beaches of Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, or KL, as it is fondly known, is the capital as well as the largest city in Malaysia. Located midway along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, at the meeting points of two significant rivers such as the Klang and the Gombek, Kuala Lumpur is one of the Malaysia's three federal territories, others being Putrajaya and Labuan.

As a tourist spot, Kuala Lumpur presents an array of tourist attractions, from towering building, incredible mosques, and beautiful monuments to relaxing parks, spectacular gardens, and interesting museums. Few among many of the attractions in the city are Merdeka Square, also known as Independence Square; Petronas Towers, which is perhaps the greatest of all attractions in the city; Batu Caves, a sacred spot of Hindus; Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, a magnificent Moorish-style building; Masjid Jamek, also known as Friday Mosque; Masjid Negara - the largest mosque in South-East Asia; Chinatown, a bustling area in the city; and National Science Center.

Hence, Kuala Lumpur is visited by people from across the world throughout the world. In order to cater to the growing needs of the tourists, Kuala Lumpur comes with an array of accommodation options such as hotels and resorts. For well heeled and luxury lovers, the city has some excellent options in the form of five-star and three-star hotels. Usually, these hotels are within close proximity to some of the top tourist attractions in the city such as Petronas Tower, and provide visitors to choose from a number of accommodation choices such as standard rooms, suites, guest rooms, and apartments.

Apart from these, majority of these hotels are coupled with two or more restaurants, serving everything from local cuisines to western dishes. There are also some hotels attached with superb bars with extensive selection of wines and other beverages. Likewise, if you are health conscious traveler or one seeking relaxation after a day's sightseeing, then go for such hotels attached with state of the art fitness centers, excellent spa providing spa treatments, sauna, and superb swimming pools.

Above all, a number of hotels in the city provide facilities in the form of several types of packages. Some hotels offer some kinds of discounts on certain types of packages when you make bookings within a stipulated time period. In some instances, packages cover overnight stay in suite with separate bedroom and living room, complimentary breakfast, free usage of broadband internet, discounted spa treatments, and free car parking.

There are also packages that are especially crafted for weary travelers, which include excellent spa and beauty treatments, apart from overnight stay in stylish rooms and daily breakfast. In addition, special packages are also available for shopping enthusiasts, inclusive of accommodation in elegantly appointed rooms, sumptuous breakfasts, and superb facilities for shopping. Likewise, exclusive packages are also made available for business travelers. Aside these, many of the top end hotels customize packages according to the unique requirements of travelers; no matter you are leisurely tourists, sightseers, or business travelers.

With the introduction of the internet, it has become quite easy to locate a luxury hotel in Kuala Lumpur. Since many of the hotels have their own websites with features such as room amenities, rates, and above all online booking facilities, this in turn enables tourists to choose the most appropriate accommodation option that goes with your requirements and to make bookings in advance.

Kuala Lumpur is the capital as well as the largest city in Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur, or KL as it is fondly known, is located in a valley enclosed by jagged hills, on the west coast of the Peninsular Malaysia. Occupying an area of about 250 square kilometers, Kuala Lumpur is an enclave in Selangor - a state of Malaysia, and is one among the three Malaysian Federal Territories, others being Putrajaya and Labuan.

A mining settlement during the late 1800s, Kuala Lumpur has now become a bustling metropolis, and serves not only as the capital but also the cultural as well as legislative center, since it is the seat of the parliament of the country. In addition, the city leads the country's fast-paced growth in sectors such as finance and banking, trade and commerce, manufacturing, transportation, tourism, and information technology.

When comes to attractions, Kuala Lumpur has aplenty to offer. Among which, not to miss ten attractions in the city are:

Merdeka Square - Also known as Dataran Merdeka or Independence Square, Merdeka Square stands as the old colonial core of the city. The focal point of Merdeka Square is the flagpole of 328ft, which is the tallest of its kind in the world. It is also the place where the Malayan flag was hoisted for the first time during the midnight on August 31, 1957 when Malaysia attained independence. Highlights in Merdeka Square also include the National History Museum, Royal Selangor Club, and Sultan Abdul Samad Building, reflecting Moorish architectural style.

Petronas Towers - Probably, the greatest among the attractions of the city is the Petronas Twin Tower, which is truly a modern architectural splendor. They are one of the tallest in the world, and consist of 88 floors. Both the towers are joined at its 41st and 42nd floor by a sky bridge. Entry to the tower is free. Found within the buildings are concert and conference halls, prayer room for Muslims, and a museum of the Petronas Oil Company. Further, at the foot of this 452 meters tall building is Suria KLCC, a trendy shopping mall selling branded items, the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Petrosains Discovery Center.

Batu Caves - Situated about 12 km north of the city, Batu Caves are a must-see attraction. A sacred spot for Hindus - Batu Caves include three main caves, apart from several small caves. Of the caves here, the biggest as well as the most popular is the Cathedral Cave or Temple Cave, which as the name suggests, has a myriad of shrines, Sri Subramania Swamy Temple being the significant. Further, the area is thronged by a large number of devotees during the annual event, Thaipusam, which falls in every January.

Kuala Lumpur Railway Station - Erected in 1910, Kuala Lumpur is a magnificent Moorish-style building built during the period of British rule. Its minarets, arches, and spires are truly incredible.

Masjid Jamek - Otherwise known as Friday Mosque, Masjid Jamek is a historic structure located at the confluence of the Sungei Klang and the Sungei Gombak rivers. Designed by Arthur Benison Hubback and opened in 1909 - it is a tranquil area set among shady palm trees.

Masjid Negara - Masjid Negara or National Mosque is the largest mosque in South-east Asia. Completed in 1965, the main prayer hall within the mosque can accommodate up to 10000 people. The centerpiece of the mosque is the splendid 18-point dome resembling a star. Each of the points represents 13 states of the country as well as the five pillars of the Islam.

Chinatown - A stroll along the vibrant area of Chinatown would be a great experience, and allows you to come through a variety of temples, vendors selling traditional medicines, and several pet shops.

Taman Negara - A visit to the city would not be complete without taking a tour to Taman Negara or National Park, boasting of some of the world's oldest rainforest. The area is especially noted for its diverse flora and fauna. A great way to explore the area via a trekking along the trails found here. Apart from this, the park also has excellent options for activities like climbing, river rafting, fishing, and bird watching. Also, a unique thing is that some of the areas within the Taman Negara are inhabited by nomadic Orang Asli people.

Lake Gardens - Sprawling over an area of about 200 acres, Lake Gardens is a beautiful tourist spot developed more than 100 years ago. Attractions found here, among many others, are the Orchid and Hibiscus Gardens, the Butterfly Park, and the Bird Park.

National Science Center - This is an exceptional spot with a number of galleries exhibiting important as well as interesting items. A blend of old and new worlds, Kuala Lumpur's attractions also covers a number of interesting museums such as the National Museum, the Tunku Abdul Rahman Memorial, the Police Museum, the KL Natural History Museum, and the Islamic Art Museum. Above all, KL is a shoppers' paradise, with an array of shopping malls selling everything from electronic and apparels to antique and handicraft items.

The growing number of tourists to the city has led to tremendous increase in the number of high-end hotels and resorts. Since many of them have their own websites, this allows for easy bookings of hotels online.