City Guide: Kuala Lumpur

     Kuala Lumpur is an eclectic city.

     From ex-colonial buildings to modern skyscrapers, Kuala Lumpur is an exotic blend of old and new. This makes it a city of several faces - from Chinese hum to Singapore's neatness and Prague's ornate facades.     

     KL as it is known, has absorbed the best from major destinations and offers a variety of hotels to stay in. From cheap offers to luxury Kuala Lumpur hotels all  are available with maps, photos and secure forms at Booked.net.

     It took the city a century to shift its reputation of ''Muddy Confluence'' to glamorous destination in Southeast Asia. Kuala Lumpur began to take shape under British colonial rule that pushed a tiny settlement toward becoming prosperous capital. Since then it has abandoned its small town charm, so today the city will greet you with stone buildings instead of lush jungles.  

     Even though this progress was slowed down by the Japanese in 1942, the British re-established dominance over post-war Kuala Lumpur. Once Kuala Lumpur gained independence from the British it became a center of commerce and trade. It thrives on finance, insurance, media and the arts and all have lifted Kuala Lumpur to the prominence of the only global city in Malaysia by the Globalization and World Cities Study Group and Network. In addition, the 1998 Commonwealth Games played a vital role for the city's international image and drew a global attention to the city.

     With global prosperity came tourists and today tourism makes up a fair share of the city's income. More than 8.94 million visitors have led to Kuala Lumpur becoming the fifth most visited city in the world.

     It is no surprise Kuala Lumpur is fueled by tourists who flock for a true Asian experience to the city. Kuala Lumpur is the cultural essence of Malaysia for its blend of modernity and traditional charm. Set apart from other Asian destinations, Kuala Lumpur features post-war coffee houses, ornate arches set side-by-side with more sophisticated architecture of today.

Attractions include;

- Dataran Merdeka, a square where locals celebrate the Malaysian Independence Day

- Abdul Samad Building, a Colonial-era building at the square

- Menara KL Tower offers a view of the city from 276m high and features observation desk

- The Petronas Twin Towers, the world’s tallest buildings. It took six years to build the Towers and the next six years the high-rise held leadership as the world's tallest building till ceded it to Taipei 101 in 2004.

     You can book a hotel in Kuala Lumpur stone's throw from any of these attractions.