When in Kuala Lumpur ensure you don't miss these Kuala Lumpur highlights"
The Malaysian Tourist Centre is the spot to start your Malaysian Adventure. It's open 24hrs daily and housed in a renovated old tin miner's mansion, situated on Jalan Ampang ("Jalan" means road in Malay) close to the Petronas Towers Best Japanese Tableware. Originally built-in 1935 by a rich Chinese tin miner, the mansion served as a battle office for the British army and later the Japanese army during WWII. In 1957 Malaysia gained independence from Britain and the mansion held the initial sitting of the nation's new Parliament.
Petronas Twin Towers are two of the tallest buildings on the planet standing 452meters (1480ft) at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre development. The 88 level towers were constructed in mere 4 years with a metal and glass exterior. The movie Entrapment, with Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones, was filmed on location. The double-level skybridge on levels 41 & 42, which joins the two towers, is ready to accept visitors from 9-10.30am and 2.30-4pm daily (except Sunday). The visit is without any charge. Arrive at the information desk on the floor floor of Tower Two early to reserve your tickets. At the foot of the towers may be the Suria KLCC shopping complex.
KL Tower (Menara Kuala Lumpur) was designed having an Islamic influence, is 421metres (1380ft) high and sits together with a mountain giving the best views of KL. There's a souvenir shop, revolving restaurant, cafes and public observation deck having an audio tour of the view in every direction [Open 9am-10pm daily]. The restaurant revolves every 90mins and has a delightful buffet lunch and dinner [formal wear is required]. At the foot of the tower are shops and an area that hosts venues such as for example fashion parades. The Tower is located alongside the downtown area in the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, an all natural jungle sanctuary for birds and wildlife, with a rain forest walk and suspension bridge for visitors.
Batu Caves is a limestone hill, that includes a number of caves and cave temples, situated in the Gombak district, 30mins drive north of Kuala Lumpur. It takes its name from the Sungai Batu (or Batu River) which flows after dark hill. The key cave is one of the most used Hindu shrines outside India, specialized in the god Murugan, and is accessed by climbing up 272 steps.
Royal Selangor Pewter is the most well-known brand in pewter offering over one thousand beautiful tableware and gift items. Royal Selangor pewter consists of tin, with a tiny proportion of copper and antimony added to strengthen it. Take a factory tour at The Royal Selangor Visitor Centre, a 20 minute drive from Kuala Lumpur's city centre. The Factory Tour shows different pewter production processes and ends at the Retail Store the place where a wide collection of Royal Selangor pewter may be purchased. [Open daily 9-5pm, free admission]
Genting Highlands Resort is a resort resort, casino and entertainment complex located 50 km (30 miles) northeast of KL together with Banjaran Titiwangsa (the mountain range that runs down the centre of Malaysia) at 2000m (6600ft) above sea level. Gentings' casino is one of many largest on the planet and there is enough of inexpensive accommodation in six hotels. The resort comes with an outdoor family-oriented theme park an inside theme park, shopping complex and two theatres featuring international cabaret dinner shows and magic shows. There's a golf course and equestrian course. Formal wear is required for the casino. The resort is accessed by way of a steep, winding road but there is a wire car complex at the foot of the mountain for a far more relaxing and scenic ride as much as the resort. An Express Bus service departs Puduraya Bus Terminal and KL Sentral Station to the Genting Skyway station (takes 50 mins). Buses are prohibited up the steep road. The Skyway operates daily from 7.30am-11pm (12pm weekends).
Tasik Perdana Lake Gardens are found in the middle of the town not far from the town centre (open Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 8am-6pm). Go to the Bird Park and Butterfly Park (open 9am-5pm) to see local and exotic species within forested enclosures. There's a Planetarium which houses the Arianne IV rocket engine used to launch Malaysia's first satellite (Measat I) into orbit. Other attractions in the garden include a deer park, orchid garden, hibiscus garden, ASEAN sculpture garden and row boats on the lake. Within the gardens are Parliament House and the National Monument that commemorates people who died in the communist insurgency in the 1950s. The monument is modelled on Washington DC's famous Iwo Jima monument.
Firefly Park is located at Kampung Bukit Belimbing in Kuala Selangor just outside KL. Fireflies are harmless insects with no pincers, no bite, have a life span of 8 weeks and inhabit the berembang trees that grows over the riverbank. Watching fireflies is a wonderful experience as you cruise on a ship over the river in the night time to recapture the sweetness with this natural wonder. The very best time for you to watch is the initial few hours after sunset. Benefit from the spectacle of whole trees being lit up like 'Christmas trees' ;.
Chinatown lies behind the soaring skyscrapers of KL's financial district contrasting the old with the new. In the crowded and colourful network of streets and alleyways Chinese merchants sell their goods from the bottom floor of quaint pre-war shophouses. The key streets of Chinatown are Jalan Petaling, Jalan Sultan and Jalan Tun H.S. Lee. Chinatown is obviously an appealing area where shoppers will find copies of branded goods, CDs that haven't been released yet and any interesting shops. Shoppers can test their bargaining skills. It's a great place to go to day or night.
Malaysian Grand Prix is a formula one race held in early April at a circuit alongside the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Elephant Park Is found 90mins drive outside KL and is well-liked by tourists. Tour operators also take visitors to a deer farm where you could feed the sun bears.
