Just as the saying goes “Malaysia, truly Asia”, Malaysia is an incredible place to travel for travellers of all ages. Located in the southeast part of Asia, with Thailand, Indonesia and South of China as its neighbouring countries, Malaysia has people from varied backgrounds thus inducing the different flavours into the country. Modern people, traditional culture, colonial architecture, lush green parks and pleasant beaches are what the city offers to its travellers. While visiting Malaysia, make sure you visit one such place called Johar as it is filled with many interesting things to do.

Located on the borders of Singapore, the city has cleaned itself up more neatly than how it was in the past. With many friendly attractions, it has become one of the places, where friends and family travel while they have a day at leisure. Go do some shopping at the malls with stunning views, and hog nicely at the nearby bars and restaurants. Wander off and take a sneak peek at museums and treat yourself to some delicious street food at the end of the day. The places in the town also play some good colonial tunes during the day and night, so if you are into it, try staying the day and enjoy the good old music for a while before you head back home.

Malaysia in night — Image Source: Unsplash

Things to do while visiting Johar

1. Visit the Johar Zoo

Johar Zoo was one of the first zoos ever to be built in the South East Asia region during the year 1928. Ever since then, the place has been home to hundreds of different species like lions, flamingoes, gorillas etc. The zoo has got a separate section for birds and reptiles too. If you are travelling with kids, make sure to allow your kids to interact with some of the animals in a highly safe environment.

Open hours

You can visit the zoo any day between 8 AM – 6 PM.

Entry fee

The entrance fee for the zoo is MYR 1 for kids and MYR 2 for adults.

2. Let out your inner kid at Legoland

Travelling with kids or not, make sure you don’t miss visiting the famous Legoland in Malaysia. Ever since the park opened in 2012, the park has got 40+ rides that everyone loves. There is also a water park next to Legoland with pools and thrilling water rides. Some of the main attractions at the park are bumper cars, laser quest mazes and thrilling water rides. Being one of the popular theme parks in all of Malaysia, it gets busy every day and stays busy all day long.

Open hours

The park is open everyday between 10 AM – 7 PM

Entry fee

There are different types of tickets that can be purchased with prices ranging from MYR 200 to MYR 350 and the park tickets can be purchased online or at the counter.

3. Visit the Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque

The Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque was not built in a year but 8. Yes, it took eight years to finish constructing the mosque which started out in the year 1892. One of the largest mosques in all of Malaysia, it can accommodate around 2000 worshippers at the same time. The architectural design of the mosque is nothing like the others. It is a mixture of traditional Islamic domes with little of British colonial architecture. Built-in white marble entirely, the minarets of the mosque are designed to look like the British clock tower.

4. Shop till you drop at Johar Premium Outlet

With over 150+ stores and two floors, you can buy everything at a very competitive price. With eateries and cafes, make sure you never go dehydrated while on your shopping spree.

Open hours

The outlet is open from 10 AM – 10 PM every day.

5. War Memorial

Situated on Jalan Abu Bakar, the War memorial is made out of two obelisks, that are dedicated to the servicemen and women who lost their lives during the First and Second world war. Known for its pretty views, the memorial was built in 1962.

6. Let your tastebuds linger at Medal Selera Meldrum

All of Malaysia is famous for its street food. But if you want to taste the best of best, hit the Medal Selera Meldrum walk, a street filled with food stalls. Taste the best dishes of Malaysian cuisine at the hawkers like Laska – a creamy soup with coconut milk or Ikan Bakar – spaced fished grilled on coals.

Hawker shop at Johar — Image Source: Unsplash

7. Pasar Karat

If you are that person who loves to bargain on everything and anything, this is the place for you. Known for its wide shopping options, it is a large flea market built like a high-end mall with lots of treasure just waiting to be discovered.

Open hours

The flea markets open only in the evenings beyond 8 PM making it a night market of a sort.

8. Soothe yourself with a SPA

With all that shopping and exploration, your body sure goes through a lot and you are going to end up with body pain and muscle pain. So why not prevent it beforehand? Southeast Asia is famous for its spa and body therapy. So head to one of the spas nearby or the ones at the hotel you are staying at, and release those soring muscles.

9. Try the long head fish curry

If you love eating seafood, you must try the famous traditional dish in Malaysia, the fish head curry. Prepared with Malaysian spices, ladyfingers, tomatoes in a thick sauce, the taste of it lasts longer in your mouth even after days. If you are not comfortable eating the head you can replace the head with a fishtail and still enjoy it. The queue to eat this amazing dish is long, so make sure you make reservations before heading out.

10. The Old Chinese Temple

Located in Johar Bahru is an old Chinese temple that was built in the 19th century to honour 5 deities belonging to the Chinese community. It is one of the oldest religious buildings to exist even in modern days. Painted with bright red and white, it sure stands out from the rest of the buildings in the area. Why not kneel down and pray for a miracle while you are at Johar.

Travelling to Malaysia can be fun, adventurous and soul searching. Being it a solo trip or jam-packed family trip, it requires lots and lots of planning and researching. So why not take the suggestions from experts before planning. Log into Pickyourtrail and choose a Malaysia tour package best suited for you and unwrap Malaysia stress-free. Alternatively, you can even customize your very own itinerary crafted as per your needs. Happy Travelling!