Location Information

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Language: Hindi, English, Cantonese
Currency: Malaysian Ringit (MYR)

Malaysia is a federation of thirteen states and three federal territories in Southeast Asia. The country is separated into two regions: the Malay Peninsula and Borneo by the South China Sea.

The earliest inhabitants of the Malay Peninsula were indigenous people who migrated from Siam around 2500 BCE. There were numerous Malay kingdoms in the 2nd and 3rd century CE. Britain established its first colony in the Malay Peninsula in 1786, with the lease of the island of Penang to the British East India Company by the Sultan of Kedah. In 1824, the British took control of Malacca following the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 which divided the Malay archipelago between Britain and the Netherlands, with Malaya in the British zone.

Malaysia has a tropical climate. Days are very warm, while nights are fairly cool. The main rainy season in the east is from November through to February, while August is the wettest period on the west coast.

Kuala Lumpur, KL, as it is locally known, is Malaysia’s hub; a huge, bustling, cosmopolitan city that is the business heart of the nation. It’s very ethnic diversity is part of the attraction with Malays, Chinese, Indian and European cultures melting together on the tropical streets. Often overlooked by many tourists, KL has a wealth of attractions, with the voluminous Petronas Twin Towers.

Just north of Ipoh at Jalan Kuala Kangsar, Perak Tong, a limestone cave temple, houses over 40 statues of Buddha. 385 steps in a cave behind the main altar lead up to a magnificent viewpoint, from where one can survey the surrounding countryside. Sam Poh Tong and Kek Lok Tong, near Gunung Rapat, are impressive cave temples where statues of Buddha stand alongside magical stalactites and rock formations.

Malay food concentrates on subtleties of taste using a blend of spices, ginger, coconut milk and peanuts. There are many regional types of Chinese cooking including Cantonese, Peking, Hakka, Sichuan and Taiwanese. Indian and Indonesian food is also popular. Western food is served throughout the country.

Kuala Lumpur has a selection of reputable nightclubs and discos, most belonging to the big hotels. Nightclubs generally stay open until 0500 or 0600 and usually request a cover charge which includes the first drink free. Many of Kuala Lumpur’s bars have a happy hour, offering two drinks for the price of one, between 1700-2000/2100. Penang is also lively at night, larger hotels having cocktail lounges, dining, dancing and cultural shows. There are night markets in most towns, including both Kuala Lumpur and Penang Chinatown.

Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the largest city in Malaysia. Malaysians fondly refer to the city as KL. Kuala Lumpur is located inland, at the confluence of Klang and Gombak River.

Kuala Lumpur has its origins in the 1850s, when the Malay Chief of Klang sent some Chinese upriver to open new and larger tin mines. They landed at the confluence of Sungai Gombak (previously known as Sungai Lumpur, which means Muddy River) and Sungai Klang (Klang River), and hence derived the name Kuala Lumpur which literally means “muddy estuary” in Bahasa Malaysia, to open mines at Ampang. Later, tin mines were opened at Pudu and Batu.

Kuala Lumpur has a year-round equatorial climate which is warm and sunny, along with plentiful rainfall, especially during the southwest monsoon from September to April.
Kuala Lumpur is a hub for cultural activities and events. Among the centres is the National Museum which is situated along the Mahameru Highway. It offers various types of collection such as artifacts and paintings collected throughout the country.

With so many different cultures mixing together, the nightlife is anything but dull in Kuala Lumpur. Although Malaysia is a Muslim country, alcohol is freely available in the capital and the nightlife is one of the liveliest in Asia. Traditional nightlife for many locals still involves a visit to a bustling pasar malam (night market), where the focus is as much on socialising and people watching as it is on shopping, savouring the excellent hawker food and quaffing ice-cold beer. The Saturday market on Jalan Raja Muda is the highlight, although Jalan Petaling in Chinatown nightly closes itself to traffic and is still a local favourite.

Medical Precautions:

Recommended Vaccinations:
Malaria
Hepatitis A
Yellow fever
Tetanus