Putrajaya: New administrative capital

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.