Dataran Merdeka

Dataran Merdeka is where the Malaysian flag was first hoisted after gaining independence from British rule. It is Kuala Lumpur's main square, with a flagpole at its center nearly a hundred meters high, and a number of culturally significant buildings surrounding it.

The most attractive and imposing of these is the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, a massive minaret structure that has a central clock and houses a number of government proceedings. Plaza Putra, an underground shopping mall and parking lot located directly beneath the flagpole, is also an area of interest for those looking for curios or other reminders of their big Malaysian adventure.