Visitors to Malaysia need to obtain visa for entry through air or land. The visa policy of Malaysia elaborates jurisdictions (countries) which are granted visa free entry for a period of 90 days or 30 days or 14 days. Further to facilitate tourism there is online application system to accept applications from countries (India being one) for the electronic visa (eVisa) and the Electronic Travel Registration and Information (eNTRI). Visa can be obtained online by oneself or through a travel agent. Just a piece of caution; beware of fake visa agents and scams.
Catering to the huge influx of tourist and business men and woman, Kuala Lumpur has developed the primary international aviation gateway, Kuala Lumpur International Airport providing multi-cuisine restaurants, duty free stores, luxury lounges and mass transport systems. Situated two KM away is KLIA2, one of the world’s largest airport for budget airlines. Transfers between the two airports KLIA and KLIA2 can be made either through KLIA aero train or shuttle bus (free of cost), Airport Liner bus or the Express Rail link (at a cost) and the time taken will be 1-10 minutes depending on the facility utilised.
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| Aero Train |
The airports are situated around 45 Kms from the city centre with an express road and railway link to Kuala Lumpur city . The taxi service at KLIA is a two tier system involving both limousines provided by taxi concessionaire the airport limbo and city cabs. Passengers have a choice buying a coupon and utilising the airport limbo (at level 3) or a city taxi for which fare can be paid based on meter (at Level 1).
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| Teksi counter at KLAI2. |
Taxi service at KLAI2 can be availed at level 1 gateway for coupon taxi for premier, budget or metered taxi with queuing up to wait for taxi at exit gate 4. Taxi at Malaysia is read as Teski, consisting of executive (Blue or yellow) budget (Red) with further facilitated by Grab and Uber taxis. To reach the city centre it takes an hour by teski and half an hour through the express railway link.
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| KL Sentral |
Kuala Lumpur has developed a robust and efficient mass transportation revolving around the transport hub KL Sentral. The KTM Komuter ( lines 1, 2 & 10 ), the Mass rapid transit - MRT ( line 9 ), the Light rail transit - LRT ( lines 3,4 & 5), the monorail ( line 8 ), the ERL KIJA express and transit catering to airport passengers ( Line 6 & 7) and the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) forms the Klang valley integrated transit system. Unlike countries like Dubai, Singapore or Hong Kong the travel passes are considered to be costlier than purchasing tickets for every travel. Anyway I leave it to your judgment.
We reached Kaula Lumpur ( KLAI 2) early in the morning and vary due to lack of sleep and time difference of two and half hours with Indian Standard Time, we trudge our way to the immigration desk only to find hundreds of tourist and passengers in long queues. Interesting the queues of Malaysian also looked equally long, a sign that Malaysian too travel around the world. It took a good couple of hours to reach the immigration desk and showing no interest to the duty free stores display, we plodded towards our awaiting checked in luggage and due custom clearance. Having earlier experience of a lay off at Kaula Lumpur airport and eating joints demanding cash only, the Malaysian Ringgit (MYR), we felt prudent to exchange our currencies to MYR. It was a perfect time to enjoy the traditional local breakfast of kaya toast accompanied with wobbly half boiled eggs and washing it down with a cup of freshly brewed local coffee. It was a perfect start to exploring Kaula Lumpur. We hailed a taxi at level 2, exited through exit 4 and sat back enjoying an hour drive to our hotel at the city centre. Freshening up, a Chinese lunch of Dimsums & prawns at a upscale restaurant at Bukit Bintang, a nap got us ready to explore the city.
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| Bukit Bunting |
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| Bukit Bunting |
Moment we stepped out of our hotel at Bukit Bintang at dusk, we knew we were in a happening city, an entertainment epicentre of Kaula Lumpur. In fact we were at the famous Golden Triangle of KL defined by three arterial roads – Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan imbi and Jalan Raja Chulan. We found the busy thoroughfare with throngs of crowd enjoying the lively fresco bars, upscale shopping malls, luxe fashion boutiques, vibrant night clubs. It took us an hour to traverse the two KM walk to the iconic Petronas Towers as we absorbed the environs.
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| Petronas twin towers |
The first sight of the twin towers left us astounded. The 88 floor tower resembles motifs found in Islamic art, with the structural system as a tube structure, was the tallest building in the world between the years 1998 to 2014 and today remains the tallest twin towers in the world.
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| Petronas twin tower sky bridge |
It has a iconic sky bridge on the 41st floor which links the two towers like a tendon and a observation deck on the 86th floor. The building reflects a symbol of spectacular rise of city from a tin miners shack to a metropolis. Built to house headquarter of Petronas, the national petroleum company of Malaysia, it shares the space with many business houses along with the Syria KLCC mall.
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| Musical fountain at KLCC esplande |
Sited at the esplande outside the Syria KLCC mall is the man-made lake, surrounded by spacious and beautifully landscaped KLCC park featuring a jogging park. The grandiose lake symphony fountains play every night at 2000, 2100 & 2200 HRs to the tunes of music. It is believed that to get a best view of the twin towers, one should head for Skybar at Traders Hotel, south of KLCC park or Heli Lounge.
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| Menara KL Tower |
Not very far from the KLCC park is located the Menara KL Tower. Built in 1994, erected atop the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve is amongst the tallest telecommunication tower in the world. The tower architectural style reflects Malaysian vibrant Islamic heritage with Arabic scripts tiles and conventional Islamic floral abstract patterns with towers familiar to a Malaysian spinning top used for playing the game “gasing”. Hailed as one of the tallest freestanding structure in the world, Menara KL too plays host to a revolving restaurant Atmosphere 360.
