PETRONAS TWIN TOWERS
Anchoring
the sprawling Kuala Lumpur City Centre are the iconic PETRONAS Twin
Towers. Standing 452 metres tall, it was declared the tallest buildings
in the world in 1998 when it was first completed and retained its
world-title claim to fame until 2004 when Taipei's 101 was built,
measuring 508 metres tall.
Today, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai (opened in 2010) holds on to the record as the world’s tallest building, but the PETRONAS Twin Towers remain the world’s tallest twin structures. Called the Twin Jewels of KL, the 88-storey chrome and steel towers are joined at the 41st and 42nd floors (175m above street level) by a 58m-long, double-decker Sky Bridge. A visit to KL just is not complete unless you have visited these double structures: visitors need a pass to enter the bridge and since a limited number are issued each day, it is useful to get there early.
Today, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai (opened in 2010) holds on to the record as the world’s tallest building, but the PETRONAS Twin Towers remain the world’s tallest twin structures. Called the Twin Jewels of KL, the 88-storey chrome and steel towers are joined at the 41st and 42nd floors (175m above street level) by a 58m-long, double-decker Sky Bridge. A visit to KL just is not complete unless you have visited these double structures: visitors need a pass to enter the bridge and since a limited number are issued each day, it is useful to get there early.
KUALA LUMPUR TOWER
Along
with the PETRONAS Twin Towers, Menara KL is easily one of Malaysia’s
most recognizable and popular landmarks. Constructed in 1994, the tower
stands 421m-tall and despite the PETRONAS Twin Towers’ superior build
height, the viewing deck at Menara KL is a full 100 metres higher, so
the panorama is even more spectacular. Currently the 18th-tallest
freestanding structure in the world, Menara KL plays host to a
revolving restaurant, Atmosphere 360, serving local and western cuisine.
Sitting atop the Bukit Nanas (Pineapple Hill) Forest Reserve – the oldest gazetted forest reserve in the country – the tower’s architectural style reflects Malaysia’s Islamic heritage with walls inscribed with Arabic scripts and floor tiles, floral motifs and abstract patterns.
At
the foot of the PETRONAS Twin Towers, Suria KLCC is a six-storey mall
that houses top international brands, a 12-screen movie theatre, an art
gallery, Malaysia’s first concert hall and a science discovery centre.
Popular not only for its right-on-the-money location, but also for its outstanding variety of retail and entertainment options, it is divided into three sections (Ampang Mall, Park Mall and Ramlee Mall). Home to over 320 high-end local and international retailers, some of the brands represented include Balenciaga, Banana Republic, Coach, DKNY, Jimmy Choo, Kate Spade, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu and Versace. A bridge on the Concourse Level leads to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and Traders Hotel, while a connection at the other end links the mall to the KLCC LRT (light rail transit) station.
On
the concourse level of the KL Convention Centre, Aquaria KLCC is a
464,515sqm aquarium just begging to be explored, with over 150 species
of marine life. Some people write it off as a tourist trap, but they
are sorely missing out – beyond the gallons of water filled with sea
creatures, coral and necklaces of kelp is one of KL’s foremost
sightseeing attractions with real depth and complexity.
Kuala Lumpur Aquarium is laid out to take visitors through different watery landscapes, from the highlands and flooded jungles of Malaysia, to the Amazon basin, coral reefs and the open ocean. One of the highlights of Aquaria KLCC is a giant tank (featuring an authentic-looking shipwreck), with a 90m walk-through tunnel with a moving travelator in its centre. Inside you will be surrounded by sand tiger sharks, huge stingrays and more.
Good
for a few hours of fun-filled activity, Petrosains is a 7,000sqm
interactive science discovery centre on the fourth floor of Suria KLCC.
Opened in 1999, the complex is largely dedicated to the field of
petroleum, and presents science and technology in a fun and
entertaining way.
With a collection of everything from space age exhibits to fossils, this hands-on interactive science museum is divided into 11 showcases, with its first gallery devoted to PETRONAS, in the form of a Sauber PETRONAS F1 racing car. It is easy to see why Petrosains is busy on a regular basis – it is not a simplified tourist attraction but a real museum presenting lots of information in a fun and entertaining way. What’s more, there are two IMAX 3D cinemas and an iWerks theatre here.
A masterpiece conceptualised by world-renowned Brazilian landscape artist, the late Roberto Burle Marx, KLCC Park is a 202,343sqm urban sanctuary in the centre of Kuala Lumpur. Adjacent to Suria Shopping Mall, it was designed to provide a touch of greenery for the PETRONAS Twin Towers and its main highlight is a spectacular ‘dancing’ water fountain in the 10,000sqm manmade Lake Symphony. Popular with kids, it can shoot water up to a height of 42m. These daily water shows occur at noon and in the evenings.
Around 1,900 trees and plants from 74 different species are available on the park grounds, as well as a 1.3km-long jogging track, 8,100sqm children’s playground and 43m elevated bridge that provides a vantage point from where to get a good view of the park and the twin towers. Besides that, there is a public swimming pool for kids, plus waterfalls, fountains, cascades and reflecting pools scattered around the park.
