History of Kuala Lumpur City

In the late 1800 Kuala Lumpur was just a landing places where boats coming up the Klang River could bring supplies for and take away tin from the newly opened Ampang mines. Since 1857 Chinese had been coming into Kuala Lumpur and by that time many Malays, mostly from Sumatra had settles in a kampong at the place now known as Jalan Silang. Another kampong, kampong Rawa, was located between Jalan Tun Perak and Jalan Gereja. Their cemetery was located on the present's site of Masjid Jamek, this junction of the Klang and Gombak Rivers - this location originally known as Lumpur (mud) later becoming Kuala Lumpur (muddy estuary).

The small township that had developed from the success of tin mining was badly damages during the Selangor Civil War and was at one time nearly abandoned altogether. The dispute in 1866 between the Sumatran Malays and the Bugis resulted in this civil war between Raja Mahadi and Raja Abdullah, their respective leader. (Raja Mahadi was the rightful ruler of Klang but was dislodged by the sultan in favor of Raja Abdullah, a son of a Raja from Riau. The Chinese, under their Capitan Liu Ngim Kong, sided with the Sultan and Raja Abdullah in this dispute.

Kuala Lumpur - a vibrant and diverse city

Visit any city for the first time, and within minutes you’ll get a feel for its pulse just by walking its streets and watching its people go about their day-to-day lives. Upon arriving in Kuala Lumpur, the first thing you’ll probably notice is the people of all different races and nationalities living and working together. Malaysia has a population of 28.3 million people, and its capital Kuala Lumpur is its largest city with approximately 1.8 million people.

The Malay population forms the majority race in Malaysia, and it has the strongest influence on the country’s cultural, social and political aspects. The Chinese are the second-largest race, and form the country’s commercial and business backbone. Because of this, many Chinese reside in Kuala Lumpur—as it is Malaysia’s financial and commercial centre. The Indians are the third-largest race and as many are also involved in Malaysia’s business sector, there is a significant Indian population living in Kuala Lumpur. One of the best things about Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia is really something which the local population takes for granted—that it is a melting pot of different races living together in relative peace and religious harmony.

While Islam is Malaysia’s official religion and counts the most number of followers among its population, the country is really a multi-religious one with several other religions being widely practiced. These include Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Chinese religions such as Confucianism and Taoism.

This diverse population that call Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia home also celebrate their own religious and cultural festivals in a big way—and over the years, these colorful and vibrant festivals have grown to become regular tourist attractions on their own.

Among the major festivals celebrated in Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia are Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, Thaipusam, Deepavali, Chinese New Year, the Mid-Autumn Festival and Christmas. Do note that the dates for some religious festivals vary slightly each year, so it’s a good idea to check the latest official information before planning your trip to Kuala Lumpur. Also be sure to pack a good camera as some of the sights you’ll see—such as the vel kavadi during Thaipusam—are so unique you’ll want to capture them forever.

Kuala Lumpur Tours - make the most of your trip

While Kuala Lumpur is a great city that can be explored on your own, some of its attractions are better discovered through guided tours. Joining organized tours or hiring your own personal tour guide can save you valuable time during your visit as he/she will know the best and quickest way to get to your destination. A personal tour guide will also be able share his or her local knowledge about the attractions you’re visiting as well as Kuala Lumpur itself. Regardless of how much time you have, or how little, hiring a private tour guide while in Kuala Lumpur will give you an insider’s perspective on this amazing city, its people and its culture.

With many types of tours available, try to choose a tour based not only on the time you have but also your own interests and comfort level. Some tours are more strenuous and can involve a lot of walking, while others are more relaxing. Most tour guides are helpful and will accommodate your needs, but if you have small children or older family members to take care of, it’s a good idea to check if the tours you’re interested in will be suitable for them.

If you only have several hours to spend in Kuala Lumpur, you might want to consider going on a half day tour. A half day tour will only last 4-5 hours but is extremely flexible as you get to choose from a list of the city’s diverse attractions. And if you’ve discovered a place where you’d like to spend more time at, your private tour guide would also be able to accommodate this easily.

Visiting Kuala Lumpur Petronas Twin Towers

If you’re traveling to Kuala Lumpur, be sure to add a visit to the Kuala Lumpur Petronas Twin Towers to your itinerary. The Twin Towers—as they’re known locally—are one of the tallest buildings in the world. A unique aspect of the Kuala Lumpur Twin Towers is that its design is influenced by the geometric principles unique to Islamic architecture. Taking seven years to build, each tower has 88 floors.

About halfway up, a skybridge connects the two towers. If you plan to see the view from the skybridge, take note that tickets are free and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. On busy days, they can finish quickly, so it’s best to arrive in the morning to collect your ticket (note: visiting hours are from 9am – 5pm and the skybridge is closed on Mondays).

While the Kuala Lumpur Twin Towers primarily house business offices on the upper floors, there is also a large luxury shopping mall at the bottom known as Suria KLCC. Home to many high-end designer brands, the mall is a shopping haven for tourists and locals alike. When you need a break from shopping, catch a movie at the cinema located on the third floor. There is also a wide variety of food to suit your budget and tastes as the mall has a large food court as well as many restaurants and cafes.

But it’s not all about shopping and eating in the Kuala Lumpur Twin Towers. While you’re there, you can also get a dose of art and culture by visiting the Galeri Petronas, a leading art gallery which showcases both local and foreign artwork.

As the sun sets after your busy day, it’s time to step outside to take in the view. This is because night time is probably the best time to view the Kuala Lumpur Twin Towers. Against the dark backdrop of the night sky, the two towers make an awe-inspiring sight to behold as they are lit up like Christmas trees after dusk.

 If you walk over to the KLCC Park located at the base of the Twin Towers, there will be one last spectacle to feast your eyes on—dancing fountains. Called Lake Symphony, these water fountains dance playfully accompanied by a light show, ending your visit to the Kuala Lumpur Twin Towers on a high note. In fact, don’t be surprised if you find yourself asking when you can come back again!