People from Tamilnadu, India, who travel for work or business, commonly visit Malaysia. During the British era, a sizable number of people with Tamil ancestry immigrated to Malaysia. One of Malaysia's official languages is Tamil.
Malaysia is a tropical nation with consistent weather all year round. Kuala Lumpur should not be the focus when considering Malaysia, which has a lot to offer. But if you just have three days, you'll probably get what we got. Try to explore regional Malaysia if you have the time. Along the Northern shore, there are tropical woods, beaches, mountains, caverns, and a lot of water-based activities.
Things to Know before you Go
Visa (for Indian Passport holders): Prior Visa has to be arranged for Indian Passport Holders if you are visiting Malaysia. Getting a tourist visa is not hard and it can be done through Travel agents. You can also do a multiple entry visa valid for one year
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Currency: Malaysia's currency is the Ringgit (MYR). 1 MYR ~ 18 INR
Best way to travel in Malaysia: A combination of Domestic flights, trains, and buses can be used to go around Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur is the major city/capital which has got an extensive metro & public transportation. It is also not expensive
Accommodation : Hotels are very much affordable and staying near KL sentral will give you a good connectivity
Language : Malaysian/Chinese/Tamil are the official languages of the country, but you can find English widely spoken and boards/signs in English.
Food: Average meal in Malaysia will cost MYR 20 (INR 400). There are plenty of fast food joints across the city. We didn't have the need to cook, so we didn't opt for any Airbnb's. Our hotel provided complimentary breakfast and we did have a microwave in the rooms
Water: Tap water is safe to drink, but I was advised to buy bottled water by a local friend. It is not expensive. Try to get one from the supermarket. Buying it in convenience stores like 7/11 will be expensive
Wifi & Mobile data: Travel sim is available in all airports for short term stays. It gives you a great flexibility when you are travelling to regional areas or on day trips. I do recommend this. It comes with a data pack, enough for 3~4 days
Credit Cards and ATMs: It was easy paying by card. Cash is also used predominantly. So better to carry some cash on hand. Plenty of ATM's around the city
Safety: Malaysia is relatively safe when compared to many other asian destinations. Keep your wallets & passports safe. Always be mindful of your surroundings & stick to your instincts. If you feel something is not right, don't do it.
Best time to Visit
Understanding Geography
Malaysia is a tropical country and has got the same weather throughout the year. So doesn't matter when you travel. Look for local festivals, which is the time to be avoided.
So what is the best time to visit??
February-March would be the best, it is not the holiday season. Hotels/Accommodations are not pricier. There is lesser rainfall during this period
Malaysia is a medium-sized country and has got a lot to offer. We had a couple of days in KL and had to leave for Singapore. So We had a tight itinerary.
Kuala Lumpur - City Tours
Genting Highlands
Cameron Highlands
You can more details about other destinations on the official Malaysian tourism website
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How to get to Malaysia
Our Budget
Traveling from India, International flights arrive at both KLIA & KLIA2. The low-cost carrier Air Asia arrives in KLIA@, the busiest of the two.
We flew Air Asia from Trichy International airport and flying time is 4 hours. Air Asia also flies from Chennai International airport
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Malaysia is not an expensive country to travel when compared to Singapore
Home to Air Asia, it is the best and the cheapest to get into Malaysia. Return ticket cost us 14000 INR/person from Trichy International Airport to KLIA2
We stayed in KL Sentral, closer to the public transport. Our room was MYR (2000 INR)/night which is reasonable. It included a complimentary breakfast & wifi
Restaurants were very much affordable. Apropel meal cost us 20 MYR/person/meal (400 INR). We also tried street foods, the cheapest meal you could get is 5~10 MYR (175 INR)
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This is the quickest way to reach Kuala Lumpur. There are other connecting options via Colombo/Singapore/Bangkok
Where to Stay
Based on my observations, We would recommend 2 or three neighborhoods to stay. This is based on the connectivity, close by to attractions and economical
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1. KLCC (Kuala Lumpur City Centre) This is the entertainment hub of KL and has numerous landmarks/attractions close by. Petronas twin towers is the most notable one
2. KL Sentral - Transport hub of KL, plenty of Tamil restaurants close by, Hotels are economical
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3. Brickfields - Also known as Little India. Most of the Indian community lives here and surrounded by Tamil restaurants. Affordable accommodation and plenty of shopping
City Skyline facing accommodation
How to Travel around Kuala Lumpur
Click on the Image to Zoom
This Map will give you the must see places in Kuala Lumpur. You’ll get an overall idea of what to do and you can mix it up the way you want. We Would also highly recommend to go on a couple of day trips at least, there is more to see outside of KL as well
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Pass we bought
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It is better to obtain a Touch and Go public transportation card if you are on a tight budget and only intend to stay in KL for one or two days. For your lone trips, top it off and utilize it. Additionally, take the shuttle instead of the KLIA express train while travelling from the airports into the city. You can also purchase a 2-day package card from KLIA express as an alternative. It is trouble-free and marginally more expensive.
