Kuala Lumpur/Brickfields and Bangsar



Brickfields is known as the biggest Little India of Kuala Lumpur. It is just south of the City Centre. Along the main road, Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Indian shops abound, selling Indian clothing, provisions and food whilst the surrounding area is home to both budget and luxury accommodation. Brickfields is also home to the massive KL Sentral, with major transportation links around Kuala Lumpur and beyond. The area east of the Klang River, Robson Heights, is also covered here.

Bangsar a residential area, which is very popular with expats, has some notable restaurants, shopping malls and bars.

Understand
In the late 1800s, Kuala Lumpur experienced a huge flood and fire that destroyed the many wooden and thatched houses that were common at the time. To prevent such a disaster reoccurring, Sir Frank Swettenham, the British resident of Selangor, ordered that all new structure be made of bricks within Kuala Lumpur. As the area now known as Brickfields was a clay-rich area it was chosen as the site for brick-making. As a result Kuala Lumpur was rebuilt and the area was named Brickfields.

The area of Brickfields was also home to the main depot of the Malayan Railways during British rule. The benefit of having rail transport at Brickfields was that bricks could then be carted to the depot for transport to Kuala Lumpur, or to the Klang river for transport by barge. To maintain the locomotives and the depot, the British brought people from Sri Lanka and South India. Many workers were housed in the area, which is why to this day the Indian community is so prominent in Brickfields.

Whilst it used to be a less savoury area, today Brickfields has undergone a makeover with the construction of KL Sentral, the modern transportation hub of Kuala Lumpur that was built over the old railway depot. The KL Sentral area has a collection of tall office towers surrounding KL Sentral railway station. In 2009, Brickfields officially became the new Little India of Kuala Lumpur, taking the title from the area around Jalan Masjid India in the Tuanku Abdul Rahman district. This decision was made as the area is considered a pioneering Indian settlement that helped Kuala Lumpur become what it is today. Both neighbourhoods have significant Indian influence and are worth a visit if you have the time.

Brickfields
The area south of the city centre is fairly easy to reach from anywhere in Kuala Lumpur as the main transportation hub,, is here. Multiple train and bus services pass through KL Sentral and are the cheaper options, whilst those who can afford it will find a plethora of taxis available.

By train
Almost all train lines, except the Ampang and Sri Petaling LRT lines, pass through KL Sentral in Brickfields. The LRT Kelana Jaya line passes directly through KL Sentral in Brickfields and can be reached from the Golden Triangle area at KLCC station,  Kampung Baru and Dang Wangi stations for the Tuanku Abdul Rahman/Chow Kit districts and   Pasar Seni or    Masjid Jamek stations for Chinatown, the Central Markets and the Old City area. If near the Ampang and Sri Petaling LRT lines it is possible to connect to KL Sentral by transferring to the Kelana Jaya line at Masjid Jamek.

Another option is to take the, which terminates at KL Sentral monorail station, about 200 m from the actual KL Sentral complex. To transfer from the monorail station requires you to cross the Nu Sentral mall to reach the KL Sentral complex. The other monorail station in this district is Tun Sambanthan station on the banks of the Klang River behind the shopping area of Brickfields.

The cheapest and arguably the less reliable option is the KTM Komuter service, with two lines passing through KL Sentral. Convenient to use if in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur and from the western side of the Old city area at Bank Negara station and the moreish colonial-style old Kuala Lumpur station.

The Express Rail Link, with train services from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, has KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit services terminating at KL Sentral. Ekspres services run non-stop to KL Sentral whilst Transit services also stop at Salak Tinggi, Putrajaya/Cyberjaya and Bandar Tasik Selatan stations.

The MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line which is the newest train system in Klang Valley has its stop in this district at.

By bus
Many buses go through Brickfields and Bangsar. The ones going into town terminate at Kota Raya or Klang bus stand. Buses heading out of town serve Mid Valley, Pantai Dalam and some PJ areas. All the Rapid buses now pass through KL Sentral.

By train
Although there is a Bangsar station on the Kelana Jaya Line, it is along Jalan Bangsar and not near the restaurant and drinking area of Bangsar Baru. From the station, you'll have to catch Rapid KL bus 822 or T850 to get you to Bangsar Baru. Bus 822 also goes past Mid Valley.

Mid Valley
The easiest way to get to Mid Valley is to catch a KTM Komuter train to Mid Valley komuter station. The station is linked to the mall via a covered walkway with escalators. The other alternative is to catch an LRT to Bangsar station and transfer onto a Mid Valley free shuttle bus (which runs every half hour) or RapidKL bus 822 (which runs every 25 minutes during off-peak hours).

By bus
Buses go from KL to Mid Valley via either Brickfields or Federal Highway.

Get around
Brickfields is one area of KL that needs to be explored on foot. Moreover, there is a walking route from here via Sentral railway station to the National Museum, then via the Lake Gardens to the Islamic Arts Museum, the Bird Park and the Butterfly Park.

The commercial district of Bangsar with all the shops and restaurants is around 1.5 km northeast of the train station.

Seputeh




Buy
It's one extreme or the other. Brickfields' new shopping centre,, is a glitzy multi-story affair adjoining the railway station - many familiar Western chains are here. Altogether more fun however are the outside, selling everything from saris and other textiles to spice and jewellery.

It wouldn't be KL, if there weren't more malls in this area though:



Brickfields
As Brickfields is the Little India of Kuala Lumpur there is one thing you can easily find, Indian food. One particular speciality found throughout Brickfields is the South Indian banana leaf rice, where white rice is served on a banana leaf with an assortment of curries, vegetables, pickles and papadums. Although traditionally eaten with your hands do not hesitate to ask for cutlery if you prefer and you may even be offered them without having to ask. Banana leaf rice is a very cheap, extremely filling meal and a must try experience in Brickfields. To show appreciation after a satisfied meal, fold the banana leaf towards yourself to signify that you enjoyed the meal.

There are also several Chinese coffee shops offering the usual types of food. There are also the usual fast food suspects to be found within Brickfields. At KL Sentral you can find KFC, McDonald's, Burger King, and coffeeshops such as Coffee Bean, Starbucks and Secret Recipe. One the top floor of KL Sentral there is also a food court. There is also a separate KFC in the streets of Brickfields. At the other end of the budget, KL Sentral's two five-star hotels have international-standard restaurants where you can dine in style in their many restaurants and establishments.

Budget




Bangsar
Bangsar has a wide range of restaurants.

Bangsar
The commercial area of Bangsar Baru is packed with pubs and bars. Until the mid-2000s there was a vibrant clubbing scene as well, but this has ended for now.

Sleep
Brickfields contains two extremes of accommodation - sleazy hole-in-the+walls which only rent out rooms on an hourly basis (mostly in the old Brickfields area), and three of KL's best five-star hotels north of KL Sentral.

Splurge