goingplacesmagazine.com
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| August 2019MY GUIDE (^) | Putrajaya, Malaysia
Smart City
From an administrative centre with architectural
masterpieces to a vibrant neighbourhood of cultural and recreational activities,
Putrajaya promises a spectrum of experiences only a smart city could provide.
Words Husna Kassim | Illustration Maggie Li | Art Direction Euric Liew
“I would like to think that
a century from now, people
would know they are in Putrajaya
because of the uniqueness of the
city architecturally.”
These are the words of Malaysian
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir
Mohamad when he first unveiled
Putrajaya, his brainchild and the
country’s federal administrative
centre, in 1999. Today, Putrajaya is
a beautiful city, where 37 percent
of the land comprises parks and
open spaces with man-made
wetlands and lakes.
Urban Spectacle
Persiaran Sultan Salahuddin
Abdul Aziz Shah is the main
thoroughfare in Putrajaya. Known
as the world’s largest roundabout
at 3.5 kilometres, it is named
after the 11th King of Malaysia.
Located on a hill within the
roundabout is Istana Melawati,
the second royal palace of the
Yang di-Pertuan Agong, also
known as the Supreme Head or
the King of Malaysia.
Opposite the palace is the
93-hectare tropical botanical
garden, Taman Botani, where more
than 700 species of plants from
over 90 countries vie for space
along with cycling trails. Entrance
to the park is free. Within the
garden is the Moroccan Pavilion,
a replica of a palace in Marrakesh
in Morocco and a popular spot for
pre-wedding photography. With
its Islamic calligraphy and intricate
carvings, it reportedly took 80
artisans from Morocco more than
eight months to build the Pavilion
as a cultural exchange between
the two countries.
If you drive farther along the
roundabout and take a slip road,
you would arrive at Dataran
Putra. The majestic green-
domed Perdana Putra, the Prime
Minister’s Office, is located at the
edge of the area. A few minutes’
walk away is the iconic Putra
Mosque, which takes inspiration
from Middle Eastern, Malay and
indigenous architectural aspects
in its design. Its pink dome
is made with rose-coloured
granite and the prayer hall can
accommodate 15,000 worshipers.
The mosque sits on the edge of
the scenic Putrajaya Lake and
would make a charming picture
postcard at sunset.
The nearby Putrajaya Boulevard
links Perdana Putra to other
government buildings and is
distinctive in its design modelled
after the Champs-Elysees in Paris.
This boulevard measures 100
metres wide and four kilometres
long and links five core precincts
and passes through four squares,
including the majestic Palace
of Justice and the three-tiered
Iranian-inspired Putra Bridge.
The 435-metre concrete bridge
with four minaret-type piers and
observation decks overlooks the
Putrajaya Lake.
Fun & Festivities
Festivals in Putrajaya are a
celebration of diversity. The
Festival of Light and Motion
Putrajaya (LAMPU), one of the
biggest events in Putrajaya, held
annually at the end of the year,
_Aug 2019_MY Guide.indd 28 18/07/2019 11:37 AM