Oasis in the city: The Botanical Garden at dusk

The Perdana Botanical Garden (Malay: Taman Botani Perdana), formerly known as Lake Gardens, is located right west of the Old City Centre. Many sights and the calmness away from the city hustle and bustle invite for a visit. In the surroundings and inside the park are many notable tourist attractions, namely the National museum, National mosque and the Bird Park among many others.

Understand

Perdana Botanical Garden is Kuala Lumpur's first large-scale recreational park. Measuring 91.6 hectares, it is located in the heart of the city and was established in 1888.

Get in

Either via taxi, MRT or on foot (see below). No buses serve this area.

By train

The MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line stops at  SBK15  Muzium Negara. You walk to the area behind the museum (go around the right side of the museum when looking at it), and by the restrooms you'll see some covered stairs going up the hill. Take those up, then turn left at the top of the stairs to approach the Botanical Garden. If you do not take those stairs you will easily add over half an hour to your walk.

On foot

From Brickfields

Starting from the Monorail station in Brickfields, first cross Jalan Tun Sambanthan via the footbridge into NU Sentral shopping mall. Once in the mall, follow the signs leading upstairs then round to the left and down again into the main station concourse. Go straight through the station, following signs for Le Meridien and Hilton hotels, to emerge on the NW side at the taxi rank and drop-off area. Turn right and walk to the top of this area, to find an entrance ramp curving in from the left. Walk down this, crossing another service lane. You’ll see a ramp curving in from Jalan Travers, and a highway bridge across it. Take the bridge sidewalk, and on the other side descend the stairs onto Jalan Travers. Turn left, walk past the bus stop and cross the street. You should see the National Museum just ahead. That’s the hard part done - from here on it's literally a stroll in the park.

The footpath ahead leads to a ramp into the museum. Staying on the footpath takes you through a subway (which may flood in wet weather) into the Lake Gardens. This route is locked when the gardens close, around 8PM, and on no account should you attempt to walk across the expressway Jalan Damansara thundering above you.

From Chinatown

Take the footbridge at Pasar Seni station and walk over Klang river and turn left on the footbridge. Get off the bridge at Jalan Tugu and use the pedestrian underpass to get to the other side of busy Jalan Kinabalu. Now you are in the Perdana Botanical Garden district right north of the National Mosque.

Get around

Lake Gardens is best explored on foot. There are pleasant footpaths throughout the park.

See

Perdana Botanical Garden

The Perdana Botanical Gardens were designed by the British Finance minister in Malaysia in the late 19th century. In the middle of the park is an artificial lake surrounded by greeneries and hills. This park is popular among locals and tourist alike as a location to relax and take in the sunshine and beauty. The park itself has some sights:

• 1 Orchid Garden (Taman Orkid), ☏ +60 32617 6000. 7AM–8PM. The Orchid garden was openend in 1986. 700-800 species of orchids can be seen here. Malaysia has 3000 species alltogether. There is a souvenir shop on the premises. Free, RM1 on weekends. (updated Jun 2017)
• 2 Hibiscus Garden (Taman Bunga Raya). 09:00-18:00. Garden dedicated to the national plant of Malaysia. Free, but RM1 on weekends. (updated Jun 2017)
• 3 Herbal Garden. (updated Jun 2017)
• 4 Deer & Mousdeer Park. M-Th 10AM-noon, 2-6PM; F 10AM-noon, 3-6PM; Sa Su 10AM-6PM. Little zoo with plenty of reindeer. Free. (updated Jun 2017)

Mosques and buildings

• 5 National Mosque (Masjid Negara), JL Perdana. Masjid Negara is unique in that it incorporates Malay-Islamic rather than the usual Arabic-Islamic architecture. It is known for its conspicuous turquoise umbrella-like roof. A yellow umbrella is usually part of the royal regalia of the sultans of Malay kingdoms.  
• 6 Heroes' Mausoleum (Makam Pahlawan) (near Masjid Negara). The burial ground of several Malaysian leaders and politicians. Construction of the mausoleum began in 1963 under its project of the construction of Masjid Negara and was completed in 1965. The cemetery has an interior and an exterior. Part is covered with a concrete dome in the form of a starburst, each side of which almost touches the ground, and separated by a pond from the outside. (updated Jun 2017)
• 7 National Monument (Tugu Negara), Jl Tugu, Off Jl Parlimen. This immense bronze structure was built as a memorial to the soldiers who gave up their lives for their country. This sculpture depicts seven soldiers holding the Malaysian flag, each symbolising one of seven qualities; unity, strength, leadership, sacrifice, courage, suffering and vigilance. It was sculpted by Felix de Weldon, who sculpted the famed Iwo Jima Memorial statue in Virginia, United States.  
• 8 Tun Abdul Razak Memorial, ☏ +6032693 7740. Tu–Su 10AM–5:30PM, F noon–3PM). Tun Abdul Razak (11 March 1922 (Pekan) - 14 January 1976 (London)) was the second prime minister of Malaysia. He ruled from 1970 to 1976. He is entombed in Makam Pahlawan. Razak lived on the site of the memorial from 1962 until his dead. The site consists of 2 sections: The first shows exhibitions of his life, the second is focused on his time as a politician. (updated Jun 2017)

