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Shah
Alam
Selangor's new capital is dominated by the enormous minarets and
gleaming blue dome of the State Mosque, Masjid Sultan Salahuddin
Abdul Aziz Shah. The enormous aluminium dome is reputed to be the
among the largest in the Islamic world. Shah Alam is a showpiece
city, and its careful planning is evident everywhere. The mosque
sits alongside the city's manmade central lake, which is also adjoined
by Urban Shah Alam, a beautifully landscaped recreational park.
Shah Alam also possesses a world-class stadium and sports complex
and an international standard racing track. Located halfway between
Kuala Lumpur and Port Klang, the city is just 15 minutes from Subang
Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Hutan Kanching
Hutan Kanching, a forest reserve, located 21 km north of Kuala Lumpur
offers refreshing waterfalls and lush jungle greenery that abounds
with butterflies and plant life. A good place to introduce children
to nature. Camp out if you like. Facilities available are bathrooms,
toilets, canteens as well as wading pools for children. |
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Batu
Caves
Located 13 km.north of Kuala Lumpur. These magnificent caves
have been known to local inhabitants for centuries. However,
they became famous as a sightseeing and pilgrimage site only
after they were stumbled upon by westerners in the late nineteenth
century. Of the three caves that comprise the site, the largest
and best known is the Temple or Cathedral Cave, so named because
it houses a Hindu shrine beneath its 100 m vaulted ceiling.
In late January of each year, during |
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the
Hindu festival of Thaipusam, thousands of devotees and other visitors
climb the long entry stair and throng this magnificent cavern. As
a form of penance or sacrifice, many of the pilgrims carry kavadis,
large, brightly-decorated frameworks attached to a melange of body-piercing
implements. A little below the Temple Cave is the Dark Cave, a two-kilometer
network of relatively untouched caverns. The caverns contain a diverse
host of cave fauna, including some unique species. In order to maintain
the cave's ecology, access is restricted. Those wishing to visit
Dark Cave must contact the Malaysian Nature Society for permission
and guidelines. The third cave, located at the foot of the steps,
houses an interesting display of statues and wall paintings depicting
scenes and figures from Hindu mythology. |
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Malaysia
Agriculture Park
Just 10 minutes from Shah Alam is the 1,258-hectare Malaysia Agriculture
Park, the largest agro-forestry park in the world. Within the park
are contained samples of virtually every agricultural resource in
the nation, including oil and coconut palms, padi fields, fruit
trees, and rubber trees, all set in the midst of a luscious rain
forest. Through numerous open-air exhibits, live demonstrations,
nature trails, and a host of educational programs, visitors are
offered unparalleled opportunities to learn about and enjoy Malaysia's
rich natural attributes. Other attractions here include two dams,
a fishing lake, a Temperate House, a suspension bridge, a bird and
a safari park. Bicycles are available for hire within the park.
Buses are available on weekends only. Overnight visitors may stay
at chalets from RM30 per chalet. The park is open from 8:30 am to
6 pm daily, except Mondays. Admission is RM2 for adults, RM1 for
children. |
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Gedung
Raja Abdullah.
Located at the center of Klang, the former capital of Selangor.
From its strategic position overlooking the Klang River, the
town controlled access to the Klang Valley. The Malay-style
Gedung Raja Abdullah is the town's oldest building, erected
as a warehouse by Raja Mahdi in 1856. It now serves as a historical
museum, with interesting exhibits on the bygone days of this
former capital. |
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Kuala
Selangor
Before Klang became the capital of Selangor, Kuala Selangor was
the home of the Selangor Sultanate. Located 45 km north of Klang,
the city sits at the mouth of Selangor River. The pair of fortresses
atop the town's two hills still guard the river mouth, hearkening
back to the days when the Selangor River's tin trade constituted
the source of this state's wealth and power. The larger of the two,
standing on Bukit Melawati, is now the royal mausoleum, containing
the remains of Selangor's early Bugis rulers. |
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Muzium
Orang Asli
The Orang Asli are the aboriginal people of Peninsular Malaysia,
with an estimated population of over 60,000. They still lead
a simple yet fascinating lifestyle. Their ancient customs
and traditions are informatively displayed in this museum,
located in Gombak just north of Kuala Lumpur.
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Taman
Alam
At the foot of Bukit Melawati lies the nature reserve of Taman Alam,
covering 240 hectares. Taman Alam has well-marked jungle trails
for trekking as well as observation hides for birdwatchers. The
reserve's abundant birdlife is due largely to the mangrove swamp
in the vicinity, which is frequented by hundreds of thousands of
migratory birds. The Malaysia Nature Society has identified some
150 species in Taman Alam, amongst them the rare spoon-billed Sandpiper
and Nordmann's Greenshank. The reserve's visitor center, which contains
a number of educational displays, is located on Bukit Melawati,
from which a path leads down the hill to the park. |
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