Kuala Lumpur/Golden Triangle

[[file:pgname=Halal Explorer to Kuala Lumpur Golden Triangle|KL Skyline for Banner.jpg|1280px|origin=-0.1,0}} Petronas Towers Evening - Petronas Towers and the quintcrucial symbol of Kuala Lumpur

The Golden Triangle is Kuala Lumpur's main shopping and dining neighborhood. Considered to be the closest thing to a Central Business District (CBD) and the [[Golden Triangle (Thailand)|Golden Triangle]] is home to the ever popular shopping area of Bukit Bintang. To the north is KLCC, a multi-purpose development known for its shopping and the Petronas Twin Towers. Whilst KLCC does stand for Kuala Lumpur Downtown, do not mistake this for the actual Kuala Lumpur/Central|Downtown.

By Rail

The southern half of the Golden triangle, including Bukit Bintang and its surrounds, is best served by the KL Monorail and the newest MRT Sungai Buloh - Kajang (SBK) Line. The MRT SBK line passes KL Sentral at Muzium Negara and nearby the old monorailway station. The monorail passes directly through the neighborhood following along Jalan Sultan Ismail, originating from KL Sentral to the South and Titiwangsa in the north. Those heading towards KLCC and Jalan Ampang can take the LRT on the Kelana Jaya line. It is feasible to transfer between the LRT and Monorail at Dang Wangi LRT and Bukit Nanas Monorailway stations. Take note you must exit the paid fare area and walk along Jalan Ampang and purchase separate fares. Signs are there to guide you.

Travel on a Bus in Kuala Lumpur/Golden Triangle

Many of the Rapid KL buses go into the [[Golden Triangle (Thailand)|Golden Triangle]] area.

A free bus service, called GO-KL, operates two circular routes that focus on the [[Golden Triangle (Thailand)|Golden Triangle]] and the Kuala Lumpur/Central|Downtown. Those who are around Chinatown in the Downtown can catch the Purple Line which runs from Pasar Seni to Bukit Bintang, via Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve and Menara KL. The second route, or Green Line, runs solely within the Golden Triangle. see Kuala Lumpur/Golden Triangle#Get around|Get around for more information on this route.

By road

The primary streets in the neighborhood are Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Ampang, Jalan Imbi, Jalan Raja Chulan. All these roads suffer from acute congestion, especially during peak hours. If you are coming from outside KL and want to head directly here and there are a few roads which you can take.

• From the south if coming from the North-South Expressway, you can enter the Smart Tunnel at Sungai Besi and exit at the Jalan Sultan Ismail exit, which brings you smack in the middle of Bukit Bintang. The Tun Razak exit will bring you onto Jalan Tun Razak where you can then proceed directly into KLCC after the Singapore High Commission. Jalan Tun Razak also intersects with Jalan Ampang.
• From the north, after exiting the North South Expressway's Jalan Duta exit, proceed along Jalan Duta (towards the south end or "Seremban direction" of this road) and then Jalan Istana, and then Jalan Dewan Bahasa which will bring you to Jalan Hang Tuah and Jalan Imbi to the Bukit Bintang area. To get to KLCC, proceed towards Jalan Duta (south direction) and then Lebuhraya Mahameru which links up with Jalan Tun Razak. There is a tunnel linking Jalan Tun Razak directly to the KLCC vehicle park.

How to get around in Kuala Lumpur/Golden Triangle

By foot

KLCC and Bukit Bintang are linked by the KLCC - Bukit Bintang Walkway, an elevated and air-conditioned pedestrian bridge that links the Pavilion to Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. A further pedestrian tunnel near the convention centre exit will take you to Suria KLCC and the Petronas Towers or KLCC Park. Look for a set of escalators going underground in front of the convention centre. The walkway also links up to Impiana KLCC Hotel and a further exit is a short walk from Raja Chulan Monorail Station. The walkway is open 06:00-23:00.

Travel on a Bus in Kuala Lumpur/Golden Triangle

There is a free GO-KL bus service. The Green Line operates from Bukit Bintang to KLCC, traveling along Jalan Raja Chulan, Jalan P. Ramlee and Jalan Ampang along the way. The other bus route, or Purple Line, joins up with this and heads towards the Downtown. This line can be handy to reach Menara KL and Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve.

By monorail

The monorail traverses the [[Golden Triangle (Thailand)|Golden Triangle]] and is especially useful, if you want to enter the neighborhood from Kuala_Lumpur/South_of_City_Centre#Brickfields|KL Sentral and the main station of the city.

