What is Malaysia Famous For?

Cultural Diversity

Malaysia blends Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures harmoniously. This diversity comes to the fore with the country’s festivals, traditions, and daily life.

If you’re visiting around the festive season, you can witness the celebrations of Hari Raya, Deepavali, and Chinese New Year. Each of these festivities showcases a unique insight into the cultural fabric of Malaysia.

Historical Landmarks

Many historical landmarks in Malaysia enable tourists to reminisce about legends. The historic city of Malacca is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It highlights the amalgamation of different cultures through its architecture.

The George Town in Penang is also a UNESCO-listed site. It is a living testament to the country’s colonial history and highlights well-preserved British colonial architecture.

Petronas Twin Towers

The Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur is one of Malaysia’s most famous and iconic landmarks. It has a panoramic observation deck, a romantic sky deck, and many popular restaurants. It is undoubtedly one of the most famous places in Malaysia.

The giant Twin Towers, with a height of 452 metres, were the tallest buildings in the world till 2004 when Taipei 101 came along. Their architecture is inspired by Islamic patterns, making them dazzling to look at.

If you want to capture the memory of visiting the Petronas Twin Towers, get yourself clicked at the bridge connecting the two towers. The tower lighting at night is a mesmerising view you can enjoy from everywhere in the Klang Valley.

Melaka City

Melaka, or Malacca City, is one of the four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Malaysia. It is the historical capital that Malaysia is famous for. Most tourists are charmed by its breathtaking sites and wealthy heritage.

The Strait of Malacca, situated between the Andaman and South China seas, is the world’s longest. The city is a fusion of Indian, Malay, European, and Chinese influences, with a variety of architectural styles and cultures.

Whether you’re fond of historical structures, modern museums, shophouses, or galleries, there’s something for everyone out here. You shouldn’t miss visiting Dutch Square, Melaka Sultanate Palace, Christ Church, A’Famosa, Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, and St. Paul’s Church.

Taman Negara

Taman Negara, believed to be more than 130 million years old, is an amazing wildlife spot in Malaysia. Spread across 434,350 hectares, the national park is a haven for the country’s stunning variety of flora, fauna, and fungi.

Wildlife enthusiasts can visit Taman Negara to spot Asian elephants, deer, flying squirrels, rhinos, leopards, monkeys, and tigers. Apart from watching the wildlife, tourists can visit the aborigine village, scale Gunung Tahan, and walk on the world’s longest canopy walkway. Make sure you take a full-day tour to Taman Negara to tick all these sights and more in the surrounding area.

Legoland

If you’re travelling with children, you must know that Malaysia is famous for building the first Legoland theme park in Asia in 2012. Situated in Johor Bahru, it is also the first international theme park in the country.

The Legoland theme park comprises colourful giant Lego figures spread across 76 acres. There are more than 70 thrilling brick-patterned rides and slides. The shows and special events are a source of entertainment for people of all ages.

Gunung Mulu National Park

The Gunung Mulu National Park is one of Malaysia’s most awe-inspiring natural areas. It received the recognition of a World Heritage Site in 2000 and consists of 52,856 hectares of pure natural wonder.

The Sarawak Chamber, the world’s largest cave chamber, lies underneath Gunung Mulu National Park. It is home to three mountains - Mount Api, Mount Benarat, and Mount Mulu - which make the national park one of the best things to see in Malaysia. Mount Mulu is Sarawak’s second-highest peak.

Additionally, there are 17 vegetation zones in the park’s stunning rainforest. It is believed to be around 600 million years old. The Deer Cave and the Clearwater Cave are other Malaysian tourist attractions worth seeing.

Batu Caves

The Batu Caves is a perfect blend of rich cultural heritage and natural wonder. It consists of many limestone caves, a 400-million-year-old limestone hill, and a century-old temple. The 140-foot-tall Murugan statue is the main highlight of this tourist spot since it is the tallest in the world.

The Batu Caves, comprising various idols of mythological importance, is one of the most popular Hindu shrines situated outside India. Moreover, its rainbow steps are much talked about and an attractive delight to climb.

There are three main cave temples on the limestone hill. The Art Gallery Cave and the Museum Cave are situated at the base, while the Temple or Cathedral Cave is the largest and the most significant one. The Hanuman Temple, Dark Cave, and the Ramayana Cave are other smaller caves you can see.

Langkawi Sky Bridge

Langkawi Sky Bridge is one of the best tourist places in Malaysia because of its location at a staggering height of 2,170 feet. It hangs between two mountains and allows you to view the country’s beauty from heavenly heights.

The bridge is 125 metres long. It is a part of the half-day tour of Langkawi. You can reach the bridge after you finish the Langkawi Sky Cab ride to enjoy more spectacular views of the mountains and forests.

The bridge’s design has many transparent sections, giving you the adrenaline rush and feeling of standing in the sky. It is open seven days a week with entry by a paid ticket. You should try to reach as early as possible as the bridge can hold only 200 people at one time.

