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WANDER
Being a planned city does
notmake Putrajaya any less
spectacular, andwith such
close proximity toKuala
Lumpur, a day trip should be
on every traveller’s agenda.
W o r d s :
S a r a h R e e s
T
he
future is built on
the foundations of the
past in Putrajaya, the
country’s administrative
capital planned and built
for the future but sitting
on a former oil palm
estate – the historical riches of this fast
developing nation.
Carefully Planned
Sitting just 25km from Kuala Lumpur
but even closer to the Kuala Lumpur In-
ternational Airport (KLIA), this planned
city attracted plenty of sceptics when
announced as a major development
project in the late 80’s, but a few hours
spent walking the wide, European-tinted
boulevards and admiring the spectacular
bridges cutting over the waterways
and all criticisms will fall in favour of
compliments. There is nothing quite
like it in – even in Malaysia, the land
of diversity!
The city was built primarily to house
the government administrative buildings
and operations, but there is much there
to attract residents and visitors alike. The
city is wide and spacious – the luxury
of planning compared to the organic,
ramshackle growth of most cities – and
the buildings architecturally distinct but
spectacular.
The Palace of Justice is one building
that will call to your camera, living up to
its palatial name with a beautiful dome
Planned And Proud
Putrajaya:
and channelling the classic Islamic struc-
ture as seen in the Taj Mahal, matching
similarly designed buildings in Kuala
Lumpur.
The mosque is also unmissable for
the structure and the energy within, as
visitors of all faiths and nations are able
to enter into this holy place at certain
times to soak up the craftsmanship and
spiritual atmosphere of the mosque.
Planning a city does not just mean
buildings and streets – Putrajaya has
been carefully created to bring nature
in at every turn, with a man-made lake,
various waterways and lush parks. The
city boasts the largest botanical gardens
(Taman Botani)
in the country, with
92 hectares showcasing species from
all over the world or simply offering
the perfect place for a morning run or
calming afternoon stroll.
Activities Abound
Water is best enjoyed on a boat trip,
and visitors can pick from a myriad
of options: a gondola perhaps, or an
The elegant and
spectacular Palace
of Justice houses
the Malaysian
Court of Appeal and
Federal Court
The eight bridges that
bisect the man-made lake
are a wonder to behold
day and night, and best
enjoyed from the water