Malaysia is one of Asia’s most diverse destinations combining beaches, ecotourism, food, and shopping. The most iconic Malaysia top tourist attractions include Kuala Lumpur’s Petronas Twin Towers, and Penang’s bridge along with pagodas, temples, mosques, islands, mountains, caves, and Borneo’s nature reserves. The Ajay Modi Travels experiences the cities and natural beauty to enhance their travel experience in Malaysia.
About 2 million foreign tourists visited Malaysia in 2010. Most of them were citizens of neighboring countries such as Singapore and Indonesia, but a growing number of other foreign tourists are also exploring the country. Here's a look at Malaysia's top tourist attractions.
Here are the top 8 places you must visit in Malaysia if you want to spend your holidays here:
Petronas Twin Towers
This world-famous tallest tower in the world is visited by huge crowds of tourists from all over the world who come here to witness its magnificence. Ranked as one of the best places to visit in Kuala Lumpur, the towers serve as the headquarters of the National Petroleum Company of Malaysia. Both buildings are 88 stories tall and are similar in design and appearance. The main attraction here is the sky bridge that connects the 41st and 42nd floors which allow people to come and go.
Manukan Island
Water activities abound on Manukan Island, the second largest island in Tunku Abdul National Park, Malaysia's first marine national park. Located in the East Malaysian state of Sabah, the park is known for its great beaches - the best beaches are at the eastern end of the island. Tourists will also find coral reefs along the coast that offer some pretty spectacular scuba diving and snorkeling. Manukan Island has the most developed tourist facilities of the five islands in the park and is accessible by ferry from Kota Kinabalu.
Batu Caves
Tourists heading to the Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur will be rewarded with some amazing Hindu art. The three main caves that makeup Batu Caves make it the most popular Hindu temple outside India and attract thousands of worshipers at the annual Hindu festival Thaipusam. The highlight of the place is the huge statue of a Hindu god, which leads up to the cathedral cave by climbing 272 steps. Monkeys also enjoy the site and can be seen playing there.
Redang
Redang Island is made for beach lovers, with its white sand beaches and crystal clear ocean waters, making it popular with snorkelers – great snorkeling is the main attraction of the island. Scuba divers also love it here. Although it is one of the largest islands in the Eastern Malay Peninsula, it is small enough that visitors can explore it on foot, on roads or trekking through the jungle. Redang Island is one of the nine islands in the marine nature reserve. Accommodation is mostly resort style.
Sarawak Cultural Village
The Sarawak Cultural Village is a great place to experience life in a different culture, even if it's just for a few hours. The Sarawak Cultural Village is a living museum where visitors can learn more about the Sarawak people and their traditions and lifestyle. The buildings, including the Iban longhouse, represent the major ethnic groups in Sarawak. Visitors can also take part in a multicultural dance performance, perhaps be invited to drink tuak, potent rice liquor. Visitors can also get married in a traditional ethnic ceremony.
Tioman Island
The Tioman Peninsula is a small island located off the east coast of Malaysia. Since then tourists have flocked to the island to get a taste of paradise. The island is surrounded by numerous white coral reefs, making it a haven for scuba divers while the interior is surrounded by dense forests. Outside the monsoon (November to February) visitors outnumber the villagers, but at other times Tioman can be virtually deserted.
Langkawi
Malaysia's most popular holiday destination, Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands in the Andaman Sea. The islands are part of the state of Kedah, adjacent to the Thai border. With a population of about 65,000, Pulau Langkawi is by far the largest of the eponymous islands, the only other populated island near Pulau Tuba. Lined with long, white beaches, forest-covered hills, and rugged mountain peaks, it's easy to see why this is Malaysia's most hyped tourist destination. The most popular beaches can be found on the west coast, with a wide selection of restaurants and eateries and some of the best resorts in Langkawi.
Mulu Caves
The Mulu Caves are located in Gunung Mulu National Park in Malaysian Borneo. The park consists of amazing caves and karst formations in the mountainous equatorial rainforest. The Sarawak Chamber, found in one of the underground caves, is the world's largest cave chamber. The chamber is said to be large enough to accommodate about 40 Boeing 747s, without their wings overlapping. A large colony of wrinkled bats in a nearby deer cave emerges almost every evening in search of food in a spectacular migration.
Have you ever visited Malaysia before? Which of these destinations have you visited and which places do you want to explore? Tell us in the comments below!