When they were completed, the Petronas Towers were the tallest buildings in the world at 1,482 feet. While cities elsewhere in Asia and the Middle East since have claimed the tallest building honor, Kuala Lumpur's towers, joined by a seemingly perilous Skybridge, are nevertheless astounding. An observation deck and revolving restaurant near the top both provide awesome views of the city. The best view of the city, though, according to Lonely Planet, is from the viewing deck inside the 1,381-foot-tall Menara KL communications tower on the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, whose shape evokes a spinning top.
The Islamic Arts Museum next to Jin Lembah Perdana Lake Gardens has one of the best decorative collections in the world, including textiles, carpets and jewelry. Round off a tour with lunch in the adjoining Lebanese restaurant. The National Museum, which opened in 1963, provides a thorough historical background of the country, including an original-sized hardwood Terengganu timber palace from the late 19th century, and fascinating artifacts from the Portuguese colonial period up to independence in 1957.
Malaysia’s heterogeneous religious landscape provides numerous sacred sites of interest. The National Mosque near the old railway station is the city’s largest and is one of the biggest in Southeast Asia. The oldest, however, is the elegant Moorish Jamek Mosque, built in 1909 where the Klang and Gombak rivers meet. With its heady atmosphere of incense, the Guandi Temple in Chinatown dates from 1886 is dedicated to the Taoist general Kwan Ti. The Thean Hou Temple is an ornate Chinese structure dedicated to the goddess of the same name, and it is busy during religious festivals. The oldest Christian church is St. John’s, opened in 1883, which now stands in the shadow of the KL Tower.
The Lake Gardens in the city center provide breathing space from the surrounding mayhem. The Bird Park there is the world’s largest walk-in aviary with more than 200 species of birds on show. The Lake Gardens also feature an Orchid & Hibiscus garden and nearby Butterfly Park. Another physical hiatus in the city’s relentless speed is the Merdeka Square, marked by the distinctive copper-domed Sultan Abdul Samad Building, arguably KL’s best-known landmark before the Petronas Towers. Just outside the city, about eight miles from downtown, the Batu Caves are one of Malaysia’s top attractions, featuring limestone caverns accessed by a flight of 272 steps, guarded by a 137-foot-high golden Hindu statue. On-site entry to the caves is free; organized paid tours that leave from the city run regularly.
