Merdeka Square

A square where the Union Jack was lowered and the Malayan flag raised to mark independence from British rule.

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Kuala Lumpur
Sri Maha Mariamman Temple
The oldest Hindu temple in Malaysia located on the edge of Chinatown.
Jamek Mosque
Built in 1909, it is one of the oldest mosques in Malaysia. Located on the confluence of the Gombak and Klang Rivers.
Sultan Abdul Samad Building
Located opposite Merdeka Square, it used to house the superior courts of Malaysia.
Central Market
A centre for Malaysian arts, culture, and handicraft, housed in a hearitage building near Chinatown.
St. Mary's Anglican Cathedral
One of the oldest Anglican churches in the region, located at the Merdeka Square.
Chinatown Kuala Lumpur
A bustling area with cheap shopping and eateries, operated mainly by Chinese traders.

Related Tours

The Ultimate Full Day Tour of Kuala Lumpur
Meet the Twins

The tour will kick off with the pride of the nation – the PETRONAS Twin Towers – in the heart of the city. The gleaming glass-and-steel 88-storey towers, soaring at a height of 451.9 meters, is a perfect representation of Malaysia; a forward-looking nation who is proud of her heritage and is optimistic about her future.

Blast From the Past

After capturing the perfect photo(s) of the towers, we’ll delve into the past of KL in order to understand the fabric of our multicultural, multiethnic society. First, we visit Merdeka Square where the Union Jack was lowered and the Malayan flag hoisted for the first time at midnight on 31 August 1957, marking Malaysia’s independence from British rule. Here you’ll also see historically significant buildings such as the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and St. Mary’s Anglican Cathedral. A short walk away is Masjid Jamek, a mosque that sits on a site that gave the city its name – Kuala Lumpur (or “muddy confluence”) – because it’s located on the confluence of the Gombak and Klang Rivers.

Next, we’ll head to the National Monument, a bronze sculpture which commemorates the brave souls who died in Malaysia’s struggle for freedom during the Japanese Occupation during World War II and the Malayan Emergency. Then we’ll drive through the lush Lake Gardens only to be greeted with the sprawling National Mosque with its 73-metre-high minaret and a 16-pointed star concrete main roof. This is contrasted by the neo-Moorish-styled KL Railway Station that was constructed in 1910. Then, we’ll take a short drive to the National Museum where you can peruse their collection of artefacts and exhibitions that documents many aspects of Malaysian history and way of life. 

Excite Your Senses

Following a full morning of sightseeing, we’ll head to the hustle and bustle of Petaling Street, KL’s Chinatown, for some hearty lunch. Once recharged, we’ll visit the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, the oldest Hindu temple in Malaysia

In keeping with the multicultural theme, we’ll visit the magnificent 6-tiered Thean Hou Temple. It is a chinese temple built by the KL Hainanese community in dedication to the Goddess Tian Hou (The Heavenly Mother). Then we’ll drive through colourful Brickfields, a.k.a KL’s Little India due to its many Indian businesses and residents, on the way to the stunning Royal Palace. Finally, we’ll conclude the tour by visiting Batu Caves. The Caves, with its 272 steps, is dedicated to Lord Murugan and is also the focal point of the annual Hindu festival of Thaipusam. Just be sure to be nice to the monkeys there!

Quintessential Kuala Lumpur in Half a Day
The Past, Present, and Future

Your picture-perfect half-day tour of Kuala Lumpur (KL) will start at the crown jewel of the city – the PETRONAS Twin Towers. Soaring at 451.9 m, the 88-storey megastructure represents Malaysia as a future-thinking nation who is proud of her heritage. We will then visit the historic Merdeka Square where the Union Jack was lowered and the Malayan flag raised, marking the independence from British rule and the birth of a new nation. Surrounding the square are historically-significant and architecturally-stunning buildings, such as the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and Masjid Jamek. After, we will drive to the awe-inspiring Royal Palace, which is the official residence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Supreme King) of Malaysia, where you can marvel at the enormity of the complex and its 22 domes painted in a distinctive royal yellow.

From the Royal Palace, we will then head to the National Museum to learn about the history and culture of the Malay Peninsula and the nation. An interesting feature of the museum is its Italian mosaic mural running the length of the building, depicting important historical moments of the nation. Then we will visit the National Monument. The bronze sculpture commemorates the fallen heroes who valiantly fought for Malaya’s freedom during World War II and the Malayan Emergency. 

We then wind down the journey by driving through the lush Lake Gardens to see the National Mosque. Built in 1965, the geometric design of the complex reflects the harmony between modernity and Islamic aesthetics. In contrast, the adjacent KL Railway Station, built in 1910, was designed in an ostentatious neo-Moorish style, with its spires, minarets, and towers, reminiscent of the grand old style of late-19th and early-20th century buildings in Colonial India. 
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