What to see in Kuala Lumpur/Golden Triangle

• Petronas Twin Towers - Menara Berkembar Petronas - Perhaps the most iconic building of Malaysia and the tallest twin building in the world. Visitors first head up to the Skybridge at level 41-42, one of the highest suspended bridges in the world, before going up to level 86 to marvel at Kuala Lumpur from the observation deck. There are also displays and informational videos about the tower and its construction. Tickets can be purchased online or at the base of the tower. A ticket allows you access during a specific time block only and are limited, so either turn up early or purchase online in advance.

St. John's Gothic Church, Kuala Lumpur - Menara KL with St. John's Gothic Church in the foreground

• Menara KL - KL Tower - KL Tower has a viewing deck at 276 bm provides great city views, and you'll be a few metres higher than the Twin Towers since the tower is built on a hill (also and the twin towers observation deck is 100 m below at 170 m). For a free bonus, check out the wonderfully bombastic free film on the tower's construction, screened in a little cinema on the tower ground floor. There is free shuttle bus service from the main gate to the base of the tower, though number of seats in the bus is very limited. Around the tower are diverse points of interest including pony rides, KL Animal Zone and a Malaysian cultural village exhibition. Tickets for these attractions can be purchased separately or as part of a combo with the KL Tower ticket.

Aquaria KLCC fish tank - Feeding time in the fish tank

• Aquaria KLCC - A gigantic aquarium housing over 5,000 aquatic and terrestrial species. The aquarium has many displays including an underwater tunnel, interactive touch pools, exhibits of flora and fauna and multimedia kiosks. They also have feeding sessions throughout the day at specific exhibits, see their website for specific times.

• Badan Warisan Malaysia - Malaysian Heritage Trust - A non-profit organisation for the conservation and promotion of Malaysia's legacy and has various exhibits and seminars about Malaysia and its history. Rumah Penghulu is a major attraction, a traditional (Malay) house constructed in the 1920s that was originally located in Kampung Sungai Kechil in Kedah. Tours of Rumah Penghulu are Monday to Saturday at 11:00 & 15:00. There is also a garden containing over 50 native Malaysian plants, includes rare species.

• Petrosains - An exhibit of the science and technology behind the petroleum industry, mainly aimed for children and sponsored by the Petronas oil company. There are various science shows, interactive exhibits and simulation experiences throughout. Book tickets at least 30 minutes in advance, or even a few days earlier if you can. Can be very busy on weekends.

• As Syakirin Mosque

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Kuala Lumpur/Golden Triangle

BerjayaTimeSq ThemePark - Fancy a ride at Berjaya Times Plaza Theme Park.

After you have done all your shopping and partying in the Golden Triangle, you will probably be exhausted. Perhaps enjoy a spa treatment to relax or, if up for it, go for an adventure in one of the local parks. You'll also find Malaysia's largest indoor theme park here.

• Berjaya Times Plaza Theme Park - Malaysia's largest indoor theme park, located on the upper floors of the giant Berjaya Times Plaza mall and particularly notable for its hair-raising seven-story indoor roller coaster. The park is divided into two sections, one geared for small children and the other for those who want a little more excitement; one ticket gets you into both.

• KL Forest Eco Park - formerly Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve | Being the last virgin tropical rainforest left in Kuala Lumpur, this is certainly not your typical urban park. If lucky you may even be able to spot some wildlife, including birds, monkeys, lizards and even the occasional snake. The trails are not that challenging but be sure to bring comfortable shoes, water and even some repellent can come in handy. A camping ground is also available for those wanting to camp under the stars.

• Craft Village Kompleks Kraf KL - Perkampungan Kraf - Part of a government-owned organisation which was set up to showcase Malaysian art and craft. You can create your own (Malay) art by having a dabble at batik drawing, wood carving and pottery making, all at a 'minimal fee'. While there you can also explore the museum, gift shop and café.

• Dewan Filharmonik Petronas - The home of the well-regarded Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra is nestled at the base of the Petronas Twin Towers, offering performances of classical music most Saturdays at 20:30 and Sundays at 15:00, with tickets starting at just RM25. Advance bookings are feasible online. Note that a strict dress code applies: long sleeve batik or lounge suit for gala and evening performances, "smart casual" (no jeans, shorts, T-shirts, sneakers and slippers) for other performances.

KLCC park fountain night - Lake Symphony Fountains, KLCC Park

• Diving Aquaria KLCC - Take a plunge (literally) and explore Aquaria KLCC with the resident aquatic animals. The Cage Rage package takes you underwater in the safety of a cage. Be sure to say hello to the sharks when down there. The Dive with Sharks package is definitely for who are more adventurous, where you can explore the underwater area without a cage and get up close to the aquatic life. You also get a certificate and t-shirt to remember your close encounter.

• KLCC Park - A kid-friendly urban park surrounded by a concrete jungle. It boasts a children's swimmingpool and playground, walking/jogging tracks, a bird sanctuary, sculptures and 66 species of palm trees. Check out the lake symphony fountains which spray water up into the air. During the evening the fountains are the centrepiece of a light and music show at 20:00, 21:00 and 21:45.

• Pamper Zone - 181 Jl Bukit Bintang 3.147201, 101.713957 - An impressive cluster of spas within Starhill Gallery, with services ranging from world class all day treatments (RM600), to affordable facials and one hour long full body massages (RM100).

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Kuala Lumpur/Golden Triangle

Bukit Bintang is the main shopping area of the [[Golden Triangle (Thailand)|Golden Triangle]] with many of KL's most well-known malls. The main shopping streets are Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Imbi. KLCC has the popular Suria KLCC mall while the adjacent Jalan Ampang also has several shopping complexes.

Bukit Bintang

Pavilion KL Entrance - Entrance of Pavilion shopping mall

• Pavilion Kuala Lumpur - This KL's latest luxury megamall is an anchor piece of the world-class urban development comprising two luxury residential towers, a corporate office. The mall has six distinctive precincts, Couture Pavilion, Bintang Circle, Gourmet_Emporium, Connection, Seventh Heaven and Home that contain roughly 450 stores. Most of the restaurants on the ground floor are western-themed and aimed at tourists, but there is a good range of Malaysian restaurants on the basement level and a large number of Halal restaurants spread throughout the mall. There is pedestrian bridge that links the mall to KLCC.

Berjaya Times Plaza atrium - Berjaya Times Plaza atrium

• Berjaya Times Plaza - It has 12 levels of retail with a total of 320,000 m² (3.5 million ft²). It is a middle-class shopping mall offering youth fashion targeted at the younger crowds. For entertainment, it has the largest indoor theme park in Malaysia on the 7th floor of the building. It also offers a 3D-Imax theatre on the top floor of the retail podium. there is a Cold Storage Supermarket at the lower ground floor.

• Lot 10 - When opened in 1991, it was considered the Harrods-equivalent of Malaysia housing designer outlets like Aigner and Versace. Time has however taken a toll on this mall which boasts a green facade. Nowadays it is widely-reckoned as a middle-class retail destination as most outlets have shifted as a result of competition and degradation. Anchor tenants include H&M and Japanese department store Isetan. If food is your thing, a cornucopia of Malaysia's best offerings can be found in the lower-ground floor food court, called Hutong.

• Plaza Low Yat - A good place for computer hardware, game consoles and handphones. A "must visit" for the tech inclined. All IT Hypermart (4th floor) is a good one-stop shop, but there are dozens of specialist computing boutiques for the enthusiast. Do not always be fooled by the pricing as some unscrupulous sellers may have switched original components of devices with fakes. Verify before purchasing.

• Starhill Gallery - Adjoining the JW Marriott Hotel. The nearest station to this mall is Monorail Bukit Bintang. Starhill is a literally an English translation of “Bukit Bintang”. An upscale, luxury retail mall that rivals Suria KLCC for designer goods, is worth a visit just to look at the different interior designs especially 'Feast' floor (Ground Floor). A must-visit for watch aficionados as the ‘Adorn’ floor (1st floor) houses the biggest selection of designer wrist-watch boutiques like, amongst others, Jaeger-Le Coultre, Roger Dubuis, Audemars Piguet, Breguet, Tag Heuer, Omega, Vacheron Constantin, IWC, Patek Philippe and Rolex, of course. Great if you have lots of cash to splurge. There is a Food Galore on the Lower Ground floor which renders an excellent culinary experience in a cosy setting that exudes grandeur.

• Sungei Wang Plaza - A popular place among local teenagers where fashion clothes, shoes, accessories and other trinkets and local designer clothes can be found with affordable price. A great place to buy cameras and watches (discounts are given for cash payments, although credit cards are accepted). Sungei Wang also hosts a concentration of tailors of men's and women's clothing. there is a Giant Supermarket at the Lower Ground floor.

• Other shopping malls in the Bukit Bintang area include BB Plaza, KL Plaza, a mini retail annexe known as Piccolo Galeria.

