Putrajaya

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Putrajaya, an "Intelligent Garden City" and the federal administrative capital of Malaysia, is a showcase city under construction some 30 km south of the 'real' capital Kuala Lumpur. Adjacent sister city Cyberjaya is built along the same lines, but is aimed at attracting the IT industry.

	putrajaya Travel Guide : 1 Understand 1.1 History 2 Get in 2.1 By train 2.2 By taxi 2.3 By bus 3 Get around 4 See 5 Sleep 5.1 Splurge

Understand

Putrajaya (http://www.i-putra.com/) sits on a magnificent 4,931 hectares spread. Its Masterplan is designed along an axial tangent which runs from the northeast to southeast taking full advantage of the natural surroundings. Its undulating terrain treats visitors and residents to commanding vistas of the environment. About 40% of Putrajaya is natural. Lush greenery, botanical gardens are spread across the landscape enhanced by large bodies of water and wetlands. Five confluences meet at the north forming a main waterway which flows across the city area.

History

The project was started in 1993 and the federal capital officially moved in 1999, although the site is still far from complete. Putrajaya became a self-governing federal territory (wilayat persekutuan) in 2001, the third in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur and the little oddball island of Labuan.

The name literally means "princes' (putra) excellence (jaya)", "princes" here meaning the "princes of the soil" (bumiputra), which in turn is an euphemism for ethnic Malays (as opposed to the richer Chinese minority) and one of the key concepts of Malaysia's affirmative action program. Do note that, officially, the site is named in homage to Malaysia's first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra.

Ever since the Asian economic crisis of 1998 development has slowed down markedly, and while there aren't any of the rusting half-built concrete shells that still litter KL and Bangkok, the careful eye will spot more than a couple of once cleared and dug-up but now abandoned fields (often with a crane or two stuck in the mud too). Basically, the infrastructure is largely in place but the buildings and occupants aren't, leading to the impression of a giant swath of hilly jungle crisscrossed by 8-lane highways with no other cars on them, and the occasional beautifully sculpted lake garden with no people in sight.

That said, the area remains under heavy construction and both people and companies are slowly moving in, although inevitably development isn't always occurring in expected ways; Cyberjaya has to date mostly succeeded in attracting call centers and data warehouses, not R&D laboratories. The new twin cities may look very different in 5-10 years' time.

Get in

By train

For public transport your sole choice is the KLIA Transit (http://www.kliaekspres.com/) connecting Kuala Lumpur's Sentral train station to its airport, which stops halfway in between at Putrajaya. Trains run every 30 minutes, take 20 minutes and the list price is RM 9.50 one-way, although daytrippers will want to opt for the RM 10 Visit Putrajaya ticket.

Note: KLIA Ekspres services do not stop at Putrajaya.

By taxi

A taxi from KL will set you back around RM 30-50 depending on your bargaining skills. Expect to pay more at night.

By bus

Bus service is provided from 6:30am until 10pm to and from Cyberjaya, Putrajaya, Serdang commuter station and Sinar Kota in Kuala Lumpur. The bus fare for one-way is around RM 3.50 and takes about 30 minutes-one hour, depends on the traffic flow. Usually, on non-working days the time the buses take to arrive at Putrajaya will be much faster, but the frequecny of the buses will be accordingly reduced.

Get around

Public transportation within Putrajaya is woefully inadequate, as distances are long and you need wheels to get around. Occasional Nadiputra buses (http://www.putrajaya.net.my/iis2/English/cityguide/transport/FareTimetable.htm) putter about from the train station at random times in random directions, but your best bet is probably to enquire at KLIA or KL Sentral about organized tours. If not, you'll be at the tender mercies of Putrajaya's price-gouging taxis; in particular, beware of hotel limousine services. Call (03) 5512 2266 for bookings and considering chartering one for the day.

Construction of the Putrajaya Monorail has been halted until the occupancy of the Core District becomes higher.

See

Putrajaya's main sights are the colossal showcase buildings put up in this future capital, all in the central Core District.

• The magnificent Perdana Putra, the Prime Minister's Office building complex.
• Pink-colored Masjid Putra (Putra Mosque) has a capacity of 15,000 worshippers.
• Wisma Putra houses the Malaysian Foreign Ministry.
• The Millennium Monument.
• Putrajaya International Convention Center.
• Istana Melawati and Istana Darul Ehsan, the official residences of the Paramount Ruler of Malaysia and the Sultan of Selangor respectively.
• Putrajaya Boulevard, a 100-meter wide, 4-kilometers long boulevard flanked by government offices and the mainstage for National Day parade.
• Various bridges and parks.
• The Diplomatic Enclave, housing foreign embassies and missions.
• Alamanda, literally 'Your World', Putrajaya's premier shopping center.
• The Perdana Leadership Foundation, holding the offices of previous Prime Ministers, currently occupied by Tun Sri Mahathir Muhammad.
• Cruises and boatrides throughout Putrajaya lake.

Sleep

Suffering from acute overcapacity, Putrajaya's luxury hotels offer some of the best deals on the planet. All the hotels are brand new and near-empty, unless there happens to be a big convention in town.

Splurge

• Marriott Putrajaya, 1 (http://www.marriottputrajaya.com/). A stupendously huge 500-room hotel with a grandiose marble-columned lobby, out in the middle of nowhere at the rather lacklustre IOI Resort. Best quick description: "Looks like Saddam Hussein's palace." Maybe not bad for a cheap round of golf, as room rates go as low as US$25 (green fees not included).

• Palm Garden Hotel, 2 (http://www.palmgarden.com.my/home.htm). Formerly Renaissance, also in the IOI Resort, is a slightly more humanely sized hotel and probably a better choice than the Marriott.

• Shangri-La Putrajaya, 3 (http://www.shangri-la.com/eng/hotel/43/). Undoubtedly the pick of the pack, centrally located in the Core District (right next to the King's palace!) and featuring Shangri-La's renowned service and an Infinity Edge pool looking out over the best bits of Putrajaya. Rates US$70 and up, a steal for a place like this.

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