Watch The Butterflies Flutter By

The Penang Butterfly Park is just minutes away from the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park; the park is constructed like a miniature rainforest in the middle of the city of Kuala Lumpur and houses about 120 different species of butterfly and about 15,000 plants of different varieties. Adding to the tropical rainforest atmosphere of the park is the mini pond with a limestone path down the centre.

The pond is surrounded by a gazebo that lets visitors have a clear view of the area surrounding the pond and observe the various species of butterflies who flutter by. The park is ideal for families with young children but lacks the excitement to keep adults entertainment for very long. The park was founded in 1986 to educate the public and to establish a research centre with the aim of developing new breeding methods.

Upon entering the park you would be greeted by a lush and tropical garden that is that is lined with several pathways. Cages and enclosures can be seen in the area and a few fountains and a fish pond add to the serenity of the area. A large number of butterflies can be seen fluttering about amongst the trees and the colorful flowers.

The calm and the serenity of the Butterfly Park is seemingly the perfect getaway to sooth tension, save the Dragonfly enclosure that has thousands of alien looking insects making disturbing whizzing sounds and flying about randomly in their 1,200 square foot enclosure (as you can guess I am not favorably disposed towards dragonflies). The Butterfly Park though named as such also has a number of other creepy crawlies such as scorpions, spiders and snakes.

The visitor's centre has some educative pamphlets which will definitely intrigue nature buffs and there is a traditional art centre. However the souvenir shop is a must see the Butterfly Farm fashions beautiful crystal paperweights using dead insects. There are also t shirts, books and some fascinating antiques and curios of which only a few are for sale. Another interesting fact is that Malaysia's largest oil painting is on display at the Farm it is a depiction of a lush jungle by James Lau and has earned a place on the Guinness Book of records!

By: Naveen Marasinghe
A cheap hotel in Kuala Lumpur that is in close proximity to many of the sights and sounds of Malaysia such as the Butterfly Park is Citrus Hotel Kuala Lumpur.