Jalan Ampang

Suria KLCC 2012 - Suria KLCC atrium

• Suria KLCC - Suria KLCC is one of Malaysia's premier shopping destinations due to its location beneath the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur Downtown. It is on 6 floors, with anchor tenants Isetan, Parkson, Kinokuniya, Tanjong Golden Village, Signatures Food Court, Marks & Spencer, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co. Suria is the native Malaysian word for Sunshine. It houses mostly luxury and fashionable shops, as well as cafes, restaurants, a 12 screen cinema, a concert hall, an art gallery, and a Science Discovery Centre, over 6 floors.

• Avenue K - Opposite Kuala Lumpur Downtown. With its bold tagline, "style has a new address" and the complex is a hip shopping haven complimented by a classy, city-living address, "K Residence". Avenue K aims to create a "shopping culture, where lifestyle, aesthetic and social elements converge." It boasts internationally acclaimed fashion brands.

Halal Food & Restaurants

WAW Chicken wings, Jalan Alor - A plate of juicy Chicken wings from a stall on Jalan Alor

Finding a place to eat Halal in the [[Golden Triangle (Thailand)|Golden Triangle]] is hard, simply because you are spoilt for choice. Options range from the cheapest local street food, all the way up to some of the most expensive restaurants within the entire city. Another alternative is to visit one of the many shopping mall food courts, which typically contain both local and international fare.

Malaysian

Budget restaurants, and "street stalls" are located almost everywhere in town, and these are good places to try the "real" Malaysian food, though hygiene can be sometimes an issue.

• Lot 10 Hutong - This shopping mall in the [[Golden Triangle (Thailand)|Golden Triangle]] has a collection of 20 street vendors who were invited to relocate in the food court. Provides an excellent spread of Malaysian food in hygienic and air-conditioned food court comfort at prices that are only slightly above those outdoors. Many famous Chinese style and KL-based foods are served in this food court.

• Sungai Wang Food court, on top floor of Sungai Wang, one of the cheapest food courts in the area, big selection of Chinese Rice dishes, plus other stalls selling Chinese, Indian and Vegetarian dishes.
• Signatures Food Court, 2nd Floor, Suria KLCC - Very good selection of Malaysian specialities from throughout the nation. During lunchtime very popular with the employees of the Petronas Tower.

• Laksa Shack - Second Floor Suria KLCC - Specializes in nothing but the many forms of the Malaysian laksa Noodles (all RM8.60), but the sour Assam Laksa is usually the top seller.

• Nasi Kandar Pelita - A huge outlet of Malaysia's largest nasi kandar chain, with long queues snaking out at lunchtime. Ordering is easy, just choose and point, but be sure to ask for their speciality kuah campur (mixed gravy), meaning that you get half a dozen Curries Sauces splashed on top. Air-con available upstairs. By Malaysian Mamak restaurant standards, having a meal here is more expensive than having a similar meal elsewhere. Worth it for the wide choices of food and the cleanliness and the quality, however.

• Asian Flavours Food Court, 4th Floor, Suria KLCC - A collection of restaurants offering both Malaysian and international fare. Among them are:
• Madam Kwan's, Lot 420/421, Fourth Floor, Suria KLCC - Very popular restaurant with excellent local fare in a pleasant ambience. Try the nasi lemak (RM12.80) or the meltingly smooth beef rendang (RM6.80), and wash it down with a bowl of sweet green chendol (RM5.50). Get there early to beat the queues.

• Bijan - Modern-styled décor in a home-like setting with outdoor verandah-garden compliments the well prepared (though perhaps slightly overpriced) Malaysian food. Classy patrons and impeccable service however make it worth a try. Around 60-90RM per adult.

• Seri Angkasa - Atop KL Tower - A revolving restaurant that has a good reputation, but is (inevitably) fairly steeply priced. The RM65 lunch buffet is comparatively good value. (RM40-45 for afternoon tea, RM140 for dinner accompanied by piano either 18:00-21:00 or 21:00-23:00 slot, reservations almost crucial for evenings)

Indian

• Passage Thru' India - An excellent Indian restaurant that offers both northern and southern Indian cuisine. Favorites here include the Chicken Beriyani, Chicken Tandoori, Chukka Mutton, Fried Fish, Malabar Avial and the slightly expensive but very tasty PTI Prawn masala.

• Restoran Ganesh - A fantastic place, Indian food that you don't get at most places, served on banana leaves.