Popular Malaysian Attraction Sites You Need to Visit
Malaysia is a multiracuial country with a unique blend of different races coexisting in harmony. Malaysia offers two very distinct experiences for its tourist: the peninsula and Borneo (an island shared with Indonesia and Brunei). The peninsula or West Malaysia is a blend of Malay, Chinese and Indian flavors with Kuala Lumpur as the efficient and modern capital. Malaysian Borneo includes some of the most interesting places in Malaysia with a wild jungle, orangutans, granite peaks and remote tribes. Combined with some beautiful islands, luxury resorts and colonials towns, Malaysia, for most visitors, presents a happy mix.
There are a lot of popular and attractive tourist sites that will gain the attraction of tourists: both local and international. Here are a list of places you need to visit as a tourist in Malaysia.
1. Petronas Twin Towers
Built in 1996, the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur was one of the world’s tallest buildings before eventually being surpassed in 2004 by Taipei 101. Despite that, the towers are still the tallest twin buildings in the world. The 88-floor towers were constructed mainly of reinforced concrete, with a steel and glass facade designed to resemble motifs found in Islamic art, as a reflection of Malaysia’s Muslim religion. The Petronas Twin Towers feature a sky bridge between the two towers on the 41st and 42nd floors.
2. Langkawi
Perhaps known as one of the best tourist attractions, Langkawi is an island of 99 islands in the Andaman Sea. The islands are a part of Kedah state, which is close to the Thai border. By far the largest of the islands, Pulau Langkawi has a population of about 65,000 inhabitants, the only other inhabited island being nearby Pulau Tuba. Trimmed with long, white beaches and with an interior of jungle covered hills and rocky mountain peaks, it’s easy to see why this is Malaysia’s most popularly promoted tourist destination. The most popular beaches can be found on the west coast with a varied choice of restaurants and eateries as well as some of the best resorts in Langkawi.
3. Mount Kinabalu
With an estimated height of 4,095 meters (13,435 ft), Mount Kinabalu is the tallest mountain in Borneo. Mount Kinabalu is famous worldwide for its botanical and biological species biodiversity. There have been over 600 species of ferns, 326 species of birds, and 100 mammalian species identified at Mount Kinabalu and its surrounding. The main peak of the mountain can be easily climbed by a person with a good health and condition, and requires no mountain hiking equipment although climbers must be accompanied by guides at all times.
4. Mulu Caves
The Mulu Caves are located in the Gunung Mulu National Park in Malaysian Borneo. The park has incredible caves and geological formations in a hilly equatorial rainforest setting. The Sarawak chamber discovered in one of the underground caves is the largest cave chamber in the world. It has been said that the chamber is so large that it could house about 40 Boeing 747s, without overlapping their wings. There is a large colony of Wrinkle-lipped bats inhabited the nearby Deer Cave would leave almost every evening in search of food in a spectacular exit.
5. Taman Negara
Taman Negara translates to “National Park” in Malay, and it is one of the oldest tropical rainforests in the world. Taman Negara features large trees, waterfalls, jungle treks of different duration and one of the world’s longest canopy walkways. Several trails allow visitors to explore the forest without a guide. Taman Negara is a safe haven for endangered species such as the Asian elephants, tigers, rhinos and leopards, but it is very rare for you to sight them in Taman Negara. You will most likely see birds, small deersm lizards, snakes and maybe a tapir if you go trekking in Taman Negara.
6. Cameron Highlands
Cameron Highlands is one of the most extensive hill stations in Malaysia, with the first hill station being developed by the British in the 1920s. Cameron Highlands has a population of over 34000 people which consists of Malays, Chinese, Indians and other ethnic groups. Cameron Highlands is famous for its trails, as they lead visitors thorugh forests to waterfalls and other tranquil spots. Besides jungle walks, this sanctuary is also famous for its tea plantations and its produce of fruits and vegetables.
7. Pulau Tioman
Pulau Tioman is a small island that is located off the east coast of peninsular Malaysia. In the 1970s, Time Magazine has selected Tioman as one of the world’s most beautiful islands. Tourists to Pulau Tioman have skyrocketed ever since, seeking a taste of paradises. The island is surrounded by many white coral reefs, making it a haven for scuba divers as the interior is lightly forested. Visitors outnumber villagers outside the monsoon seasons which is between November to February, but Tioman can be almost deserted at other times.
8. Christ Church, Malacca
Christ Church is a historical landmark in Malacca, that was built by the Dutch in the mid-18th century, making it one of the oldest functioning Protestant church in Malaysia. Constructed in an 18th century Dutch architectural style, the building is noted not only for its colorful surface but for its contents as well. Among the features of Christ Church is a bell cast in 1698, tombstones written in Portuguese language that are included into the church floor, and a brass Bible stand. Christ Church is now an Anglican church.
9. Georgetown Inner City
Georgetown is named after Britain’s King George III, and is located in the north-east corner of Penang Island. Majority of Georgetown’s population is of Chinese origin. Due to its strict controls, Georgetwon still retains any of its colonial-era shophouses to this very day. Georgetown is officially recognized for having a unique architectural and cultural townscape without parallelism in Southeast Asia. This town really comes to life in the evenings, especially when most of these locals would head to the nearby street hawkers to enjoy their dinner.
10. Batu Caves
Travelers who travel their way to Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur would be rewarded with some wonderful Hindu art. Batu Caves contain three main caves and is the most popular Hindu shrines outside of India. Batu Caves attract thousands of worshippers during Thaipusam, an annual Hindu festival. The highlight of the site is a giant statue of a Hindu god, reached by climbing the 272 steps to the Cathedral Cave. You can also sight monkeys enjoying the site and playing there.
Malaysia is a country filled with many attraction sites: both of historical and modern values. Based on the list of 10 places to visit in Malaysia, we hope that we have peaked your interest in travelling and seeing more of this beautiful country.
