Saturday, September 14, 2013

The Kuala Lumpur Botanical Garden

 
Botanical Garden Kuala Lumpur


The Perdana Botanical Garden, formerly known as Taman Tasik Perdana or Lake Gardens, is situated in the Heritage Park of Kuala Lumpur. It has always been a part of the green lung of the city and has a history of over a decade. Originally created as part of a recreational park but planted with collections of tropical plants, the garden have been rehabilitated and turned into a Botanical Garden. The garden have not only botanical collections but also house features that give the visitors the ambiance of being in a tropical rainforest, despite being in the middle of a bustling metropolis.

The Perdana Botanical Garden is strategically located in the City of Kuala Lumpur. Formally the Lake Gardens, built in 1888 by A.R.Venning, the state treasurer of Selangor then. In 1975, the late Tun Hj. Abdul Razak, the second Prime Minister of Malaysia officially launched the new image of the Lake Gardens, renaming it the Taman Tasik Perdana, or the Perdana Lake Gardens. Being a public park, the main activities were concentrated on the jogging paths and exercise facilities along the way. On occasions such as this launch in 1975, fishing competitions were held. Concerts were also held at the amphitheatre, the Panggung Anniversary.  


Kuala Lumpur Bird Park








Kuala Lumpur Bird Park

Located in the serene and scenic Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens, it is only 10 minutes drive away from the city centre of Kuala Lumpur. It is the home to more than 3,000 birds of approximately 200 species of local and foreign birds.

Sprawling approximately 20.9 acres of verdant valley terrain, the park is divided into 4 zones; Zone 1 and 2 make up the free-flight zone; Zone 3 is the Hornbill Park and Zone 4 is where the birds are placed in separate cages and mini aviaries.

One of KL Bird Park's most extraordinary feature is that in Zone 1, 2 and 3, birds are let free in the aviary which closely resembles their natural habitat. With this free-flight concept, birds are able to breed naturally in this unique environment.


Right in the heart of Malaysia’s capital city, the Bird Park of Kuala Lumpur is the “largest free-flight, walk-in aviary” in the world. Undoubtedly one of the most popular attractions of the city, the park spreads over more than 20 acres of land and is the home of 3000 birds of 200 species, both local and foreign. The Bird Park is located in the Lake Gardens, a 150-acre green space featuring an artificial lake, the former House of Parliament, the KL Butterfly Park and two gardens: Orchid and Hibiscus.


Highlights

    Zones - The park is divided into 4 zones. Zone 1, 2 and 3 are the free-flight areas, where birds are not caged and can be observed in their natural habitat; visitors can interact with them. Zone 3 is called the Hornbill Park. In zone 4, the birds are kept in smaller aviaries and cages.
    Daily Activities - Throughout the day, there are several activities the tourists can participate in such as feeding the birds, bird shows and taking photos with the birds. You can find the daily schedule main portal.

Tips

    Packages & Programs - The KL Bird Park offers the possibility to celebrate your birthday or your children’s birthdays here, with special programs. In addition to that, the facility offers pre-wedding photo packages and special programs for groups. You can find more about it here.
    Dining - You can find kiosks with sandwiches and beverages in several places in the park. If you’re looking for a traditional culinary experience, you can visit the Hornbill Restuarant, situated in the Hornbill Park.
    Other Facilities - The Bird Park also offers a children playground and a prayer room.

Transport

    Rapid KL Bus No. B115 (Best Option) – Take the bus from Kotaraya to the Jalan Parlimen stop. This is the fastest, most direct way to the Bird Park. You can find information about prices and trip duration here.
    KTM Commuter Train – Take the Commuter Train to KTM Old Railway Kuala Lumpur Station. The stop is located near the National Mosque, less than a 5 minutes by foot to the Bird Park.
    KL Hop-On-Hop-Off Double Decker Tour Bus Service – Take the bus to Station No. 14; it will leave you right at the park entrance. The bus arrives approx. every 40 minutes.
    Taxi – Taxis are a convenient way to get around Kuala Lumpur. Red and white taxis cost RM3 for the 1st km and KM1/km after that; blue taxis ask for RM6 for the 1st km an KM2/km afterwards. If the drivers don’t want to use the meter, negotiate until you get a decent price. There are additional charges for luggage. Be mindful of traffic conditions as well before you decide on taking a taxi.


