Kuala Lumpur and Selangor

The Malay name Kuala Lumpur means "muddy estuary." The city is situated at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers and was founded in 1857 by Chinese settlers as a tin-mining camp. The city became the capital of the Federated Malay States in 1895 and is now one of Asia's most attractive, green, and tidy cities, although traffic is becoming a severe problem. Kuala Lumpur has a multiethnic population of more than 1 million, consisting of Malays, Chinese, Indians, Arabs, Eurasians, and Europeans. The architecture embraces Islamic, Gothic, Tudor, and Colonial styles and includes some striking modern buildings such as the National Mosque. Those travelling by plane to Malaysia will probably arrive at the international airport of Kuala Lumpur. The first thing that greets you is the heat; it's like wrapping your head in a hot towel. It's a relief to climb into an air-conditioned taxi and head for your hotel.

Kuala Lumpur is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world, with businesses and hotels rising at such a rate that the city is experiencing a major labour shortage. The relatively small population has enabled Kuala Lumpur, which covers an area of 243 square kilometres (94 square miles), to retain much of its parkland. The city is well maintained. KL (as it's almost always called) has numerous shopping facilities, from large malls to small family-owned stalls and shops. Open-air markets are located throughout the city. Prices are generally cheaper than in nearby Singapore.

Restaurants are equally numerous and serve many kinds of food, including spicy Malay dishes, traditional Chinese, and delicious Indian curries.
The city is quite safe, even at night. Even so, it's best to travel by taxi at night when venturing into unfamiliar areas. To the avid shopper, KL is paradise.From world-renowned designer labels and brands to exquisite made-in-Malaysia items, the highly competitive environment that exists among traders is a blessing in disguise to shoppers. While department stores practice a fixed price policy, bargain hunters can test their skills at smaller retail establishments or at any one of KL's famous night markets. KL will enthrall you. It will capture your heart and mind in a way no other city will.

Selangor / The State:
The state of Selangor is on the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia and covers 8,000 square kilometres. Its capital, Shah Alam, is situated between Kuala Lumpur and Port Klang, the country's largest port. Hailed as one of Asia's best planned cities, Shah Alam boasts of modern infrastructure, communications and service facilities.

Resource-rich Selangor is Malaysia's premier state, being the richest and the most developed. Its economy is diversified with a good mixture of agricultural, industrial, commercial and tourism activities.

Jan-Dec: Average temp 30C during the day and 22C during the night.
Sep-Nov: Rainy season on West Coast.
Nov-Mar: Rainy season on East Coast.