Much to see anddoin Shah Alam
SHAH ALAM, the current administrative capital of Selangor, was once covered in lush rubber trees as the area was formerly the largescale Sungai Renggam Estate.
The development of Shah Alam took root in 1963 when it was anticipated that Kuala Lumpur would eventually become a Federal Territory.
Shah Alam replaced Kuala Lumpur when the latter was proclaimed as a Federal Territory in 1974 and was officially proclaimed as the capital of Selangor in 1978.
Shah Alam, which was named after current Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah’s grandfather Sultan Alam Shah, was conferred city status in 2000.
Besides housing all the state government buildings and government-linked companies’ premises, Shah Alam has a thriving industrial zone.
The city is also home to several automotive industrial plants, including Proton, which had its beginning in Shah Alam decades ago.
Shah Alam is also home to Universiti Teknologi Mara and Universiti Selangor (Unisel).
Besides housing the state’s administrative buildings, Shah Alam has an interesting selection of tourist attractions for leisure.
Among the attractions here is i-city, a technology-based venue which provides a wide variety of entertainment, including theme parks.
One of its main attractions is an indoor snow park aptly named Snowalk, which allows one to experience winter in tropical Malaysia.
The other main attraction is Waterworld@i-city, which comes with various aquatic fun rides.
Another beautiful venue that must not be missed in Shah Alam is the Garden of Islamic Arts, which is located near the majestic Blue Mosque.
The beautiful park is inspired by the Garden of Paradise and houses several galleries exhibiting an array of Islamic art encompassing calligraphy, sculptures, paintings and architecture.
The Blue Mosque, officially known as the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Mosque, stands majestically amidst the hustle and bustle of Shah Alam and is easily visible from most parts of the city at night because of its striking blue hue.
Those interested in knowing the history of Selangor can visit the Sultan Alam Shah Museum, which houses many valuables and artefacts revolving around Selangor’s rich history.
For relaxation and solitude, the Shah Alam Lake Gardens, which has seven man-made lakes as well as a bountiful of flora, is the place to go.
It is also a good place to exercise as the gardens come with footpaths, cycle tracks, boardwalks and jogging routes.
Shah Alam is also a foodie paradise as it has a huge number of restaurants offering a wide variety of local and international cuisine.