Putrajaya: New administrative capital
Putrajaya is a new Federal Government Administrative Center of Malaysia. It is named in honor of Malaysia's first Prime Minister, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj. Putrajaya was an oil palm plantation being transformed into a beautiful and meticulously planned city.
Putrajaya covers 4931 ha, and is situated just 25 km south of the capital city and 20 km from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Putrajaya is easily accessible via a number of highways and is fast becoming a major tourist attraction. Putrajaya full development is scheduled for completion by 2010.
Putrajaya is divided into 5 main areas namely the Government Precinct, Mixed Development Precinct, Civic and Cultural Precinct, Commercial Precinct and Sports and Recreation Precinct.
The master plan envisages that Putrajaya be built as a 'City in a Garden'. Putrajaya would be a city where people would enjoy an enhanced 'quality urban living' in an environment rooted in Malaysian culture and tradition.
Perdana Putra, the Prime Minister's Office Complex is situated atop a hillock. It is a six storey granite building capped with green dome. Spread over three wings, the complex also houses the offices of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Chief Secretary to the Government, Ministers and Deputy Ministers in the Prime Minister's Department, and other government units under the Prime Minister's Department.
Putra Mosque or Masjid Putra is facing the scenic Putrajaya Lake. The desert-pink Putra Mosque inspired by Persian architecture of the Safavid period has three main areas which are the Prayer Hall, Sahn or courtyard and learning facilities.
Twelve columns in the Prayer Hall support the main dome that measures 36m in diameter. The mimbar (pulpit) and mehrab (niche denoting the direction of Mecca) are adorned with khat (Islamic calligraphy). The Sahn or paved courtyard contains several decorative water features and is dominated by a 116m-high minaret divided into five tiers to represent the Five Pillars of Islam.
A manuscript room, library, auditorium and seminar rooms comprise the learning facilities in the basement floors. The Putra Mosque can accommodate a total of 15,000 people at any one time.
The 400ha Putrajaya Lake and the 197ha Putrajaya Wetlands play an important role in making the environment of Putrajaya a garden. The lake serves several purposes such as angling, water sports and water transport. Consisting of six wetland areas, each of which is separated by a bund, Putrajaya Wetlands has been planted with more than 11 million species of wetland plants and 50 other species from local grounds.
More than 40 species of fish have also been introduced into the wetlands and more than 100 species of birds have been spotted either as permanent or transient residents. Paths and boardwalks allow visitors to indulge in bird watching and nature tours.
Putrajaya also boasts the Putra Bridge which is one of eight signature bridges in Putrajaya. The upper level of the Putra Bridge forms part of the Boulevard. Resembling the Khaju Bridge of Isfahan, Iran, the two-tiered Putra Bridge is 435m long. The unique twin-deck bridge not only provides vehicle, light trail and pedestrian access, it can also accommodate restaurants within its main pillars.
With a major part of Putrajaya's land is designated as green areas. Putrajaya would have numerous parks of which several are being developed. An urban forest park, the Taman Putra Perdana covering 63ha, would function as a green lung for the surrounding development namely the VIP Retreat and Istana Melawati and offers a panoramic view from one of the highest grounds in the city.
Taman Botani is designed as a national sanctuary for Malaysian living collection of plant taxonomy as well as a center for education and research. Perdana Walk will cover 4.7ha and have the LRT running underneath it. Other major parks include Taman Wawasan, Taman Selatan and Taman Rimba Alam.