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| Batu Caves |
Early next day we hailed a Grab taxi for Batu Caves, district of Gombak, 11 KMs from the city centre. It is a 400 million years old limestone hill containing a series of caves and cave temples named after Sungai Batu, the stone river which flows past the hill. The caverns, crags and the crevices were formed in the prehistoric era.
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| Lord Murugan, Batu Caves |
The cave is dedicated to Lord Murugan and one of the most popular Tamil Shines outside India attracting thousands of worshippers during the Hindu festival Thaipusam. A 140 feet tall golden painted imposing statue of Lord Murugan stood majestically at the foot of the 272 steps which leads to the Cathedral caves which houses several Hindu shrines beneath its 100 metre high arched ceiling.
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| KTM Komuter |
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| Mono Rail |
We experienced the ride on a KTM Komuter from Batu Caves to KL Sentral. Visit to monumental and iconic transport hub of Kaula lumpur was dual. First to explore the Malaysia largest transit hub, an integrated rail transportation centre offering global connectivity and seamlessly linking all urban, suburban residential commercial and industrial areas. The hub encourages use of public transportation which has significantly reduced traffic movement leading to reduced carbon foot prints.
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| KL Sentral |
KL Sentral is the largest commercial development in Kuala Lumpur comprising of corporate offices towers, luxury hotels, condominium and shopping mall. Conceptualised as a City within a City, today it stands out globally.
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| Go Genting Highland bus ticket counter, KL Sentral |
The second reason to visit KL Sentral was to book in advance bus and ropeway tickets to Genting Highlands.
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| Awana ropeway station |
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| Sky cable ropeway, Getting Highlands |
Usually the travel houses plan a trip Singapore – Genting Highlands – Kaula lumpur or vice-versa, with stay arrangements at each place. However as we were travelling solo, we opted to take a hour bus ride through Go-Genting from Kaula lumpur to Away station and thereafter taking the sky cable car ride. It took us a good hour to reach the cable car as the place thronged of the holiday crowd.
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| Theme park, Genting Highlands |
As we hit the popular weekend resort. Genting Highlands at an altitude of around 1800 metre, we were welcomed by floors of premium outlets, eating joints, theme park, casino, malls, 4D Cinema and the hourly cinematic visuals combined with music fusing for a spectacular visual story telling - the Sky symphony display.
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| Chin Swede Caves Temple |
On our way back, we made a halt at the Chin Swee Caves Temple. The key landmarks the 15 metre tall Buddha statue, nine storey lamp lit pagoda and the open - air Sky Terrace. Located at a sharp rocky slope facilitated by a number of escalators, the awesome mountainous landscape left us spell bounded. It was indeed a nice, cool getaway from the hustle bustle city life.
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| KL Gallery |
Kaula lumpur does not have many sights, but it worth a visit to the Dataran Merdeka Square or Independence Square where the Jamek Mosque is located at the confluence of the Llang and Gombak river. The other side the Sultan Abdul Samad stands.
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| Sultan Abdul Samad |
This magnificent building housed the offices of the British administration and here the Union flag was lowered and the Malaysian flag was hoisted in 31st August 1957. Across the road is the KL City gallery of the past and the future.
Other prominent sights are the Lake Gardens also called Tun Abdul Razak Heritage park sprawling 227 acres with plenty of walk ways and trees with the Orchid garden and hibiscus garden being a part. Nestled amidst the serenity of the Lake garden is located the colourful KL Bird Park is one of the largest free flight aviaries in the world, a home to over 200 species of native and exotic birds. Adjacent to it is the KL Butterfly zoo housing many local species.
In case one is a shopaholic, Kaula lumpur is the place to be in. The key modern shopping upscale malls are located in the golden triangle are the Surya KLCC Pavilion KL, Berjaya Times Square, Sungei Wang Plaza, home to the International brands.
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| Central Market |
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| Little India |
Street markets like the Central Market and Petaling Street in China Town form the unique and ethnic shopping experience The Kasturi walk - the covered open air flea market is famous for counterfeit branded products and in case one wants to experience India in Kaula Lumpur, Little India is the place to be in.
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| Jalan Alor street food |
Travel to Kaula Lumpur will not be complete without experiencing the culinary delights and the variety of cuisine spanning various ethnic groups. Malaysia is a food obsessed nation. Yes people love to eat and eating out is extremely popular among the locals. One can enjoy the gastronomic in the various malls and streets but the Hub of KL cuisine Jalan Alor offshoot of Bukit Bintang is the most famous destination for Hawker fare. It is known as the Mecca of street food.
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| Jalan Alor street food |
The barbecued meats, noodles and desert are some of the best and cheapest in the city. There was no time to neither luxuriate over the menu nor expect fancy décor or service. There were picture menus to make ordering easy and food served on plastic plates in a rainbow of colors. We experienced the amazing culinary scenes of plastic tables and chairs laid along the street with jam-packed people ordering their dishes from the diverge range of hawkers lined along sides of the street and savouring the delicacies and rather had a hard time finding a place. The tantalising aroma coming from the frying and boiling pots, the clangs of woks, sight of array of noodles gets the taste buds tingling, the sensuous aroused, appetite at its best, building up thoughts for the meal to come. It was a moment for Bon appétit and after a sumptuous meal in Jalon Alor it was time to bid Au revoir Kaula Lumpur.
