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Tourist Places of Kuala Lumpur |
Petronas Towers
 The
The Petronas Towers are designed to impress and encapsulate Malaysia’s emergence as South East Asia’s commercial and cultural centre. Celebrated as the tallest towers in the world until the recent completion of Taipei 101 in Taiwan, the buildings stand at a height of 1,483ft (452m) and are joined by a skybridge extending 192ft (58m) across. Traditional geometric principles of Islamic architecture have been followed using modern technology, with an inspiring result. The Petronas towers are used as office complexes that form part of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre Development Park.
Merdeka Square
 The
The 328ft (100m) flagpole rising from Merdeka Square is the tallest in the world, and marks the place where Malaysia achieved independence in 1957. The city’s colonial past is still very much alive in the architecture of the surrounding buildings and the field still hosts the occasional cricket matches. The Tudor-style Royal Selangor Club rests on one corner of the square, looking onto a large video screen displaying religious messages and advertisements. The Club served as a social centre for Kuala Lumpur’s British residents; its doors are now open to anyone who can afford the membership fees. In keeping with die-hard customs women are still not allowed entry to the bar, except by invitation.
Chinatown
 The crowded and colourful Chinatown area is a jumble of shops, food, smells and people. The central section of Jalan Petaling is closed at night to traffic and the street is transformed into an exciting, brightly lit experience. Vendors spread their wares onto the pavement and one can stroll along endlessly taking it all in. Merchandise ranges from jewellery to toys and t-shirts and bargaining for the best prices is accepted practice and part of the fun.
Lake Gardens
 Taman Tasik Perdana, better known as the Lake Gardens, is the oldest and most popular park in Kuala Lumpur. It lies just on the edge of the city and used to be where the British elite built their fine homes in the colonial times.
Today, its landscaped hills and beautiful trails provide an escape for city dwellers out for a jog or some early morning t'ai chi. Its main attraction is the lake surrounded by lush greenery in a 92ha. (227 acres) parkland that provides a refreshing ambience.
Roam through the aviaries at the Bird Park and Butterfly Park. Or take a stroll through the beautiful Deer Park and Orchid Garden, which are all reachable either by foot or by regular shuttle buses. From the gardens, you can also visit other attractions such as the National Monument, the Planetarium and the Islamic Museum.
The National Park (Taman Negara)
 Taman Negara contains some of the oldest rainforest in the world and spans thousands of square miles of protected land. Its richly diverse fauna and flora have evolved over a staggering 130 million years. The best way to explore the diversity of plant and animal life is by ‘trekking’ along the jungle trails. Although seldom seen, a small population of nomadic Orang Asli people still live in the rainforest, their makeshift shelters appearing in places amongst the jungle growth. Besides trekking, the park’s other attractions are fishing, river rafting or bird watching and climbers can explore the Peninsula’s highest mountain, Gunung Tahan at 7,175ft (2,187m). The best time to visit the park is between March and September.
National Monument
Within the National Monument grounds is one of the world's largest free-standing bronze sculptures. It was sculpted in 1966 by Felix de Weldon, who was also the creator of the famous Iwo Jima monument in Washington DC.
The seven soldiers atop the national monument symbolise the loyalty, sacrifice and co-operation of the people of Malaysia. Built in honour of those who had fought (and those who fell) in World War II and the Emergency of Malaya, this monument sits on a tranquil spot, surrounded by a pool of water fountains and water lilies made of pewter.
Beside the National Monument are the ASEAN Gardens and the Memorial Tun Razak which, houses memorabilia of Malaysia's second Prime Minister, the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein.
Islamic Arts Museum
 Interest in Islamic art has grown enormously in recent years. Reflecting this awareness, in December 1998 Malaysia became home to Southeast Asia’s largest museum of Islamic art. The building occupies 30,000 sq.m., situated amid the leafy surroundings of Kuala Lumpur’s Lake Gardens.
The Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia houses more than seven thousand artefacts, as well as an exceptional library of Islamic-art books.
The art objects on display range from the tiniest pieces of jewellery to one of the world’s largest scale models of the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca. The aim is to create a collection that is truly representative of the Islamic world. Instead of concentrating on works from the heartlands of Persia and the Middle East, IAMM also puts the emphasis on Asia. China and Southeast Asia are especially well represented. The third component of the Malaysian melting pot is India, which is also given special status. India, China and the Malay world are in an exclusive category. Other parts of the collection are displayed according to type of artefact rather than geographical origins in the museum’s 12 galleries.
Putra Bridge
Deemed to be the most important of the bridges in Putrajaya, the 435-m concrete bridge connects the Government Precinct to the Mixed Development Precinct, with the upper level of the bridge forming part of the Boulevard, the main street in the capital.
The three-tier bridge is inspired by the Islamic architecture of the famous Khaju Bridge in Isfahan, Iran. Its magnificent attractions are the four minaret-type piers, complete with observation decks, overlooking the Putrajaya Lake. This unique bridge provides access to pedestrians, vehicles and a monorail, while its pier will be developed into a fine dining area with a place for boats to berth.
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