Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and largest city in Malaysia. This vast megalopolis is located in the middle of the west coast of Peninsula Malaysia, and is situated on the junction of the rivers Klang and Gombek. The town itself is situated about 35 km from the coast and is the center of the modern and comprehensive transport network of the peninsula. In this great city live about 1 600 000 people, and has representatives from all ethnic groups living in Malaysia.
Over the centuries, Kuala Lumpur has been repeatedly destroyed and restored. Now it is one of the most modern and dynamic cities in the entire Asian continent. Modern buildings in Kuala Lumpur began after the Second World War and especially after the independence of Malaysia.
Today the city is a major industrial center of the country, and is home to many financial and commercial corporations.
Although modern urbanization, the construction of gigantic buildings and road junctions has overpowered the whole huge wave of development in every aspect of Kuala Lumpur it still remains true to its roots. Furthermore, skyscrapers, superb restaurants with Asian specialties and outstanding hotels, the architecture of the city has preserved the footprint of a mix colonial past. Notable in this respect are the buildings of the Sultan Abdul Samad and Royal Club Selangor.
With hand on heart we can say that if Kuala Lumpur's past and future met in battle it is unclear which of the two would prevail. Overall, no Malaysian capital has impressive historical monuments, which does not mean that there is nothing to see. As the country's capital, Kuala Lumpur is the center of a rich cultural life.
Probably the biggest tourist attraction of the metropolis are the Petronas Towers, which until recently were the highest buildings in the world. Both skyscrapers are like a character literally and figuratively they are a striking economic and social growth of the capital notes of recent decades. Their height reaches an amazing 452 meters, and have 88 floors and a total of 32 000 windows. Asian twins were built in 1997.
The towers are hosts to the local oil company Petronas and many banks, businesses, shops, shopping and entertainment centers. On the top was built a concert hall with excellent acoustics. The construction of the project was mainly financed by private investors, but with massive support of the Government of Malaysia and the national oil company Petronas. Designed by the American architect Cesar Peli, each tower has 29 double, high speed elevators.
Petronas Towers are interconnected with the "air bridge". It was built between the 41st and 42nd floor of each building. Additional is the air security facility built specifically and given props which are attached to the structure. Especially popular is the bridge after it was included as the background in developing activities in the Hollywood film, Trap starring Catherine Zeta Jones and Sean Connery.
Among the other attractions in Kuala Lumpur are the Batu Caves which are uniquely a Hindu shrine. Here you can see a 42.7 m high statue of Lord Murugan. The area is popular among the followers of Hinduism, who each year gather there to celebrate the Hindu New Year holiday, known as Thaipusam, which is noted after the new moon in March.
The caves are not only a magnificent view. They were built with huge natural windows, which let in sunlight during the day. Today the Batu Caves are among the most visited destinations in Asia. Among other interesting buildings in the capital of Malaysia is the National Theatre, Istana Budaya and the British colonial building Dataran Merdeka.
