Hot spot Kuala Lumpur. Where modernity meets tradition

Until the middle of the 19th century, the area where Kuala Lumpur is currently located was covered with rain forests. It was only after the arrival of Chinese workers, who came there to work in tin mines, when the settlement was established and quickly transformed into the most important city in this region. Today, Kuala Lumpur is one of the most dynamically developing Asian cities.

The symbol of the city are the Petronas Twin Towers, two impressive skyscrapers that are 452-meters, or 88-stories, tall. The towers, which several years ago were considered the tallest buildings in the world, are connected by a double decker skybridge on the 41st and 42nd floors from which you can see an amazing panorama of the bustling city. The bridge is not fixed to the main buildings, as it was hang in such a way as to make it possible to slide in and out of the towers that move during strong winds.

Another popular building is the Menara Kuala Lumpur Tower, which is the tallest TV tower in the world. For several years, it has been attracting visitors with Skybox – a room with a glass floor, walls and ceiling, located 300 meters above the ground. Only a few minutes spent in Skybox will make you feel like a bird soaring above the city.

When paying a visit to Menara, it is worth checking out the revolving restaurant at the very top of the tower. A full rotation of the restaurant takes a little bit over an hour, which allows you to enjoy a panoramic view of the city. Moreover, the capital of Malaysia provides thrill lovers with a bath in pools located on the roofs of hotels, where they can admire the tops of the Petronas towers.

Kuala Lumpur being a blend of Malaysian, Chinese and Indian cultures. The city features the China Town district, which is a miniature of a Chinese city, and the Little India district, where you will feel as if you have been transported to the country of Buddha. Moreover, the main religion practiced in Malaysia is Islam, whose traits are visible in local architecture. It can be enjoyed in Masjid Jamek, one of the oldest mosques in Kuala Lumpur, or Masjid Negara, a national mosque with a capacity for 15 thousands people.

When visiting Kuala Lumpur, you are not sentenced to traversing the concrete jungle and densely built-up streets, as you can find respite in Bukit Nanas, which is the remnants of the rain forest surrounding the TV Menara Kuala Lumpur Tower, as well as in Lake Gardens, located in the  very centre of the city. In this green area, which covers 90 hectares, you can admire various types of plants and more than two hundred species of exotic birds that live in a park designated specially for them.

The suburbs of Kuala Lumpur also offer a lot of interesting places. One of them is Batu Caves, a complex of Hindu temples located in limestone caves. Its most characteristic symbol is a 42-meter tall statute of the god of war and death covered with golden paint, which guards entrance to the temple. An indispensable element of Batu Caves are their residents – macaques who live around temples and like to accost passers-by, curiously look into bags, and even steal food from tourists.

Kuala Lumpur offers a whole range of delicious and fresh dishes that can be bought anywhere. Almost on every street you can find a small catering outlet or traders pushing trolleys with local delicacies. Therefore, it is worth trying nasi goreng, fried rice with vegetables accompanied by other ingredients, satay − skewered and marinated chicken meat, as well as sweet dishes served with coconut milk, mango or durian, a fruit characteristic for Malaysia, the smell of which can knock you off your feet.