Petaling Jaya

Petaling Jaya (universally called PJ) is a satellite city founded in 1954 as Malaysia's first planned town, now home to nearly 640,000 inhabitants. Located just west of Kuala Lumpur in Selangor state, PJ offers a more relaxed alternative to the capital while maintaining excellent dining, shopping, and nightlife options. The city is divided into numbered sections (seksyen) marked as S, SS, PJU, and PJS, creating a grid-like layout centered around commercial hubs like SS2 and Damansara Jaya.

The most convenient way to reach PJ from Kuala Lumpur is via the Kelana Jaya LRT Line, with stations at Taman Jaya, Asia Jaya, Taman Paramount, Taman Bahagia, and Kelana Jaya. Taxis are widely available with a RM1 surcharge on top of the meter (Comfort Taxi, Super Cab, Radio Cab, Public Cab all operate this way). The city lies along the Federal Highway connecting KL to the Klang Valley.

PJ is quite spread out and visitors really need their own wheels to get around efficiently. The Light Rail Transit (LRT) via the Kelana Jaya Line covers major residential and commercial sections, starting from KL City through to Kelana Jaya. For attractions in Greater PJ, the best way to explore is during non-peak hours by car or taxi. The Mutiara Damansara commercial precinct is served by an hourly free shuttle bus from Kelana Jaya LRT at the entrance to IKANO Centre.

As part of the Klang Valley, PJ experiences a tropical climate year-round with temperatures between 23-33°C. The best time to visit is during the dry season from May to July or September to November. Weekday mornings and evenings are less crowded for exploring malls and parks. Weekend nights see mamak restaurants packed for live soccer broadcasts.

Despite being adjacent to Kuala Lumpur, PJ has hotels across all price categories. Budget and mid-range options cluster around PJ State (Sections 13-14) near the LRT stations, with options like PJ De Inn near Thrifty Mall and Lisa De Inn at the Rothmans roundabout. Damansara Jaya notably has no inns, guesthouses, motels or hotels. Upscale options include the Hilton PJ near Asia Jaya LRT (rates from RM250), the Royale Chulan Damansara near The Curve (from RM220), and One World Hotel in Bandar Utama (5-star, 438 rooms opened 2007).

Eating is almost a national obsession in PJ, with eateries available around the clock. Mamak restaurants operated by Indian-Muslims are found throughout the city, offering 24-hour service and cheap food popular with locals for live soccer broadcasts. Damansara Utama and SS2 are foodie hotspots: Asian Food House (No. 38, Jalan SS 21/58) serves Taiwanese fare from RM8.90, while Fatty Crab Restaurant in Taman Megah has been serving their famed sweet, sour and spicy crab for over 30 years (around RM30 per person). Sate Nora in Section 14 has been operating over 30 years and claims to serve the best sate in Malaysia. For Cantonese dim sum, Hong Kee Tim Sum opens daily 7AM-3PM on Jalan SS 22/25, while Little Dim Sum Restaurant on Jalan SS 2/63 serves until 12:30AM (Tu-Su). Mamak stalls like William Mamak Stall in Taman Megah are fantastic for unique food choices at any hour.

Gasing Hill is the only remaining forest reserve in PJ, covering approximately 100 acres with trails, a viewing tower, and over 100 species of birds. The Kelana Jaya Lake Park features 7 scenic lakes, Olympic-sized swimming pools, and tennis/badminton courts at the Kelana Jaya Sports Complex. The MBPJ Tower (27 storeys, cost RM50m) is the Petaling Jaya City Council headquarters with a unique sunken plaza design. The LDP Cable-Stayed Bridge at Persekutuan Interchange is Malaysia's first cable-stayed land bridge. History buffs should visit the Petaling Jaya Museum (Jalan 10/7, Section 10, free admission, Sa-Th 9AM-5PM) and the Kota Darul Ehsan Arch, a marble gateway opened in 1981 to commemorate Kuala Lumpur becoming a Federal Territory.

PJ is generally a safe city, though standard urban precautions apply. Night markets (pasar malam) may have vendors selling contraband merchandise. The police station at Sea Park is near several restaurants in SS2. Public transport and main roads are well-lit and busy during operating hours.

WiFi is widely available in malls, cafes, and restaurants. Starbucks outlets in PJ (located in One Utama, The Curve, IKANO Power Center, Damansara Utama, Dataran Tiga Dua, Amcorp Mall, and Sunway Pyramid) offer free WiFi via Timezone. Coffee shops and kopitiam throughout the city provide connectivity.

Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, is 35-50 minutes away by car or easily accessible via LRT. Genting Highlands, a famous hill resort, is at least 2 hours away by road. Subang Jaya borders PJ to the west and is accessible via LRT from stations like SS 12-19.