National Museum

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  • Address
    Jln Damansara, Lake Gardens
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  • Phone
    2282 6255
  • Website
  • Transport
    train: Kuala Lumpur

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Lonely Planet review

Housed in a striking 1960s building styled after a Sarawak longhouse, the National Museum has an extensive but musty collection of exhibits on the history, economy, arts, crafts and culture of Malaysia. The galleries are slowly being renovated but most of the new displays seem to concentrate on the achievements of modern Malay royals and politicians.

Probably the most interesting exhibits are the cultural displays in the main building, the treasures from Malay shipwrecks in the annexe and the 19th-century stilt house in the garden (formerly owned by the Sultan of Terengganu). The KL Tourist Association office occupies a wooden pavilion in the grounds. Free museum tours (in English and French) leave the ticket desk at on Tuesday and on Thursday - contact Museum Volunteers Malaysia (2282 6255; mvmenquiries@yahoo.com) for more information.

Although the museum is very close to KL Sentral station, it's surrounded by a snarl of spaghetti junctions - the easiest way to get here is by taxi, or via the walkway over the highway south of the Lake Gardens.