The Kuala Lumpur City Gallery is an interesting tourist information centre with a collection of paintings and photos of KL’s history, plus miniature mock ups of famous city landmarks. Set in a 114-year old, colonial-style building just beside Dataran Merdeka, this free museum is great if you want to find out a little bit more about KL’s history.
The wall with a timeline chronicling KL’s history is especially attention-grabbing: it chronicles KL’s origins in the 1850s, to the present: the photos of the official groundbreaking of the Petronas Twin Towers are especially interesting. If you are a local, you can’t help but feel pride; as a foreigner, you are bound to be awed by Malaysia’s milestones.
Some of the photos and paintings (like Malaysia’s Independence Day declaration), come with short but informatively written summaries describing the event: others have audio snippets. There is also a 40ft x 60ft scaled model of greater KL and even video footage of important events (like the 16th Commonwealth Games). The museum also has displays on the country’s multicultural population, with national costumes like baju kurungs, sarees and cheong sams exhibited.
Be sure to check out the gift store before you leave – the locally-made handicrafts like batik, pewter, hand-woven rugs and more, make for good (and cheap) souvenirs. Plus don’t miss out on getting a free KL map from the gallery – it has interesting city landmarks highlighted for your convenience.
The Kuala Lumpur City Gallery is easily accessible by bus, taxi or LRT. If you take the train, it is an approximate 10-minute walk from the Masjid Jamek station, but if you are using a taxi, just get off at Dataran Merdeka – the gallery is just across the street.
Alternatively, the gallery is also on the route of the KL Hop-On, Hop-Off City Tour bus: the nearest stop is a 10-minute walk away.
Kuala Lumpur City Gallery
- Opening Hours: 08:00 – 18:00
- Address: 27, Jalan Raja, Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
- Tel: +603 2698 3333