Nasi Kandar

Nasi Kandar is Malaysia’s speciality. The popular rice dish has South Indian flavours to satiate the tastes of the many South Indian immigrants residing there. Its serving includes a plate of rice with tasteful pre-cooked curries available in varieties of chicken, beef, fish, prawns, squids, or vegetables like aubergine or okra. These curries bring out the tastes of chilli and curry powder from South India.

Satay

The yummy dish Satay was born in the small town of Kajang. Generally, it contains chicken, mutton, pork, beef, or tofu. After grilling the cuts on a fire using bamboo sticks, it is seasoned and served with peanut and soy sauce. The dish is available at any of the exotic restaurants or popular seafood tents.

Mee Goreng Mamak

Most Malaysian hawker stalls serve this Indian Muslim dish with its exotic flavours. It’s a complete package of yellow noodles, chicken or beef, soy sauce, eggs, veggies, and shrimp. A little bit of chilli makes it irresistible. So, make sure you grab your plate of Mee Goreng Mamak as you stroll on the streets of Malaysia.

Apam Balik

If you have a sweet tooth, you have to try this Malaysian speciality. Apam Balik is a crispy and fluffy peanut pancake stuffed with sugar, roasted peanuts, butter, and sweet corn. You can relish it for breakfast or with your cup of evening tea.

Laksa

Laksa, a Malaysian cuisine staple, has made its way across international borders and is loved by people in Shanghai, Bangkok, and other cities. The spicy noodle soup is served in multiple variations. Depending on your taste preferences, you can add fish, prawns, or other toppings.

Durian Fruit

The Durian Fruit, also known as the “King of Fruits,” is a thorny fruit famous in Malaysia. It has a divisive reputation because its strong aroma is either loved or hated. Many enjoy the fruit because of its rich, custard-like texture and unique taste.

Mount Kinabalu

If adventures are your thing, Mount Kinabalu is the most famous mountain in Malaysia. Situated in Sabah, Borneo, the 4,095-metre-high mountain is the most popular destination of Kota Kinabalu and Malaysia’s natural wonders.

Mount Kinabalu offers a picturesque climb because of its endemic flora. You can witness the beauty of orchids and carnivorous pitcher plants that you cannot otherwise see anywhere else on the planet. The mountain’s granite spires and post-glacial slopes make it even more majestic and distinct.

But you must know that ascending and descending the Borneo is not easy. It takes a few days to complete the hike. The time taken depends on the trail you choose, your fitness level, and the weather.

Diving in Sipadan

Diving in Sipadan, Malaysia, is a superb and thrilling experience. Most divers are attracted by the large schools of fish and the good-sized pelagics. Moreover, many divers are welcomed by one or more of the following - a rumbling herd of bump-head parrotfish, innumerable turtles, several hundreds of barracudas in shoals, hammerhead and leopard shark sightings, whitetip sharks in half a dozen, and even a manta or two.

Diving in Sipadan requires a prior permit. The timings for the dive are between 6 am and 4 pm, with only 120 divers allowed per day. Thus, if you’re really keen on diving, make sure you book with a Sipadan dive shop in advance.

Additionally, there are different dive sites. The best dive sites offering attractive sightings are Barracuda Point, South Point, and Hanging Gardens.

Malaysia is an ideal holiday destination to visit between December and April. The weather is perfect for outdoor excursions. Whether you’re discovering historical sites, lounging on pristine beaches, embarking on daring escapades, or savouring local delicacies, Malaysia has a kaleidoscope of experiences to offer.

Start planning your vacation by booking flights and hotels, applying for a visa, and putting everything else in order. More importantly, don’t forget to invest in appropriate travel insurance to protect and insure your journey from potential risks that may come unannounced in a foreign country.

A travel insurance policy covers a range of situations, such as flight cancellation, loss of passport, theft of money, medical and dental emergencies, and misplaced or lost luggage.

Tata AIG offers impressive domestic and international travel insurance plans. These plans are designed after immense consideration to fulfil all your travel insurance requirements. You can compare travel insurance plans online to receive a customised travel policy quote.

What is special about Malaysia?

Malaysia has a multicultural heritage, lush rainforests, and beautiful beaches. It has four UNESCO-designated World Heritage Sites.

These include the Lenggong Valley, an archaeological heritage site worth mentioning, George Town and Melaka’s beautiful cities, Kinabalu Park, and Gunung Mulu National Park.

What are some famous places in Malaysia?

Langkawi, Kuala Lumpur, Genting Highlands, Georgetown Penang, Pekan, Ipoh, Melaka, Tioman Island, Putrajaya, Kuching, and Batu Ferringhi are some must-see places in Malaysia.

What items are popular in Malaysia?

If you are looking for Malaysia’s famous things to bring back home from your trip, you can consider pewter goods, hand-woven crafts, Malaysian Batik, Kerongsang, and Pua Kumbu.