A village in the city
Timber houses before the Petronas Towers.
Patrice78500 — Public domain · *angys* — CC BY-SA 4.0 · ELIZABETH XIONG — CC BY 4.0 · RivieraBarnes — CC BY-SA 4.0
A genuine Malay village in the heart of the capital, founded in 1899 through a grant from the Sultan of Selangor so that Malays could keep village life within the city, and formally gazetted as a Malay agricultural settlement in 1950. It has resisted the spread of towers and development ever since, becoming a symbol of Malay identity. The scene is unique: traditional timber houses on stilts with little gardens, and right behind them the Petronas Towers and the modern city, a contrast photographers love. The quarter has a historic mosque and an old club that hosted meetings of the independence movement after the Second World War. Wandering is free and always possible, and the main draw is authentic halal Malay food: nasi lemak, satay and traditional dishes in restaurants and stalls, especially in the evening and on Ramadan nights, when the quarter fills with iftar markets. Come in the late afternoon, walk among the old houses, then have dinner at one of its popular eateries. It is close to Kampung Baru LRT station and a short walk from the Petronas Towers over a footbridge.
Timber houses before the Petronas Towers.
Nasi lemak, satay and Ramadan markets.
A symbol of Malay identity in the capital.
North of the city centre, across the Klang River from the Petronas Towers district
Petronas Twin TowersFrom 1998 to 2004 these were the tallest buildings in the world, and at 452 metr10 minutes walk4.6
Petrosains, The Discovery CentreAn interactive science centre inside the Suria KLCC mall at the foot of the Petr11 minutes walk4.7
KL TowerThis telecoms tower is shorter than the Petronas Towers, but it stands on a hill15 minutes walk4.5
National Art Gallery (Balai Seni Negara)If you want to see how Malaysians see themselves, this is the place. The Nationa15 minutes walk4.4
KLCC ParkA green oasis of around twenty hectares at the feet of the Petronas Towers, desi16 minutes walk4.6Very much: in Ramadan its streets fill with iftar markets and Malay home cooking, one of the loveliest Ramadan experiences in Kuala Lumpur. Come an hour before sunset to choose your food.