Kuala Lumpur is the largest city and capital of Malaysia. The city proper is home to about 1.5 million people while its agglomeration, which is also known as Klang Valley, is home to 5.7 million people. The federal capital is also the richest in the country, producing about 10 percent of the total GDP of Malaysia.

Kuala Lumpur is a grand city that reflects decades of good planning and serious implementation of development plans. For those who are planning a trip to Malaysia, below are some things you did not know about Kuala Lumpur.

1. The name Kuala Lumpur is translated to mean muddy confluence - when I read this I was rather disappointed. For a city this grand, that name does not do it any service. However, the ground on which most of the city lies was formerly a swamp, hence the name.

2. The makings of the city - The Sino-Malay riot of 1969, which is colloquially known as the “May 13 incident” killed hundreds of the city residents. This led to the suspension of the parliament. The flash flood of 1971 cleared the city of any ancient wooden structures. These two events gave way to the creation of modern Kuala Lumpur as we know it.

3. The Jalan Petaling is the city's best spot to mingle with Kuala Lumpur residents - If your skills in haggling are rusty, maybe you need to sharpen them as this china town in KL is where you need the skill to avoid paying double the price of an item. It is full of life and everyone will smile at you.

4. Forget English!

You will need to know a little Mandarin Most people assume that Malaysia is like Singapore where a majority of the population speaks English. Very few people speak English in Kuala Lumpur. They either speak Chines or Malay. If you cannot handle any of these two languages, then you will have a hard time navigating through the menus in the restaurants or asking for directions.

5. The laws are Islamic, but they are relaxed

Travellers need not be afraid of wearing their regular clothing. Kuala Lumpur is a melting pot of cultures and the degree of tolerance here is very high. This is not to say that you dress skimpily - this is not Utah. It is still largely an Islamic country and a little courtesy to the Islamic faith will get you to places you will otherwise not access.

Malaysia is one of the top luxury destinations in India. Her capital, Kuala Lumpur, has been making headlines as the best holiday destination in Asia for years now. After doing your rounds in Malaysia, cap your trip in the capital and you will not regret.

By Kennedy Runo on 05/04/2015 in Kuala Lumpur