The time we visited Putrajaya, we were at once greeted by the serenity of the lake. Engulfed in the majesty of the site and the silence of the waterway, the muffled noise of the traffic was a stark contrast to the previous night’s splendour of lights, the sound of musicians playing randomly on pavements and the cacophony of the people gathered around the bank of the lake to see the 14 flotillas decked in colourful lights cruise through a 3 kilometre stretch of the Putra Lake.
On that hot summer afternoon, we made our way through the still waters of the lake, the man made Putra Lake, a reservoir which serves as a cooling system for the city as well as serving the aesthetics, on an air-con boat. It is also an ecological site possessing hundreds of species of freshwater creatures — fish and otherwise.
To preserve the artificial habitat fishing and angling is strictly prohibited a strict eye is kept on the activities around the banks of the lakes through constant surveillance. But nothing takes away from the scenic images of the lake and the city that lies on its banks.
Our ride began near the Perdana Putra, the Prime Ministerial Office and the grand Putra Mosque, more popularly known as the Pink Mosque because of the colour of the stones used in its construction.
As our boat maneuvered, the tourist guide pointed at the architectural landmarks of the city that was picture perfect. A cool wind blew as we moved, heightening the experience of a peaceful atmosphere.
Built in the late 1990s, the city of Putrajaya was the brainchild of Dr Mahathir Bin Mohamad, the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia. The city lies 25 km south of KL, between the international airport and the capital, Kuala Lumpur.
Destined to become the capital of this nation one day, Putrajaya now boasts a spectacular architectural view from the lake itself and also from the motorways. However, it is not without its touch of vitality.
We were taken aback by the splendours of the Floria, an exhibition of the many varieties of orchids that have a natural habitat in Malaysia along with other cultured variants.
What has now become a hallmark of the city, the annual show hosts almost a million visitors who come to see the breathtaking flowers showcased in many landscaped garden plots. This year the popular orchid made a comeback at Floria 2013, which was themed “Orchid — Tropical Treasure.”
Orchids are a very popular and familiar flowering plant in the Malaysian landscape and are grown, maintained and bred throughout the country. As we walked through the aisles of the exhibition, Floria 2013, we saw breathtaking stalls featuring orchids in many different forms and cheerful, vibrant colours.
The theme itself is self-explanatory even though this plant has been introduced and used for centuries it is still a sight to behold as Malaysia’s Tropical Treasure.
The blissful silence of the show was shattered with a loud sound that marked the beginning of the boat show. And we rushed to the river bank, some 200 yards away from the spectacular Floria 2013.
The Magic of the Night is an annual programme hosted in Putrajaya, Malaysia — a show organised for the third consecutive year, ahead of the much promoted Visit Malaysia Year 2014, comprising a brilliant display of lights, fourteen brightly lit flotillas on themes familiarising the international tourists and the local audience to the grandeurs of the rich cultural heritage and the natural beauty that is the treasure of Malaysia.
There was an explosion of colours and music, from traditional Malay songs to the orchestra playing European classical music. The silent city of Putrajaya lingered as the backdrop of the extravaganza, with city lights being overshadowed by the grandeur of the boats, each of which compete against each other in an annual contest.
Putrajaya is a city lurked in isolation of the hustle and the bustle that is the Malaysian experience. That is not to say that that the place lacks a life of its own. As the fireworks following the boat exhibition lit up the dark sky, we took our exit from the show.
Malaysia is an exciting place to visit, it is a place where something is happening around the clock. This is as true for the mega cities that have already made a mark in the tourist’s map as it is for the lesser known, Putrajaya.
Source: Daily Star
