Being the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur has gained much popularity for its modern megastructures and civilisation. But still, KL is famous to the tourists for its cultural and historical places.
If you are a history lover and looking to explore the history of Kuala Lumpur, then this place has so many things to offer you. You can visit several historical destinations in KL and learn about the glorious past of Kuala Lumpur through the ages.
This time we have come with 10 Famous Historical Places in Kuala Lumpur to take you on a walk through the rich history of KL.
Best Kuala Lumpur famous landmarks & Historical Places in Kuala Lumpur
1. Sultan Abdul Samad Building
Located in front of Dataran Merdeka, Sultan Abdul Samad Building carries the symbol and history of Malaysia’s independence. It is the place where the Malaysian flag replaced the British flag and declared its independence on August 31st, 1957.
Here you will explore the iconic architecture of both Moorish and Mughal styles. This legendary building was built in 1897 and named after the ruling Sultan of that time. You will get to explore that the building has two towers and a clocktower decorated with shiny copper domes.
Now this place is the home of the Ministry of Information, Communication, and Culture. Moreover, it is also used to celebrate Malaysia’s Independence Day and New Year occasionally.
The best time to visit this iconic building is at night. So come here to click some stunning pictures and be a witness of this famous historical place in Kuala Lumpur.
Location: Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hour: 24 hours
Entrance Fee: Free
2. Central Market
One of the famous historical heritages and popular tourist attractions is the Central Market in Kuala Lumpur. This market was formed 120 years ago by Yap Ah Loy. From that time to the present day, the Central Market has gone through several revolutions to attract tourists and younger generations.
You will find the market’s first floor filled with boutiques, handicrafts stalls, batik, embroidery carvings, art and craft stalls. All these represent the multiracial cultures of Malaysia. In the meantime, you can have a collection of delicious restaurants on the second floor.
Visit this place during festivals to have a taste of the colourful cultures of Malaysia.
Location: Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hour: Daily 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Entrance Fee: Free
3. Masjid Jamek
If you want to visit both Moorish and Mughal architectural styles in one place, take a tour at Masjid Jamek. This mosque is the oldest Islamic place for prayer in KL and is also known as Friday Mosque.
The beauty of the mosque is increased by its domes and minarets with red and white colour. Every minaret is 88 feet high, while the central dome is 70 feet high. It also offers you opportunities to take iconic photos.
This place is so popular among tourists because of its Islamic architecture style and distant views of other outstanding landmarks of KL.
Location: Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hour: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Entrance Fee: Free
4. National Monument
As Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia, it has many statues and sculptures which have both historical and national importance. One such sculpture is the National Monument, locally known as Tugu Negara.
This statue is 15 metres high and carries seven human figures. Each figure describes a noble attribute, including courage, strength, sacrifice, suffering, leadership, vigilance, and unity. It was sculpted by Felix de Wheldon, who made the famous Iwo Jima monument in Washington. This sculpture represents the sacrifice of Malaysian freedom fighters.
After passing a broad stairway, you will get a smaller monument that will provide you with relevant history and sufficient information about the statue. Then you get to visit this spectacular monument.
Location: Perdana Botanical Garden, Jalan Parlimen, Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hour: Daily, 7:00 am to 6:00 pm
Entrance Fee: Free
5. Thean Hou Temple
Visit Thean Hou Temple, one of the oldest and most famous historical sites in Southeast Asia. The temple is dedicated to Thean Hou, the Goddess of Heaven. That is why this six-tiered Chinese temple is also widely known as the temple of the Goddess of Heaven.
The building is designed in the classical Chinese architecture style with thick red pillars and colourful repeated patterns. As you enter the temple, you will notice three gold statues of three Goddesses, including the Goddess of Heaven, the Goddess of Waterfront, and the Goddess of Marcy.
The statue of Thean Hou is placed in the middle of the other two figures. You will also visit a Buddhist pagoda and several images of Buddha enshrined in the octagonal hall. So come and be a part of this serene beauty.
