Kuala Lumpur: Perdana Botanical Garden, Islamic Arts Museum and the Traders Hotel SkyBar

I spent my last afternoon in the Malaysian capital in the area around Perdana Botanical Garden to the west of the city centre, exploring the tranquil gardens and the superb Islamic Arts Museum.

Before heading back towards KLCC Park to spend the evening with a cocktail in hand at the swish SkyBar at the Traders Hotel.

Perdana Botanical Garden

Perdana Botanical Garden is Kuala Lumpur’s oldest and biggest public park, having opened in 1889 as a recreational area for the British during the city’s colonial era.

The 91.6 hectare site features a series of attractions, including an orchid garden with more than 800 species of orchid, a butterfly park home to more than 6,000 butterflies and KL Bird Park, which boasts more than 3,000 birds.

The huge garden is also home to a sunken garden, a herb garden, a deer park, a few lakes and a fantastic children’s playground.

I spent a good hour and a half strolling around the beautiful park, taking in its tranquil charms and trying to escape from the baking hot sun, as I was struggling with the searing heat.

The park was filled with lots of different tree species, including bamboo and palm, but there weren’t many flowers because botanical gardens in Malaysia tend to showcase trees rather than flowers.

The park was lovely and a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, but I was surprised by how few people I came across – I saw more gardeners than people during my stroll.

It’s a gorgeous, peaceful garden and I enjoyed my time ambling around its lush green surroundings.

Islamic Arts Museum

Of all the places I visited in Kuala Lumpur, my favourite was the Islamic Arts Museum, which is located on the eastern side of Perdana Botanical Garden.

Opened in 1998, the museum features the biggest collection of Islamic arts in Southeast Asia, boasting some 7,000 artefacts that span 1,400 years of Islamic history.

But it isn’t just the many beautiful objects on display that capture visitors’ attention – the building itself is delightful and as much a work of art as the artefacts it holds.

The museum’s architectural and decorative charms include five exquisite domes crafted by Uzbek artists, a stunning turquoise dome that sits atop one of the roofs (above) and intricately patterned tiles from Iran that adorn the entrance.

The most spectacular feature is the white and gold inverted dome inside the exhibition hall, which is decorated with excerpts from the Koran (above).

The museum is also home to 12 galleries, with collections dedicated to textiles, ceramics, the Koran and Islamic scripture, coins, furniture and more.

One of the most interesting and impressive is the architecture gallery (above).

This fascinating gallery features model replicas of some of the world’s most famous mosques, including the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina and India’s Taj Mahal.

I also really liked the jewellery gallery, and the many daggers and swords with their eye-catching hilts made from precious materials such as jade, crystal and bronze.

I adored the Islamic Arts Museum and its exquisite works of art. It’s extremely well curated and offers a fascinating and comprehensive glimpse into Islamic art from across Asia and the Middle East.

It was by far the best museum I went to in Malaysia and all in all, I spent a good two hours looking around its world-class collection.

SkyBar at the Traders Hotel

In the evening, I headed to SkyBar, a bar on the 33rd floor of the trendy Traders Hotel near KLCC Park.

The swanky bar is centred around a large swimming pool that’s surrounded by booths that look out over the park and the Petronas Twin Towers.

The views over the park and the towers were superb, and I had a wonderful time lounging in our booth, sipping my cocktail and admiring the iconic scenes.

It was a fabulous way to end two fantastic, jam-packed days in the Malaysian capital.

Info

Islamic Arts Museum
Open 9.30am to 6.30pm, daily
iamm.org.my

SkyBar, Level 33 of the Traders Hotel
Open 12pm to 1am Sunday to Thursday, 12pm to 2am Friday and Saturday
shangri-la.com/kualalumpur/traders/dining/bars-lounges/sky-bar