Kuala Lumpur is a big city, covering an area of 24,346 ha and a population of 1.7 million.
Facts and statistics aside, what does Kuala Lumpur offer the wandering visitor? Where would you go or what would you do on a free day?
Here are some suggestions – some rather obvious, others a little out of the ordinary.
1. Visit the breathtaking Batu Caves
Batu Caves isn’t exactly located in the heart of the city but is closer to the border with Selangor. It is a beautiful limestone hill with a series of deep caves that house Hindu temples.
The main attraction here – apart from the tallest Lord Murugan statue in the world (until the completion of a taller one in India soon), is the fact that one has to climb 272 concrete steps in order to reach the Temple Cave at the very peak.
To get to Batu Caves, take the KTM Komuter to the Batu Caves station.
2. Indulge in some seriously spicy Banana Leaf Rice
Banana leaf rice is a popular meal in KL – delicious southern Indian food best eaten with the hand – the right one please.
It seems like there is a banana leaf restaurant on every street so you will be spoilt for choice. Enjoy the hunt for the best.
3. Visit the awe-inspiring Petronas Twin Towers
A visit to Malaysia is not complete if a visit to the once-tallest twin towers in the world is not included in the itinerary.
A visit to the sky bridge comes with a fee, so if you want to enjoy the place for free, just go to the two exits in the middle of the shopping mall for different views of the towers – one near the Petronas Philharmonic Hall and the other through the KLCC Park. Definitely a sight to remember.
To get there, take the Kelana Jaya LRT line and exit at the KLCC station.
4. Step back in time at the Sultan Abdul Samad Building
The Sultan Abdul Samad Building was built in 1897, one of the oldest buildings in Kuala Lumpur.
First used as a British government administrative office, the building has housed the courts and a Culture and Heritage Ministry office.
The design is unique to the period it was built. To get there, take the Kelana Jaya LRT Line, disembark at the Masjid Jamek station and take a short walk there.
5. Indulge in some lip-smacking street food
Nothing beats the flavours and aromas of roadside stalls and street food of Kuala Lumpur.
There is a very wide choice in the Chinatown area at Petaling Street with good mee goreng or char kueh teow, satay and Chinese steamboat.
6. Ride the LRT and the MRT
Most of the LRT and MRT systems are elevated so a ride on either provides a nice alternative view of Kuala Lumpur and the suburbs.
It is definitely a swell way as well to shelter from the rain.
Khai and wife Amira are Malaysian travel bloggers who blog at Kaki Jalans. Their travels have taken them to almost all the countries in Asean and five countries in Europe. They are still actively travelling and adding to this list.