Location: 65, Persiaran Endah, Taman Persiaran Desa, 50460 Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hour: Daily, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Entrance Fee: Free
6. Istana Negara
Istana Negara is the Royal Museum and Malaysia’s National Palace. This building has historical importance and is very popular for its royal appearance.
From 1957 to 2011, this palace was used as the official residence of the Malaysian King and Queen. Now it has been converted to a museum and is one of the best visiting spots in KL.
The main attraction of Istana Negara is its golden domes and Islamic-style architecture, which also give you plenty of options to take iconic photos.
Location: Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, Bukit Damansara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hour: Daily, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Entrance Fee: Adults with mykad RM 5.00 (U$1.20) Foreigner RM 10.00 (U$ 2.40) Kids RM2.00 and RM 5.00 respectively
7. Old Railway Station (Bangunan Stesen Keratapi Lama)
The Old Railway Station is the central point of Kuala Lumpur and one of the most famous historical landmarks in KL. Before Sentral, it was KL’s central railway hub until 2001.
The architecture style of this beautiful building is a mixture of Eastern, Western, and Moorish styles. It makes the place one of the most photographic sites in the city.
Moreover, you will get to visit a mini-railway museum inside this building. The striking white structure makes the building unique and also creates opportunities to take beautiful pictures.
Location: Bangunan Stesen Keretapi, Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
8. Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman
If you want to visit the real traditional Malay style house, you must come to Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman. This house will give you that fascinating old look of Malaysian life. At the same time, the story of the house will also grab your interest.
Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman used to belong to the local headman called Penghulu Abu Seman bin Nayan in Kedah village. After his death, this house has passed on to his son. But his son had left no true heir of this house before he died.
The Heritage Trust of Malaysia found the house and relocated it to KL. Now, this grand wooden stilt house is used as the most famous tourist spot in the country.
Location: Badan Warisan Malaysia, 2, Jalan Stonor, Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hour: Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 am to 04:00 pm
Entrance Fee: RM10 (U$ 2.40) per person
9. Muzium Telekom
Muzium Telekom carries the history of telecommunication of Malaysia from the 1870s up to the present. You will learn about the ancient instruments used for sending messages, such as the ketuk-ketuk bamboo instruments, railway and marine communications outfits, morse code equipment, and many more.
Telekom Malaysia provides all these exhibited items that you will get to see in the museum.
This beautiful British colonial building, where the museum is housed, will give you a historical taste. This building was meant to be torn down but was saved only to turn it into this museum. So the building itself carries many more histories that you can explore.
Location: Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur, 50200 Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hour: Daily, 09:00 am to 05:00 pm(Closed on public holidays)
Entrance Fee: Adults with mykad RM 5.00 (U$1.20) Foreigner RM 10.00 (U$ 2.40) Kids RM3.00 and RM 5.00 respectively.
10. Chan See Shu Yuen Temple
Chan See Shu Yuen Temple is one of the oldest Chinese temples in KL. It is famous for its architectural style, colourful decorations, and wooden carvings.
This temple will also impress you with its intricate carvings of legendary figures at the Kwang-tung roof and specially crafted terracotta friezes. All these convey Chinese history and mythology.
You will find a male and a female statue just at the entrance of the temple. Moreover, its roof is decorated with pictures of past clan members. In short, you will get here so many beauties to explore.
Location: 172, Jalan Petaling, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hour: Daily, 08:00 am to 05:00 pm
Entrance Fee: Free
Kuala Lumpur is steeped in the culture and history of Malaysia, and this is evident throughout the city. You’ll learn more about Malay tradition and culture if you visit these well-known historical sites.
Which location have you been to? Let us know in the comments below. The Simple Travel is here to make your travel experience as simple and easy as possible for you. Comment below with your thoughts and ideas.
Now, if you are worried about where to stay or which hotel would be best for you to stay in Kuala Lumpur, feel free to visit our articles Top 10 Budget Hotels in Kuala Lumpur and the 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Kuala Lumpur in 2021.