Things to see and do Kuala Lumpur & Selangor

Galerie Ilham is one of the capital's most renowned art institutions in terms of modern and contemporary art, and offers a great opportunity to discover both local and international artists. The programming is of undeniable originality and quality, not hesitating to venture into Malaysia's sometimes thorny social issues - a much-needed breath of freedom. Located in an ultra-modern tower, the space is very pleasant and also boasts an arts and crafts boutique with a fine selection of objects.

The iconic 88-storey Petronas Towers rise to a height of 452 m. Inaugurated in 1998 after 6 years of construction, they house the offices of Malaysian oil giant PETRONAS. They were the world's tallest towers until 2004, when they were dethroned by the Taipei 101 Tower. Among other things, they contain stores, a concert hall and a mosque, and have been used as the backdrop for a number of films, including Haute Voltige. They can be visited, but only 1,400 admissions are allowed per day. We recommend reserving your ticket in advance on the Internet, or arriving early in the morning to wait in line: in the afternoon, there's virtually no chance of getting in. You can stop at two different levels: the skybridge and the top. The skybridge is located on the ^41st floorandconnects the two towers, at a height of 146 m. The ascent to the ^86th floor in one of the 78 elevators takes 90 seconds. The whole tour takes just over 45 minutes. The best view, however, is from the towers themselves, not from them! We therefore recommend that you go to the top of the KL Tower, from where you'll have a magnificent view of the Twin Towers. The shopping center, Suria KLCC, at the foot of the towers is magnificent and well worth a visit, as are the gardens just beyond. On the^4th and^5th floors, you can visit Petrosains, an interesting and entertaining museum dedicated to science (daily 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., 6.30 p.m. at weekends).

It is not only an office but a vast and beautiful white colonial villa with a red tile roof. In 1989, the Malaysian government installed the MaTiC there. You will find brochures, a café and batik workshops on site. You can also get tickets for MaTiC tours, buy bus tickets, use the computers, rent bicycles, withdraw or change money. In case of problems, a Tourist Police Counter is available.

Nicknamed the "Friday Mosque" by the faithful, Masjid Jamek was opened in 1909 on the initiative of the Sultan of Selangor. Designed by British architect Arthur Benison Hubback, it blends Moorish, Mughal and English styles. The architect designed many other buildings in Kuala Lumpur, including the railway station and the former town hall, leaving a mark that gave Kuala Lumpur its colonial identity. The mosque is built at the confluence of the Gombak and Klang rivers on a former Muslim cemetery. It remained the city's main mosque until the Masjid Negara was built in 1965. You enter the compound through a beautiful garden planted with palm trees. A large courtyard with an ablution basin precedes the prayer hall. The prayer hall is crowned by three bulbous domes, typical of the Anglo-Indian style. The main dome, in the center, reaches a height of 21 meters. Two minarets frame the prayer hall and dominate the brick and plaster ensemble. The mosque has undergone a number of transformations over the decades. The most important was the covering of the rectangular courtyard. As you can see, the bricks are a different shade from the original pinkish building to the more recent brick-red one. One of the domes collapsed in 1993, following torrential rains, and has since been rebuilt. This little haven of peace, surrounded by lawns and palm trees, stands in stark contrast to the modern buildings and urban bustle, and is an invitation to meditation.

The must-see Batu Caves are the highest Hindu site in Malaysia, and indeed in the world outside India. Both a natural and religious site, this group of caves nestled in a limestone cliff was converted into a temple over 100 years ago. It comprises one main cave and three smaller ones. A pilgrimage destination for Malaysia's Hindu community, but also for devotees from India and Singapore, this temple is dedicated to Lord Murugan, the god of war and son of Shiva and Parvati. To reach the cathedral grotto, perched 100 metres above sea level, you'll have to climb 272 seemingly endless steps. Perhaps to brighten up this tedious moment, the steps have been freshly painted in bright colors. Thieving macaques enjoying peanuts offered by climbers will greet you along the way, but keep a close eye on your belongings. Don't leave your glasses, camera or phone lying around. On arrival at the site, you'll be greeted by the imposing 42-metre-high golden statue of Murugan. It stands proudly to the right of the staircase. Inside the grotto, fervor is at its peak. Incense smoke billows, statues of gods from the Indian pantheon stand guard, traditional music bangs against the rock walls and devotees perform puja (prayers) at the foot of their idol. Two shafts of natural light cast their rays over the stage, accentuating the atmosphere of fervor and strangeness that floats here.

The fervor reaches its peak during the Thaipusam festival, which takes place in January or February. This is one of the most impressive Hindu festivals. Over a million Hindus embark on a 24-hour procession from the Sri Mahamariamman temple in Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown to the Batu caves. Pilgrims follow the silver chariot carrying Murugan and his two acolytes, Valli and Teivayanni, for an incredible and emotional tribute to Murugan. Offerings, shouts, bhajan (chants), mystical dances and mortifications make up this striking tableau. The most fervent perform a trance that culminates in some pretty violent scarification. They pierce various parts of their bodies with needles, assegais or spears. The most devout wear kavadi, wooden structures attached to their backs with hooks as extreme signs of devotion.

