Places of Interest in Selangor

Selangor has been called the gateway to Malaysia, given its strategic location to all major travel routes. The major airports, which are the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Sepang and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Subang are located in Selangor. It is also blessed with the biggest port in Malaysia, Port Klang. There is an extensive network of highways and expressways in the state, making travelling all over Selangor a wonderful experience.

Selangor is the most developed state in Malaysia and is still rapidly progressing, especially with the Federal Governments mega projects namely the Multi-media Super Corridor, the new administrative centre Putra Jaya and the KLIA. Best of all, Selangor is also the most fascinating and scenic tourist destination in Malaysia, providing visitors with a delightful, never-ending discovery


State Mosque



The Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque is one of the most beautiful buildings in the country. Frequently referred to as the "Blue Mosque" its minarets are the tallest in the world at 142.3 meters. Its graceful blue dome is one of the largest of its kind. Decorative Islamic calligraphy enhances the dome and main prayer hall, while the overall architecture integrates ethnic Malay design elements.


   

Shah Alam Gallery

Situated at the Shah Alam Lake Gardens, the Galeri Shah Alam exhibits art, local handicraft and fabrics for viewing and for sale. It has a wide collection of fascinating artwork by various local artists. The gallery is relatively popular with special interest groups.

State Monument




Located adjacent to the State Secretariat Building is the serene and lovely State Monument with a sweeping arch, reflecting pools and gold inscriptions on grey granite. It is a favourite location for shutterbugs and tourist because of its picturesque setting.


   Sultan Alam Shah Museum

This blue-roofed State Museum in traditional Selangor architecture houses some of the finest displays in the country, providing visitors with an eye-opening look at the history, culture and heritage of Selangor.


 
Gombak Shah Alam Sport Complex


Awarded the 1996 Best Sport Facility in Asia Award, the Shah Alam Sport Complex features one of the largest and most dynamic sports and entertainment complex in South East Asia. State-of-the-art facilities and a professional management team ensure that all events held here will be successful. SASC comprises the 70,000 seats Shah Alam stadium, an adjacent warm-up track and training field, a 12,000 capacity air-conditioned indoor stadium, and an Olympic standard swimming and diving centre.



Shah Alam Lake Gardens

The Shah Alam Lake Garden is known as 'the green lung of Selangor's state capital'. It is a favourite retreat for many Klang Valley residents especially on weekends and in the evenings.

The man-made lakes, divided into three sections - West, East and Central - are surrounded by beautifully-landscaped and well-kept gardens. Access is by a good footpath; besides a water theme park, other attractions include a floating seafood restaurant, playgrounds and picnic areas.

The place also hosts several annual events like the International Boat Show and the International Orchid Exhibition.


BATU CAVES

Batu Caves is a limestone hill in Gombak district about 13 kilometres north of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia which has a series of caves and cave temples. It takes its name from the Sungai Batu or Batu River, which flows past the hill. Batu Caves is also the name of the nearby village.

Batu Caves is said to have been discovered by K. Thamboosamy an Indian trader in the 1800s. The 'Orang Asli' (local aboriginal tribes called Jakun) had been aware of the caves for a long time. However, they became famous only after it was discovered by the American Naturalist, William Hornaday in 1878.

Of the various cave temples that comprise the site, the largest and best known is the Temple or Cathedral Cave, so named because it houses several Hindu shrines beneath its 100 m vaulted ceiling.

These serve as the focus of the Hindu community's yearly Thaipusam (Tamil : தைபூசம்) festival. A procession begins at the Sri Mahamariamman Temple, KL and lasts eight hours. In 2006, the festival attracted more than 1.5 million pilgrims, making it one of the largest gatherings in history.

The caverns contain a diverse range of cave fauna, including some unique species, such as Liphistiidae spiders and Eonycteris fruit bats. The site is well known for its numerous macaque monkeys, which visitors feed, sometimes involuntarily. In order to maintain the cave's ecology, access is restricted. A private company is running tours to the caves.

There are 272 steps that a visitor has to climb in order to access the temple at the summit of the hill. Many of the shrines relate the story of Lord Murugan's victory over Soorapadam. An audio tour is available to visitors. At the base of the hill are two more cave temples, Art Gallery Cave and Museum Cave, both of which are full of Hindu statues and paintings. A little below the Temple Cave is the Dark Cave, a two-kilometer network of relatively untouched caverns.