Museums

• 9 National Museum (Muzium Negara), Jalan Damansara, ☏ +60 3 2267 1111, prmuziumnegara@jmm.gov.my. Daily 9AM-6PM. Contains exhibits on traditional life among the various ethnic communities of Malaysia, numerous well-explained artifacts including fine clothing and shadow puppets and Orang Asli woodcarving pieces. The history section is divided into four galleries - Gallery A (prehistoric), Gallery B( Malay kingdoms), Gallery C (colonial era) and Gallery D (modern Malaysia). A visit to this museum can help you to understand more about Malaysian history and culture. Adult RM5, child RM2 (foreigners). (updated Apr 2017)

Islamic Arts Museum

• 10 Islamic Arts Museum (Muzium Kesenian Islam Malaysia), Jalan Lembah Perdana, ☏ +60 32092 7070, info@iamm.org.my. Daily 9AM-6PM. One of the most interesting museums in KL, the Islamic Arts Museum houses both modern and traditional Malaysia as part of the larger Islamic world and, through exhibitions of objects of religious and aesthetic significance, shows both the connection of Malaysian Islamic culture to the Muslim lands to its west and its uniqueness. The museum is the largest museum of Islamic arts in South East Asia with more than seven thousands artifacts from the Islamic world. It also features a large and high quality shop. RM14. (updated Apr 2017)
• 11 National Planetarium (Planetarium Negara), 53 Jalan Perdana, ☏ +603 2273 4301, webmaster@angkasa.gov.my. Tu-Su 9AM-4:30PM, closed Monday. The attractions here include space science and astronomy exhibits, a theatre screening 3-Dimensional movies, a viewing gallery and an observatory. Gallery: free; Planetarium show: adult RM12, child RM8. (updated Apr 2017)
• 12 Royal Malaysian Police Museum (Muzium Polis Diraja Malaysia), 5 Jalan Perdana (right next do Islamic Arts Museum), ☏ +60 32272 5689. Tu-Th Sa Su 10AM-6PM; F 10AM-12:30 and 2:30-PM. The police museum shows the history of the Malaysian police with pictures, weapons and vehicles. Free. (updated Jun 2017)
• 13 Malay World Ethnology Museum (Muzium Etnologi Dunia Melayu), Jalan Damansara (get off at KL Sentral station, then walk a distance of 0.5 km to the National Museum. Alternatively, get off at Muzium Negara), ☏ +60 32267 1000, pr.medm@jmm.gov.my. Daily 9AM-6PM. This museum presents the culture of the Malay world (Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines...) especially through its material objects such as brass utensils, weapons, pottery, textiles and musical instruments, as well as cultural practices such as dance and theatre. It also showcases some impressive woodcarvings and metalworks. RM5 foreigners, RM2 Malaysian citizen. (updated Aug 2019)

Zoological gardens

Kuala Lumpur Bird Park

• 14 Bird Park (Taman Burung), 920 Jalan Cenderawasih (Getting to the park on public transport is rather inconvenient as it involves a long uphill walk from the old Kuala Lumpur station, which can be exhausting on hot weather. Hence, consider getting there by taxi and going back by walking + public transport.), ☏ +60 3 2272 1010, info@klbirdpark.com. Daily 9AM-6PM. From beautiful peacocks to the alien-looking birds from all over the world, this 60-hectare bird park is home to 200 species. Highlights of the park include the free-roaming birds (which seem to cope rather well with the enthusiastic children and photographers), the artificial but well-made waterfall, and the large flamingo pond. You can actually experience part of the bird park without paying to go in by eating at the Hornbill Restaurant and Cafe, which is actually built within the bird park where you can get up close with some of the birds that wish to share your lunch including the large and entertaining hornbills. The restaurant is also not cheap - the set meals are about the same price as the park's tickets, although Malaysians enjoy a measly discount. The park is also a destination of sightseeing buses. Adult RM67, child RM45 for foreigners. (updated Apr 2017)
• 15 Butterfly Park (Taman Rama Rama), Jalan Chenderasari, ☏ +60 326934799, info@klbutterflypark.com. Daily 9AM-6PM. Walk-through tropical butterfly enclosure. Apparently the largest butterfly garden in the world spanning over 80,000 sq ft of landscaped garden with over 5,000 live butterflies, exotic plants, butterfly-host plants and ferns. RM22 (children RM10) plus another RM4 if you wish to use your video camera. (updated Apr 2017)

Buy

Mainly limited to souvenir shops at the main attractions of the park. Especially the souvenir shop of the Islamic arts museum sells high quality handicraft.

Eat

Restaurants are available in Butterfly Park and Bird Park and many of the museums.

• 1 The Hornbill Restaurant & Cafe. Nice restaurant. The terrace of the restaurant faces the bird park. So even without paying the entrance fee to the bird park it is possible to observe some of the animals. (updated Jun 2017)
• 2 Rebung (On 5th floor of a multi-storey parking), ☏ +60 32276 2525, restoranrebungchefismail@gmail.com. 8-10AM, 11:30AM-3PM, 3:30-5:30PM, 6:30-10:30PM. Malay all-you-can-eat buffet. Four sessions per day: Breakfast, lunch, hi-tea, dinner. Very good online ratings. From 22RM (breakfast) to 53RM (dinner). (updated Mar 2021)

Sleep

Only one hotel, a five-star one, is located in this area.

Splurge

• 1 The Majestic Hotel, 5 Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, ☏ +60 32785 8000, tmklresv@ytlhotels.com.my. Considered one of the best hotels in the city. US$45-129.