The name "Kuala Lumpur” which means "Muddy Confluence" in Malay was given to the city by group 87 Chinese miners who were send in 1857 to prospect for tin in the upper valley of Malaysia. By the 1860's, the landing place was a flourishing village. In 1880 Kuala Lumpur superseded Klang as the state capital, and its rapid growth thereafter has been attributed to Sir Frank Swettenham, British resident after 1882. In 1957, the Federation of Malaya gained its independence from British rule and Kuala Lumpur remained the capital through the formation of Malaysia, achieving city status in 1972, and was established as the Federal Territory in 1974.
Kuala Lumpur has a hot and humid climate, but provides a consistent weather throughout most of the year. Daytime temperature averages between 22°C (70°F) to 32°C (90°F) with high humidity (around 80%). Kuala Lumpur receives most of its rainfall from the southwest monsoon, from September to April, while May, June and July are generally the drier months.
Kuala Lumpur leads the country's fast paced development in banking and finance, manufacturing, trade and commerce, information technology, transportation and tourism. The development of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at Sepang and the expansion of Port Klang have reinforced the national and international economic significance of the City. The majority of manufacturing industries operating in Kuala Lumpur are related to the manufacture of plastics, machinery, printing and foundries. The larger manufacturing establishments are tending to relocate outside of Kuala Lumpur mainly because of the scarcity and high cost of land in the City. The tourism sector also plays an important part in the city’s economy, providing income, employment and expanding business opportunities. Other important economic activities in the city are education and health services.
Kuala Lumpur offers a number of public and private transportation systems including buses, commuter trains, and taxis. Kuala Lumpur has a comprehensive and efficient rail transport system that links all the major parts of the city. Kuala Lumpur's rail transport system consists of 3 LRT (Light Rail Transit) lines operated by RapidKL, the semicircular KL Monorail looping through the Golden Triangle and the KTM Komuter. Buses are a cheaper method of travel around the city. Major bus lines servicing the city and suburban areas are Intrakota, Metro and Cityliner. Buses in Kuala Lumpur can be either government run (white buses with red stripes) or privately owned. Almost all buses are air-conditioned. Taxis are available throughout the city and there are two kinds of them - metered and non-metered. Standard taxis are usually red and white and can be found easily. Travel outside of KL is best achieved on the KTMB rail network and the KTM Komuter train services.
Kuala Lumpur is a hub for tertiary education in the Klang Valley. Primary education lasts for six years, secondary education covers seven years, divided into three stages: lower, upper and pre-university. Higher education is provided by universities, polytechnics and colleges. There are both public and a wide variety of private higher education institutions. Besides university degrees, students have the option of continuing their education in professional courses.
As in any cosmopolitan cities, Kuala Lumpur and its surrounding boast many towering skylines such as Petronas Twin Towers and Kuala Lumpur Tower.
Petronas Twin Towers is Kuala Lumpur’s most famous landmark, they were the tallest buildings in the world from April 15th, 1996 until October 17th, 2003 when Taipei 101 (Financial Center) opened. The two towers stand at a height of 452 meters each and are joined at the 41st and 42nd floors by the sky bridge, which happens to be the highest bridge in the world. The design of the tower is based on geometric principles typical of Islamic architecture, with each floor plan based on an eight-point star. Despite its avant-garde exterior and the use of modern materials, the interiors of the Petronas Twin Towers reflect the grace and tradition of Malaysian arts and handicrafts. Tower One is currently being occupied by PETRONAS, the state-owned petroleum corporation.
The Menara Kuala Lumpur (translates as Kuala Lumpur Tower) is a tall tower built in 1995 and It's used for communication purposes. The whole structure of the Kuala Lumpur Tower is divided into 5 different parts, including the foundation base, the touristic building, the tower shaft, the tower head, and the tower head. One of the distinctive architectural features of Menara Kuala Lumpur is a dome-shaped arch at every doorway on the upper ground floor, decorated with glass pieces that illuminate like giant diamonds. Besides the panoramic view, Menara Kuala Lumpur has something for the city-dwelling, nature enthusiast. The verdant green surrounding Menara Kuala Lumpur is the Bukit Nanas Forest - the only oldest gazetted forest reserve in the country.
Batu Caves is one of Malaysia's most famous tourist destinations. The Caves are situated 13 kilometers (7 miles) north of the Kuala Lumpur. Discovered in 1878, the Batu Caves are part of a large limestone outcrop and house several items of religious significance to Hindus. To reach it, visitors have to climb a steep flight of 272 steps. The caves are made of limestone and 400 meters long and 100 meter high. It consists of three main caves, biggest being the Catheadral Cave (Temple Cave).The cave is known to be one of the most popular Hindu temples outside India. The labyrinth that makes up the Batu Caves also supports a variety of exotic wildlife.
Kuala Lumpur has a number of cultural and historical attractions also the city is one of the most popular shopping haunts in the region, offering an extensive selection of items to suit all budgets.
