Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
October 26-28, 30-1, 2015
(This is part of my 6-day KL-SG tour)
History:
It’s hard to believe Kuala Lumpur didn’t even exist 200 years ago.
Kuala Lumpur's history is surprisingly short – it only came into existence in the late 1850s, when a group of Chinese tin prospectors settled where the Klang and Gombak rivers meet in what was then deep mosquito-ridden jungle. The mines developed into a trading post which evolved into a frontier town.
Its development into modern day 'KL' began under British colonial rule, when the scruffy little settlement ridden by inter-gang rivalry was placed under the control of a Chinese Kapitan or headman. His name was Yap Ah Loy, and he was responsible for the layout of the city.
The jungle was cleared, and the construction of more substantial brick and stone buildings commenced. The use of skilled Chinese carpenters meant that many of the buildings that sprang up resembled the distinctive shop houses of southern China.
The construction of a railway line, the establishment of laws, courts, a prison and a school all contributed to the city’s early modernisation. This led to KL being proclaimed capital of the newly formed Federated Malay States at the end of the 19th century.
Different communities settled into distinct areas – the Chinese around Chinatown and the commercial district, Malays and Indians along Java Street, and the British around Padang, now known as Merdeka Square.
KL’s growth continued apace until capture by the Japanese in 1942. But British administration returned post-war, and preparations for Malaysian independence began in earnest, coming to fruition in 1963.
In 1969, race riots kicked off between the Malays and the Chinese. Almost 200 people died during the 13 May Incident, leading to nationwide economic reform to reduce Chinese monopolies.
Since independence, KL has steadily grown, particularly during the boom years of the 1980s and 1990s, into the ultra-modern (in parts) city it is today.
Did you know?
• Kuala Lumpur’s name translates as ‘muddy confluence’.
• Kuala Lumpur hosted the 1998 Commonwealth Games.
• At 379m (1,2142ft), the Petronas Twin Towers were the world’s tallest buildings between 1998 and 2004.
Source: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/kuala-lumpur/history
It’s hard to believe Kuala Lumpur didn’t even exist 200 years ago.
Kuala Lumpur's history is surprisingly short – it only came into existence in the late 1850s, when a group of Chinese tin prospectors settled where the Klang and Gombak rivers meet in what was then deep mosquito-ridden jungle. The mines developed into a trading post which evolved into a frontier town.
Its development into modern day 'KL' began under British colonial rule, when the scruffy little settlement ridden by inter-gang rivalry was placed under the control of a Chinese Kapitan or headman. His name was Yap Ah Loy, and he was responsible for the layout of the city.
The jungle was cleared, and the construction of more substantial brick and stone buildings commenced. The use of skilled Chinese carpenters meant that many of the buildings that sprang up resembled the distinctive shop houses of southern China.
The construction of a railway line, the establishment of laws, courts, a prison and a school all contributed to the city’s early modernisation. This led to KL being proclaimed capital of the newly formed Federated Malay States at the end of the 19th century.
Different communities settled into distinct areas – the Chinese around Chinatown and the commercial district, Malays and Indians along Java Street, and the British around Padang, now known as Merdeka Square.
KL’s growth continued apace until capture by the Japanese in 1942. But British administration returned post-war, and preparations for Malaysian independence began in earnest, coming to fruition in 1963.
In 1969, race riots kicked off between the Malays and the Chinese. Almost 200 people died during the 13 May Incident, leading to nationwide economic reform to reduce Chinese monopolies.
Since independence, KL has steadily grown, particularly during the boom years of the 1980s and 1990s, into the ultra-modern (in parts) city it is today.
Did you know?
• Kuala Lumpur’s name translates as ‘muddy confluence’.
• Kuala Lumpur hosted the 1998 Commonwealth Games.
• At 379m (1,2142ft), the Petronas Twin Towers were the world’s tallest buildings between 1998 and 2004.
Source: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/kuala-lumpur/history
ITINERARY: (DIY)
Day 1 1730 Arrival in KLIA 2000 Check in and rest 2200 Late dinner at Chinatown 2400 Lights off Day 2 0800 Breakfast 1000 Batu Caves 1300 Lunch at KL Central Mall 1500 Back to hotel and rest 1700 Visit KL twin tower 1900 Booked a bus trip from SG-KL @ TBS 2000 Back to twin tower for night view 2200 Dinner @ Chinatown 2400 Rest Day 3 0700 Walking tour, Merdeka Square 0800 Breakfast @ Chinatown 1000 Ride a KLIA bus @ KL sentral 1300 KLIA bound for SG Day 4 (@SG) Day 5 (@SG) Day 6 0400 Arrival @ KL TBS 0700 Check in @ Hotel Petaling 0800 Breakfast 0900 Walking tour, National museum, Birdpark, Planetarium 1200 Lunch 1300 Rest 1500 KL tower 1700 Back to the hotel, Rest 2000 Dinner and souvenir hunting 2400 Midnight snack Day 7 0800 BreAkfast 0900 KLIA 1000 Flight back to PH |
If you wish to study and be familiar with KL transit, download the map below.
![]()
|
For more information about KUALA LUMPUR MALAYSIA, download the file below.
![]()
|