Nightclubs are an almost inevitable part of Kuala Lumpur’s social life and there are quite a few city streets that play host to after-dark venues that range from custom-built super-clubs to classic pubs with niche soundtracks. Strategically located just around the corner from landmark attractions such as the PETRONAS Twin Towers and Suria KLCC, Jalan P Ramlee is considered one of the city’s hottest venues for nightlife.
Similar to its neighbour, Changkat Bukit Bintang (which is just a 15-minute walk away), Jalan P Ramlee is a hub of pubs, bars and live-music venues, making it the perfect place to see emerging local bands, enjoy live indie-rock and groove to innovative jazz bands. What’s more, it is also a great spot for food, with plenty of international flavours represented in the restaurants along this avenue.
Located in Suria KLCC, the PETRONAS Art Gallery is home to over 1,000 local and international, traditional and contemporary works of art ranging from paintings and photographs to costumes and crafts.
An understated yet elegant gallery, it was established in 1993 to support the development of art in Malaysia. The non-profit gallery has a programme of changing art, craft and design exhibitions so each visit is a unique experience. It used to be located in the Dayabumi Complex but moved to its present location in 1998.
Sitting atop the Bukit Nanas (Pineapple Hill) Forest Reserve – the oldest gazetted forest reserve in the country – the tower’s architectural style reflects Malaysia’s Islamic heritage with walls inscribed with Arabic scripts and floor tiles, floral motifs and abstract patterns.
SURIA KLCC
Popular not only for its right-on-the-money location, but also for its outstanding variety of retail and entertainment options, it is divided into three sections (Ampang Mall, Park Mall and Ramlee Mall). Home to over 320 high-end local and international retailers, some of the brands represented include Balenciaga, Banana Republic, Coach, DKNY, Jimmy Choo, Kate Spade, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu and Versace. A bridge on the Concourse Level leads to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and Traders Hotel, while a connection at the other end links the mall to the KLCC LRT (light rail transit) station.
AQUARIA
Kuala Lumpur Aquarium is laid out to take visitors through different watery landscapes, from the highlands and flooded jungles of Malaysia, to the Amazon basin, coral reefs and the open ocean. One of the highlights of Aquaria KLCC is a giant tank (featuring an authentic-looking shipwreck), with a 90m walk-through tunnel with a moving travelator in its centre. Inside you will be surrounded by sand tiger sharks, huge stingrays and more.
PETROSAINS
With a collection of everything from space age exhibits to fossils, this hands-on interactive science museum is divided into 11 showcases, with its first gallery devoted to PETRONAS, in the form of a Sauber PETRONAS F1 racing car. It is easy to see why Petrosains is busy on a regular basis – it is not a simplified tourist attraction but a real museum presenting lots of information in a fun and entertaining way. What’s more, there are two IMAX 3D cinemas and an iWerks theatre here.
KLCC PARK
A masterpiece conceptualised by world-renowned Brazilian landscape artist, the late Roberto Burle Marx, KLCC Park is a 202,343sqm urban sanctuary in the centre of Kuala Lumpur. Adjacent to Suria Shopping Mall, it was designed to provide a touch of greenery for the PETRONAS Twin Towers and its main highlight is a spectacular ‘dancing’ water fountain in the 10,000sqm manmade Lake Symphony. Popular with kids, it can shoot water up to a height of 42m. These daily water shows occur at noon and in the evenings.
Around 1,900 trees and plants from 74 different species are available on the park grounds, as well as a 1.3km-long jogging track, 8,100sqm children’s playground and 43m elevated bridge that provides a vantage point from where to get a good view of the park and the twin towers. Besides that, there is a public swimming pool for kids, plus waterfalls, fountains, cascades and reflecting pools scattered around the park.
JALAN P RAMLEE
Nightclubs are an almost inevitable part of Kuala Lumpur’s social life and there are quite a few city streets that play host to after-dark venues that range from custom-built super-clubs to classic pubs with niche soundtracks. Strategically located just around the corner from landmark attractions such as the PETRONAS Twin Towers and Suria KLCC, Jalan P Ramlee is considered one of the city’s hottest venues for nightlife.
Similar to its neighbour, Changkat Bukit Bintang (which is just a 15-minute walk away), Jalan P Ramlee is a hub of pubs, bars and live-music venues, making it the perfect place to see emerging local bands, enjoy live indie-rock and groove to innovative jazz bands. What’s more, it is also a great spot for food, with plenty of international flavours represented in the restaurants along this avenue.
PETRONAS ART GALLERY
Located in Suria KLCC, the PETRONAS Art Gallery is home to over 1,000 local and international, traditional and contemporary works of art ranging from paintings and photographs to costumes and crafts.
An understated yet elegant gallery, it was established in 1993 to support the development of art in Malaysia. The non-profit gallery has a programme of changing art, craft and design exhibitions so each visit is a unique experience. It used to be located in the Dayabumi Complex but moved to its present location in 1998.