Kuala Lumpur, The Ultimate ‘value For Money’ Destination For International Tourists
(Quiz master Phanindra Ivatury, an Indian national now residing in the Netherlands, shares his appreciation for Kuala Lumpur where he had lived and worked as an expatriate from 2010-2013 and returned many times after that to host quizzing events.)
UTRECHT (The Netherlands), June 18 (Bernama) -- If you happen to be that wanderlust traveller looking to fulfill a long cherished dream of travelling to an exotic international tourist destination on a honeymoon or for a family holiday or even for an alumni re-union, Kuala Lumpur qualifies as the ultimate stand out venue.
Multiple sightseeing attractions, almost uniform weather, green getaways, comfortable travel connect, and unbelievably cheap tariffs even at star hotels form the salient contributors to this South-East Asian city’s ever growing tourism numbers.
From 20.97 million in 2007, the number of tourists to Malaysia leapfrogged to 26.10 million by 2019 until COVID-19 led to tourism curbs around the world post 2020.
Fondly called ‘KL’ around the world, Kuala Lumpur is one of those rarest of rare places where natural and man-made attractions compete for your unwavering attention. From the moment you land at the city’s international airport, the super smooth drive into downtown KL offers you a glimpse of wonderful sights en-route, with the Petronas twin towers making their majestic appearance at the end.
One is often left open mouthed looking at the dynamic road network of the city spruced up with multiple lane highways, intersections and overlapping bridge routes.
Kuala Lumpur is home to two of the world’s tallest buildings. While the Petronas towers are the world’s tallest twin structures, the Merdeka 118 tower at 2,227 feet is the world second tallest behind Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The Petronas towers are an international icon symbolising Malaysia as a global player.
Tourists can say hello to the clouds by reaching up to the observation deck on the 86th floor of the Petronas. The deck not only offers a breathtaking view of KL city from the top but also a closer look at the pyramidal structure of the towers.
Though the weather in Kuala Lumpur stays tropical by nature all through the year, a two-day getaway to the near-by Genting Highlands will provide you a picturesque chill of the mountains coupled with attractions ranging from theme parks, casinos, culinary hotspots and amusement options. The cable car ride from the tip to top of the summit is one of the most thrilling rides one can ever experience.
From KL en-route to Genting Highlands lie the Batu Caves which house the dazzling divine abode of Indian deity Lord Murugan. The sanctum sanctorum is located at the innermost heart of the cave formation making it a sacred, serene and scenic experience. The Lord’s statue outside the temple is one of the tallest Murugan statues ever built and has been the major backdrop in countless Indian movies shot in Malaysia.
Also, not far from KL is the magnificently built Putrajaya (officially the Federal Territory of Putrajaya), the administrative and judicial capital of Malaysia. Developed as a planned garden city, Putrajaya is known for its expansive man built lake and many areas dedicated to parks, botanical gardens and wetlands. The ‘Masjid Putra’ (Mosque) on a lake near the Prime Minister’s office makes for a splendid viewing.
Within KL, the other must see attractions include a visit to the Royal Museum housed at the old National Palace which was the official residence of the King and the Queen until 2011. A guided tour of the palace can also take you to the sleeping chamber of the royals, a place no one could enter before, not even people who worked at the palace for many years.
The entrance ticket price for a foreigner is just over two US dollars. For gallery lovers, the other important ‘go to ones’ are the national, textile and the automobile museums. The Aquaria and musical fountain at Suria-KLCC, the KL Bird park for nature lovers, the Merdeka square and a walk around ‘Little India’ at Brickfield would nicely round up the city’s major sightseeing.
KL is also a shopper’s paradise. The massive mall culture of the city has to be just experienced to be believed.
From One Utama, Mid-Valley, Suria-KLCC to Pavilion, the list is endless. One can shop till they drop and still not get tired or bored of it. Last but certainly not the least is the Central Market in KL which is an unique shopping hub for handicraft, souvenirs, antiques, collectibles, Malaysian memorabilia and much more. No one can come back empty handed from this place.
A visit to Kuala Lumpur is never complete without one savoring from the varied variety of culinary delights the city offers. Being home to three distinct gastronomic cultures (Malay, Chinese and Indian), the foodie in us is spoilt for choices.
Some of the ‘must try’ signature dishes of KL include Roti Canai (a type of flat bread), Nasi Lemak (fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf), the satay (grilled meat served with peanut sauce) or the traditional banana leaf meal consisting of rice, curry, chips and salad. Among hot beverages, Teh Tarik, the traditional foaming Milk Tea is hugely popular around KL.
In a nutshell, a holiday to Kuala Lumpur is a wholesome package where there is something exciting to do for all age groups. It offers you a beautiful blend of culture combined with modernity, leisure mixed with luxury, while at the same time not drilling a hole in your pocket.
-- BERNAMA
