Asia

Truly Asia, Malaysia. This country has it all to accommodate your escape. From the cityscapes of skyscrapers, urban located theme parks, fun in the sun, breezing highlands and so much more.

Being a multicultural society, there's always something to discovered and yet still uncovered. There is no better place to enlighten yourself in the meaning of rhythmic contrast and beautiful diversity, in its people and its nature.

This travel destination is a perfect getaway for those wishing to imbibe the ancient culture of Southeast Asia and witness the almost impenetrable rainforests on one side and want to pamper themselves with some luxury on the other hand. Finally, Malaysia is a warm country and makes for the quintessential tropical vacation.

Malaysia’s supercharged capital, Kuala Lumpur, resembles a crystal garden that has grown astoundingly in the jungle. Indeed, pockets of virgin rainforest still survive amongst the towering skyscrapers, multi-storey shopping malls and monorail tracks. If you do nothing else, devote a day to sampling KL’s street food; from Chinese noodles and Indian dosas (rice pancakes) to aromatic and spicy Malay curries and seafood.

Away from the cities, wild nature awaits, in the form of jungles dripping with rare and exotic species and coral reefs thronged by turtles, sharks and tropical fish. Malaysia’s national parks and wildlife reserves are well-organised and well looked after.

Then there are the islands; tropical resorts such as Langkawi, Tioman and the Perhentian Islands have become almost legendary for fans of swaying palms, sparkling sand and scuba diving on pristine reefs.

Places to visit in Malaysia

1. Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur comes spiked at the center by the two great spires of the Petronas Towers, packed with markets and heady hawker bazaars down Petaling Street, throbbing with the energy of Bukit Bintang – the entertainment city – and awash with the scents of everything from frying Chinese chow mien to sizzling Portuguese fish barbeques.

It’s one of the world’s great multicultural metropolises, with lantern-lit Chinatown butting up to districts of Nepalese curry houses and Indian thali kitchens.

Apart from the breathtaking views of the cityscape from the countless sky bars, you can visit the mysterious Batu Caves and some acclaimed Islamic art institutions.

2. Langkawi

Langkawi is often referred to as the Jewel of Kedah, as a result of its lush natural and tropical beauty. It is a group of islands located in the clear Andaman Sea and is also a duty-free zone!

Spread out with clean beaches, sparkling blue waters and forests, Langkawi is a tourist’s paradise. Also known as Langkawi Permata Kedah or Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah, the 99 islands that make up this place are an ideal spot for some rest and relaxation. The choicest seafood, tons of spas and other fun activities will make your stay in Langkawi real fun.

3. Sipadan Island

Located in the Celebes Sea, Sipadan Island is unlike any other islands in Malaysia, exhibiting its own unique features. Be prepared to be glorified with the crystal-clear seawater and vibrant blue hues from the skies - accompanied with the blessing of the refreshing ocean scent. The sun rays will direct your eyes towards the sand within the transparent ocean, where you can see visible sights of underwater marine life. The scenic and stunning views all across the island and the immense beauty of nature promise a memorable and stress-free vacation for all visitors.

4. Cameron Highlands

The Cameron Highlands was first established as a prominent hill station of Malaysia, back in the 1920's by the erstwhile British rulers. Now it is a heavenly tourist destination with lots of fascinating spots for the tourists to enjoy. A multi-cultural community comprising of Chinese, Malay, and Indians have created a magical paradise for peace loving tourists. There are many waterfalls and nice jungle trails which you are bound to enjoy. Apart from the jungles, the Cameron Highlands is also blessed with tea plantations and the guides also offer you some charming "tea factory" tours.

5. Semenggoh Nature Reserve

The Malaysian government has done its part to preserve the natural habitat of its wildlife and this nature reserve is also dedicated to the precious apes called the orangutans. It initially started as an orphanage for the abandoned and sickly baby orangutans and now with the thick forest cover surrounding the place it has created a thriving population of the species. The morning and afternoon feeding sessions of the orangutans is a delight to watch as you can see many baby and adults sweetly accepting fruits from the caretakers. The natural reserve is also the home to many exotic Malaysian birds like the black magpie, Malaysian honeyguide, yellow flowpecker and many others.

George Town

George Town, the capital city of Penang state, is located on Penang Island in the North-West of Malaysia. It might be Malaysia’s second largest city after Kuala Lumpur. If you like your towns and cities steeped in history, with atmospheric streets lined with heritage architecture, George Town in Malaysia should be on your travel bucket list.

George Town is one of those rare frozen-in-time cities which mingles with today’s modern lifestyle lusts. It caters for the history buff and travel photographer but also the shopaholic and foodie fanatic.

How to Reach

Reaching Malaysia from India is not at all a problem because apart from direct flights to the capital city of Kuala Lumpur there are also several flights connecting most of the Indian metropolis with the locations like Penang, Langkawi, Kuching and other destinations. There are plenty of airlines operating on a regular basis like in the form of the Malaysian Airlines, Air Asia, Jet Airways, Malindo Air and many other. The likes of Thai Smile, China Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Qatar Airways, Ethiad Airways, Tigerair, Thai Airasia, China Southern, China Eastern, all have their direct flights to the several cities and locations of Malaysia.

Best Time to Visit Malaysia

The weather in west and east coast of Malaysia varies, where the capital city Kuala Lumpur and the west coast are hot all year round, making them ideal places to visit in summer as well, the months of September and October are perfect to plan a visit to the east coast of Malaysia.