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Kuala Lumpur

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Kuala Lumpur is the busy capital city of Malaysia.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Astronaut Imagery
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Astronaut Imagery

It is a federal territory located on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The city sits inside the state of Selangor.

KUALA LUMPUR
KUALA LUMPUR

It serves as a major center for money, culture, and tourism. The city is also the political heart of the nation. It is home to the Malaysian parliament and the Istana Negara. This is the official home of the monarch.

Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Bangunan Parlimen Malaysia-01
Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Bangunan Parlimen Malaysia-01

The name Kuala Lumpur tells a story about the land. In the Malay language, kuala means a place where two rivers join. The word lumpur means mud. So, the name means "muddy confluence."

Masjid Jamek
Masjid Jamek

This refers to the spot where the Klang and Gombak rivers meet.

Masjid Jamek along Klang & Gombak River (220512) 06
Masjid Jamek along Klang & Gombak River (220512) 06

Some people think it might have been named after a muddy river called Sungai Lumpur. Others suggest it might have come from a Cantonese word for a flooded jungle. There is no firm proof for these different ideas.

Masjid Jamek
Masjid Jamek

History shows how a small settlement became a huge city. Around 1857, the area began to grow as a town for tin mines.

Panorama of Kuala Lumpur ca. 1884
Panorama of Kuala Lumpur ca. 1884

Raja Abdullah sent Chinese miners to the region to find tin. The town was a place to collect and send out supplies by boat. Later, important people like Yap Ah Loy helped the city grow.

An arcade of shops with a road sweeper at work in the street of Kuala Lumpur, 1915-1925
An arcade of shops with a road sweeper at work in the street of Kuala Lumpur, 1915-1925

In 1884, new rules required buildings to be made of brick and tile. This helped stop the fires that used to destroy wooden buildings.

Kuala Lumpur is a place of many people and big numbers. The city has a population of 2,075,600 people.

If you include the surrounding Klang Valley, there are 8.8 million people.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Astronaut Imagery
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Astronaut Imagery

The city is famous for the Petronas Towers. These are the tallest twin buildings in the world.

Kuala Lumpur skyline in the 1980s
Kuala Lumpur skyline in the 1980s

It is also a top spot for travelers. In 2019, it was the 6th most-visited city on a global list.

KL-CentralMarket pedmall
KL-CentralMarket pedmall

Today, the city is very well connected to the rest of the country. You can take a train from Kuala Lumpur Sentral station.

Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin (Damansara Road) (south), central Kuala Lumpur
Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin (Damansara Road) (south), central Kuala Lumpur

This rail path leads to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Entrance B of Tun Razak Exchange MRT station
Entrance B of Tun Razak Exchange MRT station

You can also reach nearby places like Petaling Jaya using the transit system.

Entrance B of Tun Razak Exchange MRT station
Entrance B of Tun Razak Exchange MRT station

The city hosts many big events like the Commonwealth Games.

It is a place that is always growing and changing.

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🖼️ Images & Media (33)
Lagu Rasmi Wilayah Persekutuan - Maju dan...
File:Masjid Jamek along Klang & Gombak River (220512) 06.jpg
Masjid Jamek along Klang & Gombak River...
File:Panorama of Kuala Lumpur ca. 1884.jpg
Panorama of Kuala Lumpur ca. 1884.jpg
KITLV - 3652 - Lambert & Co., G.R. -...
KITLV - 79944 - Kleingrothe, C.J. - Medan...
File:An arcade of shops with a road sweeper at work in the street of Kuala Lumpur, 1915-1925.jpg
An arcade of shops with a road sweeper at...
File:Japanese troops mopping up in Kuala Lumpur.jpg
Japanese troops mopping up in Kuala Lumpur.jpg
File:KUALA LUMPUR.png
KUALA LUMPUR.png
File:Majestic Theatre Pudu Road.jpg
Majestic Theatre Pudu Road.jpg
File:Kuala Lumpur skyline in the 1980s.jpg
Kuala Lumpur skyline in the 1980s.jpg
File:Klcc park 5.jpg
Klcc park 5.jpg
File:Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Astronaut Imagery.JPG
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Astronaut Imagery.JPG

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