More information of KL Bird Park...



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Sri MahaMariamman Temple


The Main Entrance to Sri Mahamariamman Temple






 
Sri Mahamariamman Temple

 Sri Mahamariamman Temple is the oldest and richest Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Founded in 1873, it is situated at edge of Chinatown in Jalan Bandar.
Address: Jalan Tun H. S. Lee (Jalan Bandar), Kuala Lumpur, 50050, Kuala Lumpur, WP Kuala Lumpur, 53100, Malaysia   


This intriguing Hindu temple has decorative features such as intricate carvings of Hindu deities, gold embellishments, precious stones and hand-painted motifs depicting stories from early Hinduism. The tallest Hindu silver chariot in Malaysia is kept in a vault in the temple. It is brought out once a year during the Thaipusam celebration.

In shape, the temple resembles a human body lying on its back with the head facing west and the feet pointing east. The tallest structure in the temple is the gopuram (tower) corresponding to the feet of the body, and is the threshold between the material and spiritual world. The dramatic 23m-high pyramid-shaped gate tower is decorated with depictions of Hindu gods sculptured by artisans from southern India.


The Sri Maha Mariamman Temple is founded by Thambusamy Pillai in 1873 and was initially used as a private shrine by the Pillai family. The family threw open the temple door to the public in the late 1920s and eventually handed the management of the temple over to a board of trustees. This is the oldest functioning Indian temple in Malaysia. It is also reputed to be the richest in the country.


The Temple was originally sited somewhere near the KL Railway Station. It shifted to its present location along Jalan Tun H S Lee (next to KL's Chinatown) in 1885. The initial structure was demolished in 1887 and a brick building was erected in its place. That structure was demolished to make way for the current temple buildings which were completed in 1968. The impressive gateway to the Temple (gopuram) was completed in 1972. This new Temple was consecrated in 1973.

This Temple is configured to resemble the form of a human body lying on its back with the head positioned towards the west and the feet towards the east. Visitors to the Temple are greeted by a 5 tiered gopuram. It is the tallest structure in the Temple and corresponds to the feet of the body. It is the threshold between the material and spiritual world. The dramatic 22.9m (75ft) high pyramid-shaped gate tower is decorated with depictions of Hindu gods sculpted by artisans from southern India. The chief sculptor was the late S. T. Muniappa from Tamil Nadu and is credited for creating the 228 idols on the gopuram.

At the rear is the garbagraham, which corresponds to the head. It is a freestanding structure with its own roof and walls and has one entrance that faces east. This is the inner sanctum where the chief deity Sri Maha Mariamman is installed. The priest stands in front of the garbagraham when performing the puja (prayers).


Mariamman is popularly worshipped by oversea Indians, especially Tamils because she is looked upon as their protector during their sojourn to foreign lands. Mariamman is a manifestation of the goddess - Parwatee, an incarnation embodying Mother Earth with all her terrifying force. She is associated with disease and fever and protects her devotees from unholy or demonic events.



Ganesh is in the shrine on the left and Subramaniam, his brother, is on the right. Ganesh is also found at the entrance as he is the remover of obstacles. The eight female figures inside the Temple are of Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth).

A silver chariot is housed within the premises. This chariot is a prominent feature during the annual Thaipusam festival. It used during this occasion for transporting the statuettes of Lord Muruga and his consorts (Valli and Teivayanni) through the city streets to Batu Caves. It made its debut in 1983 and was built at a cost of RM350,000 using 350 kilograms of silver. The chariot was made in India and shipped here in 12 parts to be assembled. It is 6.5 metres tall and has 240 bells and a pair of horses on it. Before the silver chariot, a wooden one was used which was made 1930 by Indian craftsmen at a cost of RM50,000.

Hinduism reached our shores in the 7th century. It was carried across the Indian Ocean by early Hindu traders. Hinduism practised in Malaysia today is the Hinduism of the settlers who came into this country in the 19th and early 20th century.

Address: Jalan Tun H. S. Lee (Jalan Bandar), Kuala Lumpur, 50050, Kuala Lumpur, WP Kuala Lumpur, 53100, Malaysia    
 
The Temple opens daily from 6.00AM to 9.00PM.

Note - Visitors are to remove their footwear before entering the T
emple



How to go there:

GoKL-Bus

MOTA

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Thursday, September 12, 2013

The Petronas Twin Tower

THE TWIN TOWER

 
The Sky Bridge
 Petronas Twin Towers

Soaring to a height of 451.9 metres, the 88-storey twin structure is Kuala Lumpur's crown jewel. Majestic by day and dazzling at night, the PETRONAS Twin Towers is inspired by Tun Mahathir Mohamad's vision for Malaysia to be a global player. Together with master architect Cesar Pelli, the international icon powerfully captures the nation's ambitions and aspirations.

Visit us and experience the PETRONAS Twin Towers first-hand. Begin your tour with interactive displays that showcase the journey, from idea to completion. Scale 170 metres in an elevator with a futuristic edge. The doors will open at the Skybridge, a connecting structure between the towers and the world's highest 2-storey bridge. Ascend even higher to level 86, where the story of Malaysia's vision unfolds amid breathtaking views of Kuala Lumpur. Then wrap up your visit with exquisite souvenirs at the gift shop.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Kinabalu Park - World Heritage Site






Kinabalu Park - Heritage World Site
Kinabalu Park Kundasang
Kinabalu Park was gazetted as the first State Park in Sabah in 1964 and declared Malaysia’s first World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the year 2000 for its outstanding biological attributes. A sprawling 75, 400 hectares, this melting pot of natural wonders is larger than Singapore.
Also the Centre of Plant Diversity for South East Asia, the Park boasts more than 5,000 vascular plant species, an estimated 1,000 orchid species, 621 fern species, nine Nepenthes species, 29 Rhododendron species and two Rafflesia species. The Park has no shortage of fauna as well, being home to some 90 lowland mammal species, 22 montane mammal species, 21 bat species, 326 bird species, 62 toad and frog species and a large population of the 850 butterfly species that occur in Sabah. Out of the 29 bird species that are endemic to Borneo, at least 17 are confined to the mountains, notably Mount Kinabalu. These include subspecies of the Red breasted Tree-partridge, Crimson-headed Wood-partridge and Mountain Blackbird. Such diversity is truly the makings of a naturalists’ paradise!
The main attraction at the Park is none other than the majestic Mount Kinabalu, one of the highest mountains in South East Asia standing at 4095.2 metres. Apart from traditional mountain climbing, visitors can also experience the Mountain Torq, the world’s highest and Asia’s first Via Ferrata or ‘iron road’ at 3,200m to 3,800m above sea level. The various routes on the northern rock faces of Mount Kinabalu consist of a ‘trail’ that is made up of iron rungs, palettes, cables and rails. Depending on the preferred difficulty level, visitors can enroll in various activities such as the intro to single pitch or multi pitch sports climbing, intro to rappelling (abseiling) and introduction to rope ascending. Mount Kinabalu attracts thousands of climbers from around world every year and is also the venue of the annual Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon.
Surrounding the Kinabalu Park is a multitude of natural attractions and enjoyable activities. The Kinabalu Natural History Gallery is a great place to familiarize with what the Park has to offer to through a fascinating exhibition on the flora, fauna and geological make-up of the Park. Video presentations are screened daily at the Liwagu’s Visitors Centre and guided tours are also available. Approximately half an hour from the Kinabalu Park headquarters is the Poring Hot Springs, located 400m above sea level. It features hot sulphur spring baths claimed to have therapeutic values, a 41-metre canopy walk where visitors can hike among the towering canopies, the refreshing Kipungit and Langanan waterfalls, various gardens, a butterfly farm and an orchid conservation centre. In Mesilau, hike along the acclaimed Mesilau trail where you can spot various pitcher plants particularly the Nepenthes lowii, Nepenthes tentaculata and Nepenthes rajah.
A variety of accommodation is available within the Park and in its surrounding areas, ranging from basic hostels to luxury chalets.