Kuala Lumpur (called simply KL by locals) is the federal capital and the largest city in Malaysia. Literally meaning “muddy river confluence” in Malay, Kuala Lumpur has grown from a small sleepy Chinese tin-mining village to a bustling metropolis of 7 million (city-proper population- 1.8 million) in just 150 years. A cultural melting pot with some of the world’s cheapest 5-star hotels, great shopping, even better food and some of nature’s wonders in just an hour away, this dynamic city has much to offer for every visitor.Kuala Lumpur is a sprawling city and its residential suburbs seem to go on forever. The city is a Federal Territory, and has an area of 243 km2 (94 sq mi) which consists of the city center and its surrounding urban areas, managed by the KL City Hall. It also merges with the adjacent satellite cities of Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, Shah Alam, Klang, Port Klang, Ampang, Selayang/Rawang, Kajang, Puchong, Sepang, and all in the state of Selangor, (except the new administrative city Putrajaya, also a federal territory) which enclaves KL, and all with their separate local authorities. Collectively they are called Greater Kuala Lumpur, more commonly Klang Valley. The combination of Old City Centre, Tuanku Abdul Rahman/Chow Kit and Brickfields, which has a rich history, is also known as the Kuala Lumpur/Diamond Triangle.The city can be divided into the following areas, each of which offers a particular attraction or activity.MerdekaPrior to independence, Malaya was a British colony. When Malaya’s independence, to be attained on 31 August 1957, was approved by the British Government in 1956, the first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman announced it to the public in Malacca at what is today Dataran Pahlawan.On the evening of 30 August 1957, crowds gathered at what was then known as the Selangor Club Padang (Green) to celebrate the historic event. As the clock on the State Secretariat Building (today’s Sultan Abdul Samad Building) struck midnight, the crowds, led by Tunku Abdul Rahman, shouted “Merdeka” seven times. The Union Jack was lowered and the flag of the new country was raised to the strains of the national anthem, Negaraku. The Selangor Club Padang is today known as Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square). The next day, the official handing over of power by the British was held at Stadium Merdeka (Independence Stadium).The country was renamed Malaysia on September 16, 1963, when Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya formed a new federation.Founded only in 1857 as a tin mining outpost, Kuala Lumpur is fairly new as far as Malaysian cities go and lacks the rich history of George Town or Malacca. After rough early years marked by gang fighting, Kuala Lumpur started to prosper and was made capital of the Federated Malay States in 1896. Malaysia’s independence was declared in 1957 in front of huge crowds at what was later named Stadium Merdeka (Independence Stadium), and Kuala Lumpur continued as the new nation’s capital. The economic boom of the 1990s brought KL the standard trappings of a modern city, bristling with skyscrapers and modern transportation systems.Kuala Lumpur has a year-round tropical rainforest climate which is warm and sunny, along with abundant rainfall. It can even rain daily during the northeast monsoon season from October to March. Wettest month (with highest rainfall) is November (278mm). Driest month (with lowest rainfall) is June (130mm). Flooding is a frequent occurrence in Kuala Lumpur whenever there is a heavy downpour, especially in the city centre and downstream areas. Dust particles from forest fires from nearby Sumatra sometimes cast a haze over the region (especially between June and August). It is a major source of pollution in the city along with open burning, emission from vehicles and construction work. Temperatures tend to remain constant throughout the year and hover between 31~33 C (max. temperature) and 22~23 C (min. temperature).Malaysia’s transportation systems are, by regional standards, pretty well functioning. Planes, trains, buses, and taxis are linked in a system conceived and constructed by, if not an order-loving architect, at least a dedicated amateur. The planners’ aims are an ultra-modern, chic, european-style system that are a far cry from the city’s humble beginnings. A bewildering jumble of initials and acronyms assault any first time journey planner in KL and it will take at least a day to decipher the scheme of things. Kuala Lumpur International Airport (IATA: KUL) is about 50km south west of the city, in the Sepang district of Selangor. The USD2.5 billion glass and steel structure was inaugurated in 1998 and has been ranked as one of the world’s top airports. It superseded the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah International Airport in Subang, which is now only used for charter and turboprop flights.If you are a visitor, your fingerprints will be taken on arrival at the airport.Travellers are told to use the coupon taxi available at the exit point. The drivers that hang around the airport and KL Sentral will try and scam you. If anyone approaches you asking you where you want to go, do not trust them: they will be shameless in inflating the price for you and lying about the unavailability of other options. It is recommended for traveler to use Grab instead (a SE Asian mobile number from one of the countries Grab operates in, is required for registering your Grab app upon download). If you have your own wheels, KLIA is well connected to Peninsular Malaysia’s expressway network. The airport is directly linked with the North South Expressway Central Link (known by its Malay abbreviation “ELITE” of Expressway Lingkaran Tengah) about 70km or nearly 1h away from Kuala Lumpur city centre. Exit the expressway at KLIA interchange for both the Main Terminal and klia2.A gigantic new USD1.3 billion low-cost carrier terminal named klia2 started operations in May 2014, replacing the former Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT). Located about 2km away from the KLIA Main Terminal Building (MTB), it is used by AirAsia, Tiger Airways, and Cebu Pacific. Departing passengers should note the considerable (up to 20 minute brisk) walk between Immigration clearance, this procedure alone taking on occasion up 45 minutes due to processing slowness despite small traveller numbers, and the furthest gates.Security check requirements are different if you are flying domestic and international. For international travelers, they are expected to dispose all liquid except 100ml (including drinking water) at security check. For domestic travellers, they are allowed to go through security even with a full 1.5l water bottle. Passengers arriving from ‘high-risk’ countries may face extra checks by customs.There are a few water coolers for topping up your empty water bottles after the security check. If you are at the ‘J’ gates, there is only one outside the toilet near gate J6.[email protected], a shopping mall with plenty of shopping and dining options, adjoins the actual terminal building. Ground transport to the city and elsewhere is in [email protected]AirAsia fly-thru passengers at klia2 are to connect via the Transfer Hall (Gate L), located between the domestic & international gates. There is no airside transit between klia2 and the KLIA Main Terminal Building (MTB). Passengers transiting between airlines have to clear Immigration and Customs upon arrival at klia2 and collect their baggage, before proceeding to the KLIA Main Terminal Building (MTB) to re-check in for flights and vice versa.klia2 is linked by the KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit to KL Sentral Terminal in the city centre. Ticket from/to KL Sentral costs RM55 one way (33 mins by KLIA Ekspres and 39 mins by KLIA Transit). All trains stop at KLIA Main Terminal before continuing on towards KL Sentral or klia2. Transfers between the KLIA Main Terminal Building (MTB) and klia2 takes just under 3 minutes and costs RM2. The train station is on the 2nd floor of [email protected]Several bus operators run services to KL and other cities from the Ground Transport Hub on the ground floor of [email protected]Free shuttle bus service is available for transferring between KLIA Main Terminal and klia2.klia2 is connected to the same expressways that connect KLIA Main Terminal to the city centre.The Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (IATA: SZB) (ICAO: WMSA), more commonly referred to as the Subang Skypark Airport, was the country’s main international airport until KLIA was opened in 1998. As it is much nearer to the city centre and less crowded than the newer KLIA, it can make a convenient entry point for those flying from Singapore, Batam (Indonesia) or other parts of Malaysia. (Majority of international flights are from Singapore.) After the opening of KLIA, it was designated for turboprop aircraft and is currently served by three airlines.KTM Subang Skylink [50] operates a Subang Skylink service between KL Sentral and the Skypark Terminal. The fare is RM15.00 one way, and it takes 28 minutes for the entire journey. This is a limited express service, so do check the schedule on the website.Skypark Coaches Sdn. Bhd. [51] operates a shuttle bus service to/from Subang Terminal. As of June 2014, the route to Pudu Sentral [52] was already in operation, with hourly departures both from Pudu Sentral (7AM-9PM) and from the airport (8AM-10PM). The fare from the airport is RM8.20 to KL Sentral or to KTM KL (Old Railway Station), RM9.30 to Pudu Sentral

Airport: KUL Kuala Lumpur International Airport Cities in Malaysia

Country: Malaysia