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KL Travel pass Package price is RM75~INR 1250 (Single) and RM120~INR 2150 (Return). The package price includes:
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KLIA Express airport transfer (Single or Return Trip),
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2-day unlimited rides on Rapid KL rail services (LRT, MRT and KL Monorail lines),
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cash value of RM5 which is the minimum balance required for use on Rapid KL rail services.
Must See Places in Kuala Lumpur
1. Petronas Twin Towers
One of the city's most recognizable landmarks is the Twin Tower. With 88 storeys and a height of 452 m, it is the tallest pair of twin buildings in the world. The silvery tower is illuminated at night, and it is breathtaking to see the amazing metalwork in all its splendor.
The double decked skybridge that connects the two towers allows you to ascend the observation tower, which is on the 86th floor. We usually recommend this as the top thing to do if you are visiting KL for the first time because it was a fantastic experience.
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​Walking through the famous skyscraper to get to the peaceful park behind it, is worth doing at Petronas Tower throughout the day. You can unwind while sitting in a park that is surrounded by breathtakingly towering skyscrapers.
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2. Batu Caves
Lord Murugan temple situated majestically inside a limestone mountain is about one hour's train trip from the City center. The 43-meter-tall golden monument of Lord Murugan is located in front of the Cathedral cave. You can take the 272 steps to the summit, where you can see the actual temple that were expertly constructed to catch the sun's rays as they entered the cavern. It is a fascinating edifice to observe and one of the most religious in KL.
3. Little India
I'm confident that if you are coming from India, Brickfields will not be missed. Brickfields, which was once a Kuala Lumpur area, was soon known as Malaysia's Little India and rose to prominence as one of the city's most visited destinations. There are several Indian businesses, many of which are owned and operated by Indians.
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The traders in the area play Tamil music as they welcome you and offer everything from spices and sweets to sarees and garlands. In Tamil Nadu, you can find anything.
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Go here for your biryani and idli needs from South India. Any time is a perfect time to explore this busy area because shops stay up till late at night to service consumers.
4. Kuala Lumpur City Gallery
The most well-known tourist destination in Kuala Lumpur is Kuala Lumpur City Gallery. You may get all the facts about Kuala Lumpur at this entertaining location. If you feel like seeing the city, you can obtain a free copy of the Kuala Lumpur Tours Map as well as a tour guide bicycle. The Gold Award-winning city gallery, which is owned by ARCH (Malaysian company), uses a music and light show to illustrate the city's past, present, and future.
5. Tugu Negara – The National Monument
One of the top tourist destinations in Kuala Lumpur is this. The National Monument is a historical sculpture that is besides the well-known Lake Gardens Kuala Lumpur and was erected to honour Malaysians who gave their lives in the struggle for Malaya's freedom.
Close to the National Monument, you can find the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park, Deer Park, and Butterfly Park. If you have ample time & interested, you could combine some of these attractions.
6. Merdeka Square
The most famous landmark in Kuala Lumpur is Dataran Merdeka, often known as Merdeka Square, and its name carries a lot of historical significance. It is a well-known tourist destination that can be found in the City centre and is surrounded by well-known buildings including the City Gallery and the National Textile Museum. It has a very large picnic area, and both children and adults enjoy relaxing here and playing in the big playground.
Day Trips from Kuala Lumpur
Genting Highlands
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Genting Highlands, a well-known attraction, is about an hour's drive from Kuala Lumpur City and is situated at 1865 metres above sea level. Genting Highlands is a fantastic getaway destination for couples, families, and those looking to escape the summer heat and throng of KL metropolis.
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Skyway Cable Car, Strawberry and Lavender Gardens (Ghotong Jaya), Casinos, Food Courts, Shopping Malls, and Indoor Theme Parks are a few of the main attractions in Genting Highlands.
Cameron Highlands
Totally a different experience compared to Genting Highlands. It takes around three hours to travel each way from Kuala Lumpur to the Cameron Highlands, which are located 200 kilometers away.
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Before arriving at Malaysia's largest highlands resort, the drive alone is worthwhile because it passes through lush, verdant trees.
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The Cameron Highlands is an excellent area to go during the hot summer months because the temperatures are cooler and the air is considerably fresher there.
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It is essential to visit the tea plantations and have a warm cup of tea. Additionally, you can stroll through rose gardens, visit butterfly and bee farms, and pick strawberries at strawberry farms.
Tamil Food
There are many Tamil and Kerala restaurants close to KL Sentral as well as close to Batu Caves. Sangeethas, Anjappar, Saravana Bhavan, and numerous others.
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But we advise you to try the Malaysian Tamil Cuisines if you want a little more local flavor. They are located all across the city.
Conclusion & Our Recommendation
Overall, Kuala Lumpur is a city that is well worth seeing. This vibrant city has great restaurants and a variety of things to do. If you are from Tamil Nadu and are looking for a place to go on your first international trip, we suggest Malaysia. Locals are welcoming and eager to assist tourists. As KL is a large city, you will need to make plans for what to do.
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Even though there are likely too many things to do in KL for three days, we've done our best to highlight some of the greatest attractions for tourists. You might need to reserve more days to do more of a Food tour, Adventure activities and surrounding attractions.
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Our Recommendation
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Must Go Destination