The Islamic Arts Museum's miniature architectural models were a feast for the eyes, but we had more to explore on the streets of Kuala Lumpur. I was particularly looking forward to seeing an architectural and heritage landmark of the city, the Kuala Lumpur Station...
As we moved out of the museum, we figured out there had been a slight downpour, which is so typical of the tropics. The sky was still overcast and the humidity had increased many-fold, but thankfully, the temperature was much lower...
The intense humidity clouded my camera lens... Out came the moistened wipes to clean the lens and we were good to go...
The prominent 73-metre high minaret of the Masjid Negara, the National Mosque right opposite the museum...
Headed towards the Masjid Negara...
The Masjid Negara was constructed to commemorate Malaysia's independence in 1957. Lawmakers wanted to name the mosque after the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman, but he gracefully declined. Its seems such acts of modesty are out of fashion with politicians of today, whether they may be here, in India or elsewhere in the world...
Headquarters of Malaysia's state-owned television network...
The government's department of Islamic affairs...
Headquarters of KTM Berhad, Malaysia's national railways...
Jharokas or overhanging balconies speak of inspirations drawn from India...
The magnificent Mughal-styled building was designed by A.B. Hubback and was completed in 1917. The building was bombed during the Second World War, and in 1968, the second floor was gutted by fire. After restoration works, in 1983, the building was gazetted as a heritage site...
The onion-styled dome in the centre and cupolas on the sides reminded me of Mughal structures back home...
Right opposite the KTM Berhad headquarters, on the Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, is the Kuala Lumpur Station...
The station was Kuala Lumpur's railway hub in the city for the Federated Malay States Railways and KTM, before KL Sentral was designated as the hub in 2001...
The station was built in 1910 at a cost of 23,000 Dollars, and it replaced the Resident Station and the Sultan Street Station...
The architecture is an exciting amalgamation of Western and Mughal similar to Moorish or Indo-Saracenic architecture styles, which were quite popular in colonial India during the late-1800s and early 1900s...
Beautiful cupolas adorn the corners of the building...
The station oozes old world charm...
The signboard tells we are in KL...
Clouds reappear on the horizon...
After enjoying the lovely colonial buildings in the area, we headed to Kuala Lumpur Central Market, walking down the way...
Jabatan Warisan Negara - office of the National Heritage Department...
The headquarters are in quite an impressive colonial villa...
The Menara Dayabumi, one of the earliest skyscrapers in KL, was completed in 1984...
The building is designed in a modern Islamic style. The facade of the tower is adorned with patterns of eight-pointed stars, and Islamic arches at the top and bottom of the tower...
An interesting sculpture...
"Sehaja Teksi Bas"
Only Taxi or Bus... Malay is quite an interesting language - station becomes stessen, toilet is tandas, prayer room is called surau...
Fortunately, we don't need a tandas-break despite the amount of water we are having so we can head straight to the Central Market...
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