Putrajaya, Malaysia's administrative capital, features modern architecture, gardens, and lakes, with dining and nightlife options.
Putrajaya, Malaysia's administrative capital, stretches along a 650-hectare artificial lake. You can walk across the pink granite Putra Mosque, watch sunset from the sail-shaped Seri Wawasan Bridge, or spot hornbills and kingfishers at the Wetlands Park. The city's botanical gardens house over 700 species of tropical plants, while the lake buzzes with water sports and cruises throughout the day.
Getting to Putrajaya
You can reach Putrajaya via two rail lines: KLIA Transit and Putrajaya Line, both running from Kuala Lumpur 25 kilometers north. The South Klang Valley Expressway connects the city to both Kuala Lumpur and KLIA International Airport. Within Putrajaya, hop on Nadi Putra's natural gas and electric buses that run from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily.
Modern Islamic Architecture
The Putra Mosque's rose-colored granite walls and 116-meter minaret rise above the lakefront. Its prayer hall, decorated with Persian Islamic geometric patterns and arabesque motifs, holds 15,000 worshippers. Open to non-Muslim visitors from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM except during prayer times. Five bridges cross the lake, each with distinct designs - the Seri Wawasan Bridge resembles a sailing ship, while the 435-meter Putra Bridge incorporates Islamic geometric patterns into its pillars and railings.
Parks and Gardens
Walk through 92 hectares of Malaysia's largest botanical garden, where you'll find dedicated sections for palm varieties, flowering plants, and medicinal herbs. The garden opens daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. At the 138-hectare Wetlands Park, follow walking trails through marshland where you might spot some of the 97 recorded bird species, including kingfishers, herons, and eagles. The park's wetlands naturally filter water for the lake.
Water Activities and Recreation
Marina Putrajaya rents out kayaks, paddle boats, and motorized vessels for lake exploration. Take a 45-minute guided cruise around the lake's main attractions, running hourly from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The Putrajaya Challenge Park includes a 30-foot indoor climbing wall and three BMX tracks of varying difficulty. At the 70-acre Putrajaya Equestrian Park, sign up for riding lessons or explore marked horse trails through woodland areas.
Climate and Best Time to Visit
Putrajaya has a tropical rainforest climate with temperatures between 24-32°C (75-90°F) year-round. Rain falls frequently, even during the drier months of June and July. Schedule outdoor activities before noon to avoid afternoon heat and typical evening rainfall. Most indoor attractions remain open during rain, making them good backup options.
![Kuala Lumpur is the national capital and most populous city in Malaysia. The city covers an area of 243 km2 and has an estimated population of 1.6 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, covering similar area as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.5 million people as of 2012. It is among the fastest growing metropolitan regions in South-East Asia, in terms of population and economy.
Kuala Lumpur is the seat of the Parliament of Malaysia. The city was once home to the executive and judicial branches of the federal government, but they were moved to Putrajaya in early 1999. Some sections of the judiciary still remain in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. The official residence of the Malaysian King, the Istana Negara, is also situated in Kuala Lumpur. Rated as an alpha world city, Kuala Lumpur is the cultural, financial and economic centre of Malaysia due to its position as the capital as well as being a key city. Kuala Lumpur was ranked 48th among global cities by Foreign Policy's 2010 Global Cities Index and was ranked 67th among global cities for economic and social innovation by the 2thinknow Innovation Cities Index in 2010.
Since the 1990s, the city has played host to many international sporting, political and cultural events including the 1998 Commonwealth Games and the Formula One Grand Prix. In addition, Kuala Lumpur is home to the tallest twin buildings in the world, the Petronas Twin Towers, which have become an iconic symbol of Malaysia's futuristic development [Wikipedia.org] | Johor Bahru in Malaysia](https://humbo.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/place-photo/5ffa2ff19ed1ddb22d235d13/6xc_BMxB-z_thumb.jpeg)
