchala Indah, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur

Timings: Classes start as early as 9:30 AM

Price: Approximate price starts from 280 MYR onwards.

Located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur is the place which never sleeps and is always filled with colors and bustles all the time - Chinatown of Kuala Lumpur. If ever visiting Kuala Lumpur, Chinatown must definitely be in your ‘to-visit’ list, especially if you are a true bargain hunter, as it is also famously known as the ‘Bargain Hunter’s Paradise.’

You can find everything here, from the Chinese herbs to the imitation goods. Especially at night, the place is a shopper's’ paradise and turns into a lively and vibrant night market.

Location: The Chinatown is located on the Petaling Street, also known as ‘Chee Cheong Kai (Starch Factory Street.)

Indoor Rock Climbing is widely popular among fitness enthusiasts but also benefit those who avert from outdoor rock climbing especially beginners. Indoor rock climbing arenas have different walls ranging from easy to difficult to suit the needs and skills of various people. Even children can take part in this activity so it is ideal for a family day out. Most places offer the guidance of an instructor and various safety measures are taken.

There are various arenas to access indoor rock climbing ranging from fully fledged gyms to rock climbing walls set up in many malls around Kuala Lumpur.

Price: Approximate price ranges from 100 MYR to 300 MYR depending onvarious offers like student discounts.

Bungy jumping might not be for everyone, but if you’d like a taste of how it is, head over to Malaysia’s first permanent bungy jump attraction, right in the middle of Sunway Lagoon theme park. One of the main attractions in the Xtreme Park, the bungy jump here sees brave souls leaping from the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge. Jumpers need to be in between 35kg to 285kg, ten years of age or older, and get to choose either to be strapped the traditional way (at the ankles, with a body harness as a backup) or to be strapped at the waist. You can also opt to do the ‘wet touch’ (head touching the surface of the lake) or just the regular bungy jump.

Location: Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya, Selangor