A miniature rainforest has been recreated in the Taman Rama Rama Park(rama means "butterfly"), with all the necessary moisture produced by a network of streams and waterfalls. There are 6,000 butterflies of 150 different species, some impressive in size and color, which happily stamp their feet, drunk on the juices of the 15,000 plants available to them. An enchanting experience, although the permanent exhibition area that follows the garden, with vivariums and information panels, could use a little refresher.

Welcome to the largest aviary in the world! It reproduces the natural habitat of birds in a huge park. More than 3,000 birds, including 200 endemic species, live here in a space of 85,000 m². Two shows are performed every day at 12:30 and 15:30. Among the birds in semi-liberty, the rhinoceros toucan, one of the largest toucans in the world, is honored. The photo-souvenir with parakeets, eagles or multicolored macaws is part of the visit. And for the romantics, don't miss the Love aviary and its inseparable birds.

Tourism Branch Malaysia.

For theme park fans, Sunway Lagoon is a former tin mine transformed into a huge theme park. The complex features several themes: amusement park, water park, zoological park, "horror" park, park dedicated to young children and extreme activity park. Some activities, such as go-karting, bungee jumping and diving, require an extra charge. Everything you need for a day or weekend of fun and enjoyment is within easy reach: hotels, restaurants, cafés, bars, souvenir stores...

This beautiful 320-hectare park of mangrove and scrubland is a renowned bird reserve: 300,000 migratory birds of 30 different species stop off here every year on specially created artificial lakes. 130 species of birds live here permanently. You can also see monkeys and all the species of the mangrove. There are trails to explore the park. You can pick up a map at reception. You can also rent a cottage for the night.

This museum is a good introduction to the coutumes customs and culture. As clothing, musical instruments, descriptions of the rites of marriage or their religion animist, visitors can thus have an overview of the life of these Aboriginal people. To get there, take bus 174 of the terminus Lebuh Ampang.

When Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah made Shah Alam the capital of Selangor State in 1974, he wanted a large mosque and a state museum. The Museum of Futuristic Architecture opened its doors in 1989. He is responsible for promoting Selangor's culture and arts to the public. Different themes are presented in a succession of rooms: Prehistory, Arts and Culture, Environment, Sports and Islam are on the programme. Many objects are on display and slideshows can be used to reconstruct periods or environments.

We provide the address more for the consultation of the website than the information to be gleaned on the spot. It is actually the Ministry of Tourism, which is more concerned with managing tourism politically and economically than with welcoming tourists. You will find on their site all the actors of the tourism industry in Malaysia, in a rather dense and somewhat indigestible directory. Unfortunately, there are no filters to refine your search and you have access to local agencies, bus or plane companies, etc.

Tourism Branch Malaysia.

Every night thousands of fireflies start flashing in search of a partner for the night. The ideal time to see this natural wonder is around 7:30 pm. It is easy to rent a sampan or a small boat at the park jetty to go up the canals through the mangroves. Excursions take place between 7pm and 10.30pm and last between 30 and 40 minutes. A piece of advice: take your mosquito repellent as these areas are very swampy. The use of flash is prohibited.

This is the Chan clan kongsi, built in 1906. Originally, it was a clan house where members met in semi-clandestinity. The temple inside provided a religious façade for a secret society. The first thing you'll notice is the façade, richly decorated with glazed ceramic bas-reliefs. Scenes from daily life and Chinese legends are depicted. At the entrance, numerous ancestral tablets can be seen on the right, and photos of the Chan are to be found everywhere.

Nestled in Lorong Ampang, this art space consists of two beautiful buildings in contrasting styles: the main hall, a century-old red-brick gudang (warehouse) that gained a sulphurous reputation in the 1980s and 1990s as a nightclub, and a more modern, tree-lined, semi-open building that will delight architecture enthusiasts. The program is diverse and original, with a particular focus on contemporary art and architecture, including exhibitions, performances, workshops and more.

Today, 1,400 Mah Meri aborigines live on the island of Pulau Carey. The entire island is owned by the Harrison and Crosfield company, a major palm oil producer, and is carpeted with plantations. Between two squares of neatly aligned palm trees, the Mah Meri cultural center welcomes visitors to a traditional village. Wooden houses with palm roofs, moyah, are clustered inland. Originally, the Mah Meri were coastal fishermen. Following pirate attacks, they retreated to the swamps and regrouped to ensure their safety. They opened this village to the public in order to perpetuate their traditions and pass on their heritage to younger generations. You'll be greeted by men and women wearing their traditional loincloths. You'll be guided through the exhibits of a small museum showcasing the tools, costumes and customs of this tribal community. There will also be a dance performance accompanied by traditional music. The tour continues with a visit to workshops where you can admire the skills of woodcarvers. They work with a hard swamp wood called Nyireh Batu. The women work with dried palm leaves, which they fold and weave into loincloths or objects. The visit concludes with a tour of Hatters Castle, a stunning colonial-style mansion left by the British.