10 MOST PHOTOGRAPHED PLACES IN KL

It might be cliché, but how many have you shot?

If you're on vacation to Kuala Lumpur, prepare to find yourself spoiled for stunning city views, colonial architecture, lush greenery, quaint temples, high-rise skyscrapers, and friendly locals on their daily routine.

You definitely want to catch those moments to share with your loved ones back home, and they all seem to have a camera these days. If you're going to KL, camera in hand, we're pretty sure you're going to take these snaps (no matter how cliché, it's always someone's first time, right?).

We've compiled a fun list of popular images that everyone in Kuala Lumpur takes, but we highly recommend thinking out of the box when you're at these heavily photographed spots so you don't end up with boring snapshots!

1.Petronas Twin Tower, KLCC  

The most photographed location in Kuala Lumpur is arguably the famous Petronas Twin Towers. Also known as KLCC, this 88-story building stands at an impressive height of 452 meters and is recognized as the tallest twin structure in the world. The beautifully landscaped KLCC Park, complete with water fountains and spacious walkways, complements the Islamic-inspired architecture, making it a perfect base for visitors to test their posing skills. The double-decked Skybridge, located on the 41st and 42nd floors of the Petronas Twin Towers, is also one of its main attractions, where visitors can photograph the stunning scenery of the city from a jaw-dropping height.

2. Menara Kl Tower, Jalan P.Ramlee

Menara KL Tower, currently the 18th largest stand-alone structure in the world, is also one of Malaysia's most recognizable and famous landmarks. The tower was designed in 1994 and stands at 421 meters with a viewing deck at 276 meters, providing a beautiful view of the center of the city. Situated on the top of the Bukit Nanas (Pineapple Hill) Forest Reserve, the architectural design of the tower represents Malaysia's dominant Islamic heritage with Arabic scripts, Islamic tiles, and archetypal Islamic floral and abstract designs. It's almost immoral, along with the Petronas Twin Towers, to fly here without taking a glimpse or two of this famous KL attraction.

3. The Chinese Red Gate of Petaling Street, Chinatown

A picturesque landmark in Kuala Lumpur and a world-wide landmark of Chinese heritage, The Chinese Red Gate of Petaling Street is an emblematic archway in Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown with the words 'Jalan Petaling Street' spelled out in gold letters to welcome tourists at its main entrance. This ornate gate is an emblematic device, and we guarantee that when you find it, people will gladly snap under it.

Petaling Street is the well-known shopping district of Kuala Lumpur, where the entire city is turned into a lively night market after dark, with hundreds of stalls selling all sorts of items at dirt-priced prices. Petaling Street is conveniently accessible via an effective public transport network.

4. Pavilion Water Fountain, Bukit Bintang

The Pavilion Shopping Centre, situated in the busy Bukit Bintang district, is a luxury shopping complex in Kuala Lumpur. Featuring an all-white architectural marble style, this shopping Mecca looks like an enormous Greek temple with post-modern pillars and houses over 450 foreign brands such as Coach, Michael Kors, and Marc by Marc Jacobs.

The highest Liuli Crystal fountain in Malaysia, the Crystal Fountain Pavilion, is situated at the main entrance of Pavilion KL. Billed as a national landmark, it is one of the most frequently photographed structures in the area. Also, much like Rome's Trevi Fountain, you can throw away your loose change to make a wish (don't tempt fate by wishing the Gucci handbag you've seen in the window display).

5. Sultan Abdul Samad Building at Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) Merdeka Square

The Sultan Abdul Samad Building in Dataran Merdeka is one of the city's most popular tourist attractions and a historic landmark in Kuala Lumpur. Hailed as one of the oldest buildings in the Moorish style of the area, it is located east of Merdeka Square (Dataran Merdeka) and the Royal Selangor Club, across from Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin.

Made entirely of brick, the building features heavy gothic, western, and Moorish-style elements with an elegant porch, graceful arches, and curved columns topped by polished copper cupolas and a striking 41.2-meter high clock tower.

6. Brickfields Little India, Brickfields

Little India in Brickfields, just a 10-minute walk from KL Sentral Station, is a lively street adorned with vibrant floral paintings, pastel-shaped buildings, and Indian pop tunes from Indian stalls, shops and restaurants run by the Indian community. 

Popular Indian products such as colourful saris, flower garlands, spices, and Bollywood music can be found here. A location full of fascinating photo opportunities, Little India in Brickfields is home to a 35-foot fountain at the intersection between Jalan Travers and Jalan Tun Sambanthan, white street lamps and creamy-yellow arches with purple embellishments, as well as glittering Hindu temples.

7. Hawker Food Stalls at Jalan Alor, Bukit Bintang

Jalan Alor, a busy street in Bukit Bintang, is well-considered to house the most hawker stalls and seafood restaurants in the centre of Kuala Lumpur. Open from 17:00 onwards, Jalan Alor stays noisy and lively all night with crowds of locals and visitors enjoying a variety of local and foreign delicacies on plastic tables and chairs. 

Jalan Alor is also a perfect place to take pictures as it exudes traditional oriental charm with air-conditioned Chinese seafood restaurants, vivid fluorescent restaurant lighting, and mini red Chinese lanterns strung in the trees.

8. Central Market

Central Market, also known as Pasar Seni, is one of Kuala Lumpur's most famous landmarks, a shopping paradise, and a popular tourist attraction. Located along Jalan Hang Kasturi (a few minutes away from Petaling Street), the Art Deco-style building is easily recognizable thanks to its cute blue exterior and the local 'Baroque' trimmings.

Home to a variety of art galleries, boutiques, kitsch crafts and souvenir stalls with vendors selling local merchandise, Central Market serves as a focal point for Kuala Lumpur's creative culture. Central Market also hosts a number of vendors who put their best out of the country's vibrant and thrilling annual events, such as Hari Raya, Chinese New Year and Deepavali.

9. The Monorail, all around KL

The Kuala Lumpur monorail is only one of many public transport choices in the area, but it is by far the cutest. It moves along at a sedentary rate, and the miniature size of it has a sweet look that cries out to be photographed.

These are frequently painted in noisy designs of vivid hues, some of them matching the famous London bus. Kuala Lumpur's monorail line connects the KL Sentral transport hub to the bustling Golden Triangle district, with a total of 11 stops in between.

10. 'I Love KL' sign at KL City Gallery

The Kuala Lumpur City Gallery, located right next to Dataran Merdeka, is a visual tourist information centre that houses a selection of paintings and images of the history of Kuala Lumpur, as well as a miniature display of the city's famous landmarks.

Set in a 114-year-old colonial-style building, this free museum is perfect if you want to find out more about it because it features a huge wall with a comprehensive timeline that chronicles its modest beginnings in the 1850s to its current status as a metropolitan city. The most unforgettable feature of KL City Gallery is its four-meter-high "I Love KL" sculpture situated right next to the entrance – a very popular photo-op for visitors and locals alike.

Author: Shobana Manokaran