Kuala Lumpur/Botanical Garden

Perdana Botanical Garden is Kuala Lumpur's first large-scale recreational park. Measuring 91.6 hectares, it is located in the heart of the city and was established in 1888.

Either via taxi, MRT or on foot (see below). No buses serve this area.

By train

The MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line stops at Muzium Negara.

On foot

From Brickfields

Starting from the Monorail station in Brickfields, first cross Jalan Tun Sambanthan via the footbridge into NU Sentral shopping mall. Once in the mall, follow the signs leading upstairs then round to the left and down again into the main station concourse. Go straight through the station, following signs for Le Meridien and Hilton hotels, to emerge on the NW side at the taxi rank and drop-off area. Turn right and walk to the top of this area, to find an entrance ramp curving in from the left. Walk down this, crossing another service lane. You’ll see a ramp curving in from Jalan Travers, and a highway bridge across it. Take the bridge sidewalk, and on the other side descend the stairs onto Jalan Travers. Turn left and immediately left again, you should see the National Museum just ahead. That’s the hard part done - from here on it's literally a stroll in the park. This whole area is blighted by construction of a new metro station, which may disrupt the route short-term, but should eventually improve pedestrian access.
The footpath ahead leads to a ramp into the museum. Staying on the footpath takes you through a subway (which may flood in wet weather) into the Lake Gardens. This route is locked when the gardens close, around 8 pm, and on no account should you attempt to walk across the expressway Jalan Damansara thundering above you.

From Chinatown

Take the footbridge at Pasar Seni station and walk over Klang river and turn left on the footbridge. Get off the bridge at Jalan Tugu and use the pedestrian underpass to get to the other side of busy Jalan Kinabalu. Now you are in the Perdana Botanical Garden district right north of the National Mosque.

Lake Gardens is best explored on foot. There are pleasant footpaths throughout the park.

Perdana Botanical Garden

The Perdana Botanical Gardens were designed by the British Finance minister in Malaysia in the late 19th century. In the middle of the park is an artificial lake surrounded by greeneries and hills. This park is popular among locals and tourist alike as a location to relax and take in the sunshine and beauty. The park itself has some sights:

• Orchid Garden

  phone: +60 32617 6000
  The Orchid garden was openend in 1986. 700-800 species of orchids can be seen here. Malaysia has 3000 species alltogether. There is a souvenir shop on the premises.

• Hibiscus GardenGarden dedicated to the national plant of Malaysia.

• Herbal Garden

• Deer & Mousdeer ParkLittle zoo with plenty of reindeer.

Mosques and buildings

• National Mosque

  address: JL Perdana
  Masjid Negara is unique in that it incorporates Malay-Islamic rather than the usual Arabic-Islamic architecture. It is known for its conspicuous turquoise umbrella-like roof. A yellow umbrella is usually part of the royal regalia of the sultans of Malay kingdoms.

• Heroes' MausoleumThe burial ground of several Malaysian leaders and politicians. Construction of the mausoleum began in 1963 under its project of the construction of Masjid Negara and was completed in 1965. The cemetery has an interior and an exterior. Part is covered with a concrete dome in the form of a starburst, each side of which almost touches the ground, and separated by a pond from the outside.

• National Monument

  address: Jl Tugu, Off Jl Parlimen
  This immense bronze structure was built as a memorial to the soldiers who gave up their lives for their country. This sculpture depicts seven soldiers holding the Malaysian flag, each symbolising one of seven qualities; unity, strength, leadership, sacrifice, courage, suffering and vigilance. It was sculpted by Felix de Weldon, who sculpted the famed Iwo Jima Memorial statue in Virginia, United States.

• Tun Abdul Razak Memorial

  phone: +6032693 7740
  Tun Abdul Razak (11 March 1922 (Pekan) - 14 January 1976 (London)) was the second prime minister of Malaysia. He ruled from 1970 to 1976. He is entombed in Makam Pahlawan. Razak lived on the site of the memorial from 1962 until his dead. The site consists of 2 sections: The first shows exhibitions of his life, the second is focused on his time as a politician.

Museums

• National Museum

  phone: +60 03 2267 1111
  address: Jalan Damansara
  Contains exhibits on traditional life among the various ethnic communities of Malaysia, numerous well-explained artifacts including fine clothing and shadow puppets and Orang Asli woodcarving pieces. The history section is divided into four galleries - Gallery A (prehistoric), Gallery B( Malay kingdoms), Gallery C (colonial era) and Gallery D (modern Malaysia). A visit to this museum can help you to understand more about Malaysian history and culture.

• Islamic Arts Museum

  phone: +60 32092 7070
  address: Jalan Lembah Perdana
  One of the most interesting museums in KL, the Islamic Arts Museum houses both modern and traditional Malaysia as part of the larger Islamic world and, through exhibitions of objects of religious and aesthetic significance, shows both the connection of Malaysian Islamic culture to the Muslim lands to its west and its uniqueness. The museum is the largest museum of Islamic arts in South East Asia with more than seven thousands artifacts from the Islamic world. It also features a large and high quality shop.

• National Planetarium

  phone: +603 2273 4301
  address: 53 Jalan Perdana
  The attractions here include space science and astronomy exhibits, a theatre screening 3-Dimensional movies, a viewing gallery and an observatory.

• Royal Malaysian Police Museum

  phone: +60 32272 5689
  address: 5 Jalan Perdana
  The police museum shows the history of the Malaysian police with pictures, weapons and vehicles.

• Malay World Ethnology Museum

  phone: +60 32267 1000
  address: Jalan Damansara
  This museum presents the culture of the Malay world (Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines...) especially through its material objects such as brass utensils, weapons, pottery, textiles and musical instruments, as well as cultural practices such as dance and theatre. It also showcases some impressive woodcarvings and metalworks.

Zoological gardens

• Bird Park

  phone: +60 3 2272 1010
  address: 920 Jalan Cenderawasih
  From beautiful peacocks to the alien looking birds from all over the world, this 60-hectare bird park is home to 200 species. Highlights of the park include the free-roaming birds (which seem to cope rather well with the enthusiastic children and photographers), the artificial but well-made waterfall, and the large flamingo pond. You can actually experience part of the bird park without paying to go in by eating at the Hornbill Restaurant and Cafe, which is actually built within the bird park where you can get up close with some of the birds that wish to share your lunch including the large and entertaining hornbills. The restaurant is also not cheap - the set meals are about the same price as the park's tickets, although Malaysians enjoy a measly discount. The park is also a destination of sightseeing buses. Recently people complain about the declining number of species in the park.

• Butterfly Park

  phone: +60 326934799
  address: Jalan Chenderasari
  Walk-through tropical butterfly enclosure. Apparently the largest butterfly garden in the world spanning over 80,000 sq ft of landscaped garden with over 5,000 live butterflies, exotic plants, butterfly-host plants and ferns.

• Playground for kidsLarge playground

Mainly limited to souvenir shops at the main attractions of the park. Especially the souvenir shop of the Islamic arts museum sells high quality handicraft.

Restaurants are available in Butterfly Park and Bird Park and many of the museums.

• The Hornbill Restaurant & CafeNice restaurant. The terrace of the restaurant faces the bird park. So even without paying entrance fee to the bird park it is possible to observe some of the animals.

Only one hotel - a five star one - is located in this area.

Splurge

• The Majestic Hotel

  phone: +60 32785 8000
  address: 5 Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin
  Considered one of the best hotels in the city.