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Interesting Facts
- Kuala Lumpur, or KL, offers a diverse ethnic mix. However, it was a group of Chinese miners, some 80 plus, who first discovered the area in 1857. They made their way up the Kelang River in search of tin. After the miners threw up a makeshift village, the town quickly became a mining boomtown, exporting tin to England and America, who were at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution.
- Kuala Lumpur had its share of setbacks before it evolved into one of Asia's richest capitals. Many of the original miners died of malaria and, as other prospectors filtered in, the town was overrun by rampant lawlessness. It was the Malay Civil War, however, that was most devastating. Before the British intervened to quell the uprising, the city was completely destroyed by fire.
- The elitist Royal Selangor Club (it allowed only whites) was party central during the early days of British colonialism. Booze and cricket were the main attractions. All that changed in August 1957, when the British flag came down and the Malayan flag was raised. The area became known as Dataran Merdeka (or Merdeka Square) and hosts the festive National Day celebration each year.
- The Commonwealth Games, a celebration of competitive sport held every four years among the present and former nations of the British Commonwealth, have been hosted by only one Asian city since their inception in 1930 – Kuala Lumpur, in 1998. The event was also notable for being the first in which team sports (cricket, hockey, netball and rugby 7s) were included, at Kuala Lumpur's insightful recommendation. Hockey, netball and rugby 7s are now fan favorites and will be obligatory as of 2014.
- The Sultan Abdul Samad Building is one of the most impressive architectural structures in Kuala Lumpur. Like the city itself, it incorporates a wide mix of cultural styles in its architecture and in particular, Moorish styles. At night, the building looks as if it were plucked off the Las Vegas strip, with bright lights running up, down, and around every wall.
- Kuala Lumpur has a world-class zoo, hardly surprising for a city of such wealth and scale. The National Zoo is home to a countless variety of rare mammals, reptiles and birds, all of which are contained within a vast landscape of specially recreated gardens. The Aquarium at the back of the zoo contains an exotic array of multicolored tropical fish. Tours are available daily.
- Thanks to its blend of cultures, KL has seen the evolution of various self-contained "pocket villages." Chinatown, which extends along Jalan Petaling, is the most obvious example. Tourists stroll through the crowded market area daily, either looking for bargains or simply taking in the overwhelming number of sights, sounds, and attractions. At night, under the illumination of tiny sparkling lights, Jalan Petaling takes on a whole new charm.
- The area's famous Lake Gardens were created in the late 19th century and provide a divine escape from the congestion of downtown. The popular gardens offer plenty of recreational opportunities and attractions. Butterfly Park is said to contain more than a hundred varieties of butterflies and the Bird Sanctuary just as many different bird species, which makes it the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia. In addition, Deer Park is home to the mouse deer, the smallest hoofed animal in the world.
- The Malaysian National Monument, which commemorates the struggle to resist Communist aggression in the fifties and early sixties, is also found in the Lake Gardens. The massive sculpture honors the memory of those who gave their lives in the battle and is one of the largest bronze sculptures in the world.
- The visually enchanting Batu Caves lie just north of Kuala Lumpur. Carved out of limestone, these meticulously sculpted caverns are sacred Hindu shrines. Nevertheless, visitors are allowed to visit daily. Inside you'll find a Hindu temple, as well as an art gallery featuring mythological Hindu statues.
