Lake Gardens in Kuala Lumpur

Tasik Perdana at Lake Gardens

Previously a tin mine, the Lake Gardens is a favourite picnic spot, with large sculpted vegetation, picnic areas, children’s playgrounds and more; you can buy food and drink from a number stalls here. Most visitors come on the weekends but due to its sheer size, it doesn’t get too crowded.

The small deer park makes it great for families with little kids, while the Tasik Perdana has pedal boats that can be hired for a romantic water ride; it takes nearly an hour to walk all the way round the lake. The Hibiscus Garden (Taman Bunga Raya) has over 500 species and the Orchid Garden (Taman Bunga Orkid) has up to 800 species but it is the latter which brings in the crowds on weekends when it transforms into an orchid market.

Memorial Tun Abdul Razak at Lake Gardens

The main road through the Lake Gardens weaves down past the deer field, and leads to the Tun Abdul Razak Memorial at the southeast edge of the park. The house is the former residence of the country’s second Prime Minister, the late Tun Abdul Razak: he is best known as the ‘father of Malaya’ and in recognition of his services, his old house was transformed into a museum of sorts. Inside are preserved documents, speeches, books, awards, and his collection of walking sticks and pipes; on the lawn, are his well-maintained motorboat and golf trolley.

How to Walk to Lake Gardens

It is possible to walk to the Lake Gardens: from the National Museum, head about 50m along Jalan Damansara; there is a small pathway that leads into a tunnel at the junction of Jalan Kebun Bunga – this is the entrance to the southern edge of the gardens.

The other way is to head west of Merdeka Square along Jalan Parlimen – it is a 30-minute walk that takes you to the northern side of the park to the Lake Gardens’ main entrance.

Alternatively, there is a pedestrian bridge at the Central Market that crosses to the Dayabumi Complex: from here, south of the post office, there is an underpass leading to the National Mosque – the gardens are only a short walk away.

Buses and Taxis at Lake Gardens

Several buses head to the main entrance of the Lake Gardens: from Jalan Sultan Mohammed there is the blue bus #30; from Lebuh Pasar Besar, the pink bus #22 or # 38; from Kotaraya Plaza, bus #21C or #48C; lastly, bus #18 or #21A from Chow Kit.

Alternately, the KL Hop-On-Hop-Off stops at the National Monument. Getting to the Lake Gardens is not a problem but once you’re there, getting out can be difficult – taxis charge an inflated rate to cover the short distance out of the park. However, once you have walked around the huge Lake Gardens you will most assuredly be too tired to walk back to the city centre so consider booking a taxi in advance.

Address: Jalan Parlimen, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +603 2691 6011