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Selangor
surrounds the capital city and is home to many city
commuters who commute to neighbouring Petaling Jaya or Kuala
Lumpur (KL). Moving at a slower pace, it is also touched by a
regal atmosphere as Selangor is home to the country's most
influential sultan. His palace stands high on a hill in the
state capital of Shah Alam, which overlooks his neat and
carefully planned city.
Until just 25
years ago, what is now the state capital was little more
than a rubber and palm oil plantation. But in the late 70s,
a massive building programme spawned a well-developed
infrastructure and a rapidly growing population.
Rich in history and culture, it is home to spiritual
landmarks like the Batu Caves and our very own Blue Mosque.
The Batu Caves are a focal point for Malaysia's millions of
Hindus. A shrine, located in a huge cave 15 km north of KL,
comes alive every January or February when up to a million
devotees flock to the shrine for the exhuberant and
colourful holiday of Thaipusam.
The Shah Alam mosque, nicknamed The Blue Mosque for its blue
aluminium dome covered in verses from the Quran, is
Malaysia's largest mosque and can accommodate 24,000
worshippers. Its four minarets are the world's tallest at
over 140m.
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