Gateway tower
About 21 m of sculpture.
Simitha T.Singam from KL, Malaysia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Conny Sandland from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — CC BY 2.0 · Shesmax — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Shesmax — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Shesmax — CC BY-SA 4.0
One of the leading Sri Lankan Tamil temples in Malaysia, in Brickfields, known as Little India, a few minutes from KL Sentral station. The Selangor Ceylon Tamils' Association built it, finishing in 1902, so it is more than a century old. Its architecture is inspired by the Nallur Kandaswamy temple in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, and it is fronted by a soaring stepped gateway tower about twenty-one metres high, covered in colourful figures sculpted by Jaffna craftsmen and crowned by small golden finials. The temple is dedicated to the god Murugan of the Hindu faith. It is known as one of the most ritually strict temples in Malaysia, and photographing the shrines inside the grounds is not allowed. It opens from dawn until evening, entry is free, shoes come off, modest dress is expected and quiet during prayers. The best times to visit are in the morning or towards evening, when the rituals take place. Pair it with a walk through Brickfields' streets of sari, spice and Indian sweet shops and its restaurants.
About 21 m of sculpture.
Modelled on Nallur.
Saris, spices and sweets.
Jalan Scott, Brickfields (Little India), near KL Sentral
Royal Museum (Old National Palace)This is the one place in Malaysia where you can walk into a real royal palace. T4 minutes walk4.2
Kuala Lumpur Old Railway StationA railway station that looks like a Mughal palace: white domes, little turrets, 8 minutes walk4.3
National PlanetariumMalaysia's national planetarium, a building crowned by a large blue dome on a hi9 minutes walk
National Museum of MalaysiaFive ringgit, one of the cheapest things you will pay for in Kuala Lumpur, buys 10 minutes walk4.2
National Mosque of MalaysiaInstead of the usual dome, this mosque is crowned by a roof shaped like a folded11 minutes walk4.7You can photograph the facade and gateway tower from outside, but photographing the shrines inside is prohibited, so ask the staff before raising a camera.