Family Fun At Kuala Lumpur’s National Museum

Located at the southern tip of the Perdana Botanical Gardens, the National Museum is a magnificent three-storey building that is the most important record of Malaysian history and culture in the country. Built to resemble the Rumah Gadang, which is a Minangkabau House, the main entrance of the National Museum is flanked by two large murals of Italian glass mosaic that portray the country’s major historical events and cultural activities. It currently houses four main galleries with an excellent introduction to Malaysia’s history, economy, geography, arts, crafts, and culture. 

The ground floor boasts an impressive collection of life-sized dioramas of ritual weddings, traditional Malaysian life, and even one of a Malay circumcision ceremony. While you are there, you can introduce kids to Wayang Kulit – a traditional shadow wooden puppet theatre. On the second floor, expect to see a huge zoological section with stuffed animals that vaguely resembles a hunting lodge. Not just that, as you walk through the passages, you will come across a section dedicated to traditional musical instruments. 

The National Museum has several free guided tours that take place throughout the week in several languages.