 Malaysia
Culture & Heritage - Kuala Lumpur
| Places to go: |
Things to do: |
|
|
|
 Take
a trip back in Kuala Lumpur's history and experience its richness.
Visually, Kuala Lumpur's history and heritage is displayed
in its buildings and structures. These buildings linger on
against the contemporary backdrop of modern Kuala Lumpur;
and they reflect a fascinating history which evokes memories
of a bygone era.
Kuala Lumpur, literally translated as 'muddy estuary', had
its origins in the 1850's when tin prospectors established
a trading post at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers.
In spite of its unflattering name, the settlement grew in
tandem with the flourishing tin industry.
Those early days were marked by floods, fires, disease and
civil wars, but Kuala Lumpur survived and continued to grow
under the able leadership of Kapitan Yap Ah Loy, the leader
of the Chinese community.
The increasing importance of the tin trade and its emergence
as the centre of commerce led the British authorities to elevate
the status of Kuala Lumpur to become the state capital of
Selangor.
Popularly known as 'KL' to locals and foreigners alike, Kuala
Lumpur was conferred city status in 1972 and declared as a
Federal Territory in 1974. Today, it is the nation's capital,
a vibrant cosmopolitan city and a popular venue for numerous
prestigious international events.
Read more about Kuala
Lumpur in Destinations.
|
