According to ITYPEMBA, Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia. This place, more than others in the country, captures the essence of the “new” Malaysia. The city’s past still lives on in the form of the old colonial buildings and night lamps of Petaling Chinatown, but its present is bustling with life and glittering skyscrapers.
History of Kuala Lumpur began in 1857, when 87 Chinese miners came to this territory in search of tin. Since the area is rich in tin, they decided to settle here. The settlement was laid out at the confluence of two rivers and consisted of dilapidated houses covered with thatch. Within one month, 69 miners died of malaria. So sad was the beginning of one of the richest cities in Asia. But this did not stop others, and soon new developers arrived here, after which, by the middle of the 19th century, this place turned into a prosperous settlement, although malaria was still a big problem. Mostly Chinese people lived here. In 1896 Kuala Lumpur became the capital of the Federated Malay States, and after 1910, when a railway was laid here, the city began to develop and turn from a Chinese-populated city into a multinational one. 80s of the XX century. were a time of phenomenal development and growth for Kuala Lumpur. The capital has developed into a cosmopolitan highly developed city. The tallest buildings in the world at that time were built here – the 88-storey Petronas Twin Towers (Petronas is the name of the local oil company) with a height of 452 m.
In the east of the capital there is a business district that has become “a city in city”. Office and shopping centers, modern hotels and much more are concentrated in the area called the “Golden Triangle”. When the construction of this huge and grandiose complex of 40 hectares is completed, it will become the largest structure in the whole world. At the corner of Jalan Ampang and Jalan Sultan Ismail stands the Menara TV Tower. The height of this highest TV tower in Asia is 421 m. At a height of 276 m is an observation deck, and a little higher – a revolving restaurant. The restaurant makes a full turn in one hour, so that visitors to the restaurant can see the whole city between snacks and ice cream. On the lower level of the tower there are several shops, restaurants and a mini amphitheater.
Kuala Lumpur is not only the center of the business life of the country, but also the center of tourism. Palaces, temples, parks, gardens, museums are presented in abundance here.
Masjid Jamek Mosque (Masjid Jamek) is the oldest mosque in the city. It stands on the spot where the first inhabitants once built their huts. The mosque is distinguished by its peculiar architecture: it is built in the Indian style, with large onion domes and exquisite arched colonnades. Behind the mosque on Tuanku Abdul Rahman Street, there are magnificent buildings built in the early 20th century in a chain. influenced by Islamic architecture. Their porticoes and galleries decorated with stone lace can compete with the palaces of “1001 Nights”. Now the central administrative offices are located here.
Merdeka Square (Merdeka) is a former cricket field where the British colonizers played. On August 30, 1957, the independence of Malaysia from Great Britain was proclaimed here and lowered the British flag. In the central part of the square there is the highest flagpole in the world, rising to 100 m. Under the ground is the underground complex Plaza Putra with restaurants, shops, cinemas and a tourist information center.
The minaret of the National Mosque (Masjid Negara) rose up to 75 m. The building of the mosque was erected in the mid-1960s. and combined elements of Islamic and national symbols. Thus, the number of domes of this mosque corresponds to the number of domes of the Great Mosque in Mecca, but the folded roof of the building (in the shape of a star) resembles a Malay royal umbrella. Its 18 prongs represent the 13 states of the Federation of Malaysia. and 5 pillars of Islam. Up to 3,000 people can pray in the main hall of the mosque at the same time. Not far from the mosque is the modern building of the Museum of Islamic Art, where you can get an idea of Islamic culture.
The historic site is Petaling, the center of the original Chinatown. It maintains a traditional atmosphere, especially noticeable in the evening, when vendors come out with goods. At this time, you can buy everything here – from gems to toys and T-shirts. Here, in Chinatown, you can see the temple of Sri Mahamariamman (Sri Mahamariamman), which is one of the most beautiful in Malaysia. The temple was founded in 1873 by people from the northern India, who worked here on the construction of roads or on rubber plantations. Graceful frescoes, colorful ornaments, gilding and exquisite tiles make it truly irresistible.
The National Museum of Kuala Lumpur has an excellent collection of works by local artists, as well as handicrafts, costumes, weapons, antiquities. One of the departments of the museum is dedicated to the flora and fauna of Malaysia.
Despite the status of a business city, nature reigns in the center of Kuala Lumpur. Here is the “Lake Garden” – a huge park that includes parks of deer, birds and butterflies, as well as an orchid garden, where about 3,000 species of these plants are grown, brought from all over the world. A magnificent park is also laid out near the residence of the king Malaysia, Istana Negara Palace.
