Kuala Lumpur Travel Guide

Merdeka Square (Dataran Merdeka)

The 328-foot (100m) flagpole rising from Merdeka Square is the tallest in the world, and marks the place where Malaysia achieved independence in 1957. The city's colonial past is still very much alive in the architecture of the surrounding buildings and the field still hosts the occasional cricket matches. The Tudor-style Royal Selangor Club rests on one corner of the square, looking onto a large video screen displaying religious messages and advertisements. The Club served as a social centre for Kuala Lumpur's British residents; its doors are now open to anyone who can afford the membership fees. In keeping with die-hard customs women are still not allowed entry to the bar, except by invitation.