Kuala Lumpur

New 7 Wonders Cities

Kuala Lumpur began in the mid-nineteenth century as a tin-mining settlement at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers, a name often translated as muddy confluence. It grew into the capital of Malaysia and a modern metropolis, famous for the Petronas Twin Towers, designed by César Pelli and completed in 1998, with a skybridge linking the towers and a floor plan inspired by Islamic geometry. They were the tallest buildings in the world until 2004. Yet the city’s character lies at street level. Colonial-era buildings around Merdeka Square, including the Moorish-style Sultan Abdul Samad Building, face a skyline of glass; Chinatown, Little India and Kampung Baru keep older neighbourhoods alive; and the National Mosque, Thean Hou Temple and Hindu shrines at the Batu Caves reflect a multicultural country of Malay, Chinese, Indian and Indigenous communities. Food is a major draw, from hawker stalls and night markets to nasi lemak, satay, roti canai and laksa, and eating in KL is as much social as culinary. Greenery survives in the KLCC Park beneath the towers and the KL Forest Eco Park in the middle of the city. The climate is hot and humid year-round with afternoon rain, so planning outdoor visits for mornings and carrying a small umbrella works well. Public transport has expanded, with rail and monorail lines, though traffic remains heavy. Dress modestly at religious sites and be ready to remove shoes.