Touted as Malaysia’s ‘Intelligent Garden City’, Putrajaya is the futuristic administrative capital of the country.
This model township combines the beauty of nature with strategic town planning and infrastructure development. It is a proud symbol of Malaysia’s aspiration to be a developed nation.
Putrajaya is known for its striking architecture, wide open spaces, parks and a scenic manmade lake. The focal point of Putrajaya is the Putra Square. Aesthetically designed offices line the streets while uniquely shaped bridges link the various precincts of Putrajaya. The pinkdomed Putra Mosque stands as one of the most prominent structures in the township. Tours and day trips to Putrajaya are easily available from Kuala Lumpur.
Make this futuristic city your next holiday destination!
Places of Interest:
- Perdana Putra – This resplendent building houses the offices of Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister as well as the Ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department.
The design of Perdana Putra incorporates elements from the Islamic-Mogul architecture. Rising 50m in height, the building features striking design elements such as a green-pitched roof, onion-shaped dome and wrought iron motifs of the bunga raya or hibiscus, which is Malaysia’s national flower. Visitors are free to view the building from the outside.
- Dataran Putra (Putra Square) – Adorned with lights, locally-inspired motifs and water features, this 300m area is the centre piece of Precinct 1. Its open space and width makes it an excellent venue for ceremonies, carnivals and major events.
- Lake Putrajaya – Sprawling over 400ha, the serene Lake Putrajaya is one of the most prominent attractions in this city. The lake covers about 13% of the total land area, which stretches over 4,931ha. Lake Putrajaya was created to enhance Putrajaya’s aesthetic appeal. It also serves as a climate moderator. Putrajaya Lake Cruises are highly popular as they offer a chance to view the attractions around Putrajaya from an interesting and different perspective. Cruises are equipped with guides and commentaries.
- Seri Perdana – Situated at Precinct 10, the official residence of the Prime Minister is a part of the country’s national heritage. The building comprises three blocks – the main reception block or protocol block, banquet block and residence block. Seri Perdana reflects a universal heritage with Malay, Islamic and European design elements. Tours are available to view the banquet floor, exhibition gallery and several other areas.
- Putra Mosque – One of the most famous landmarks in Putrajaya, this mosque is distinguished by its magnificent pink dome. It is constructed with rose-tinted granite and inspired by some of the world’s most famous mosques. The basement wall resembles the King Hassan Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco while the minaret is designed after the Sheikh Omar Mosque in Baghdad.
Putra Mosque is made up of three main areas; the Sahn or courtyard, the prayer hall as well as the function room. Visitors should be dressed appropriately.
- Putrajaya Wetland – Comprising the Wetland Park (138ha) and wetland area (197ha), this is a must-see destination for nature-lovers and environmentalists. There are 24 wetland cells thriving with flora and fauna and the main habitats are marshes, swamp forests, ponds and lakes.
- Putrajaya Landmark – Designed in the shape of a cone, this monument stands at 78m in height. Its design is inspired by the national flag. Putrajaya Landmark is situated amidst a well-paved walkway featuring a cascading fountain. It is a popular backdrop for photography.
- Botanical Garden – Covering 92ha, this is the biggest botanical garden in Malaysia. The garden houses some 7,000 species of plants found in Malaysia as well as Africa and the Asia Pacific region. Taman Botani is divided into three sections – a section for ornamental plants, a section for flowers and a section for preservation and research.
- Istana Kehakiman (Palace of Justice) – Inspired by Moorish architecture, the Istana Kehakiman is a majestic building with domes, columns and arches. This five-storey building houses the courts and judicial departments. It is situated at Precinct 3. Visitors are free to view the building from the outside.
- Istana Melawati – Poised resplendently at the highest point in Putrajaya, at 125m above sea level, this palace is the royal retreat for His Majesty the King of Malaysia and members of the royal family. It is one of the first sights that will greet visitors who are driving in from Kuala Lumpur.
- National Millennium Monument – This is Putrajaya’s first national monument. It is situated in Precinct 2 on a 25ha park. Standing at 68m, the monument is constructed of solid metal. It serves to document the country’s history, dating back to the 15th century.
- Taman Warisan Pertanian – Sprawling over 35 acres, Taman Warisan Pertanian gives an insight into Malaysia’s agricultural heritage and development. Learn all about the country’s leading crops; such as rubber, cocoa and oil palm. Various gardens, trails and plantation plots offer the chance for visitors to have a closer look at the plants and learn about their uses.
- Signature bridges – The Putra Bridge is touted to be the most prominent bridge in Putrajaya. This 435m concrete structure spans from Precinct 1 to Precinct 2. It is part of the main protocol route which links Dataran Putra and Persiaran Perdana.
Other remarkable bridges include the Seri Perdana Bridge, Seri Gemilang Bridge, Seri Bakti Bridge, Seri Setia Bridge, Seri Saujana Bridge and Seri Bestari Bridge.