Kuala Lumpur Buildings - Kuala Lumpur Tower

Kuala Lumpur Tower
Menara Kuala Lumpur

The Kuala Lumpur Tower or Menara Kuala Lumpur is a tall tower that was built in 1995. The KL Tower is used for communication purposes and features an antenna that reaches 421m, which currently makes it the fifth tallest communication tower in the world. The tower was opened to public on 23 July 1996.

The roof of the pod is at 335m. The rest of the KL Tower below has a stairwell and an elevator to reach the upper area, which also contains a revolving restaurant, providing diners a beautiful view of the city.

Kuala Lumpur Tower

The Kuala Lumpur Tower is also the site of the Annual Climbathon which normally takes place in June/July. Races are organised yearly where participants race up the stairs to the top.

Islamic Design

The KL Tower has also becomes the Islamic falak observatory to look for the crescent moon to mark the beginning of Muslim month of Ramadhan, Syawal, and Zulhijjah, to celebrate fasting month of Ramadhan, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Aidiladha.

Menara = Tower
Tinggi = Tall
Cantik = Beautiful

The Kuala Lumpur Tower building is beautifully adorned with designs that reflect the Malaysian Islamic culture. The main lobby of the upper ground floor is decorated with exquisite glass-clad domes that sparkle like giant diamonds. These domes were designed and arranged in the form of the Muqarnas by Iranian craftsmen from Isfahan.

Muqarnas at the KL Tower was constructed in the arrangement of glass on the domes of the lobby entrance to illustrate the seven layers of the sky with sunrays shining from the middle. The designs also represent the human journey for perfection in life.

On 13 September 1994, Prime Minister, YAB Dato Seri Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad performed the Topping-up Ceremony where the antenna mast was installed, thus marking the final height of the tower, 421 meters above the ground. Lastly installation of the facilities and amenities was executed to ensure comfort and safety.

The KL Tower was officially opened by the Prime Minister on 1 October 1996. Among the distinguished guests to the Tower were the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Jaafar, Raja Pemaisuri Agong Tuanku Najihah, the wives of the Sultan of Brunei, DYMM Paduka Seri Baginda Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha and DYTM Pengiran Isteri Hajah Mariam.

KL Tower Structure

The Kuala Lumpur Tower structure is basically divided into 5 main sections:

Air Pancut = Fountain
Pelancong = Tourist
Tangga = Stairs

The Fountain Base

- houses 3 basement floors mainly for safety and maintenance.

The Tourist Building

- houses the administrative office, several souveneer shops, a pedestrial mall along a cascading pool, an amphitheater and a mini theater for cultural performances.

The Tower Shaft

- comprises of 22 levels, with 4 elevators and 2058 flight of stairs.

The Tower Head

- holds the public observation platform and revolving restaurant as well as the telecomunication and broadcasting stations

The Antenna Mast

- used for telecomunication and broadcasting purposes.

Do You Know?
The Kuala Lumpur Tower (Menara Kuala Lumpur) is the fifth tallest telecommunication tower in the world (after the CN Tower in Canada, the Ostankino Tower in Russia, the Oriental Pearl Tower in China, and the Borj-e Milad in Iran). The KL Tower was built to enhance the quality of telecommunication services and the clarity of broadcasting.

There are lots of interesting things to do and see at the KL Tower. Besides admiring and taking pictures of the intricate architecture, you can also take a ride in one of the four express elevators to the top and admire a birds eye view of Kuala Lumpur and it's surrounding country side from 276 meters above ground level from the Observation Deck.

Visiting Tips

If you plan to snap some pictures of the Kuala Lumpur view from the KL Tower, it's best that you watch the sky before visiting. If the sky is clear with no dark clouds, no rain and no haze, that's the best time to visit!

Please note that you'll need to pay the observation deck entrance fee which is RM20 for adults, RM10 for children and RM17 for senior citizens. When you reach the observation deck, the friendly and courteous staff will give you an audio headset for your Audio Tour, which are in various languages. As you walk around the KL Tower, you will hear an audio commentary at each point, telling you what you can see out of the window. It is really interesting and informative. There are also labelled maps, so you can find major landmarks easily.

Do You Know?

During construction, the Kuala Lumpur Tower was moved from its original plan at a cost of RM430,000 for saving a big old tree? The builders constructed a retaining wall around a 100-year-old jelutong tree (Dyera costulata) which can find near the pedestrian mall.

One floor above the Observation Deck of the Kuala Lumpur Tower is the stylish Revolving Restaurant. Enjoy a meal there, then head on to some souvenir shopping. If you are looking for a light meal, the Pedestrian Mall is a good place to check out. You can relax there while enjoying the breeze and sounds from the reflecting pool.

The KL Tower is located atop Bukit Nanas Kuala Lumpur, so besides the panoramic view, the Kuala Lumpur Tower is surrounded by the verdant green of the Bukit Nanas Forest which is the only oldest gazetted forest reserve in the country. Age-old trees, flora and fauna indigenous to tropical climate, the tale of the Jelutong Tree that moved the Menara and a recreational park with open air gym are all there for your exploration!

In the Bukit Nanas forest, you can find colourful butterflies, insects, monkeys, squirrels and exotic birds in their natural habitat, as well as numerous ferns, creepers and climbers, Palmae and other indigenous plants.

Entrance Fees: