In northern Kuala Lumpur, Kepong is a small town offering a breath of fresh air from the busy city streets, in an area more orientated around nature than the urban life of a metropolis. Indeed, nature is the basis of the town name, as Kepong is a Malay word meaning, “enclose”, referring to the enclosure of the town by its surrounding mountain range.
One surprisingly and refreshing attraction is the Forest Research Institute Malaysia, or FRIM, a forest reserve and government agency dedicated to the preservation of Malaysian rain forests. In addition to learning about progressive biological and botanical scientific research, visitors can relax in the exotic Botanical Gardens, trek a nature trail or even cross a 30-metre high canopy walkway. Another nearby site of natural beauty is Kepong Metropolitan Park, a large green space where locals often go to fly kites or fish in the lake. Visitors can also enjoy the cycle track and remote control car track, participate in various aquatic activities or climb the viewing tower.
Kepong is easy to reach from Kuala Lumpur, as the route is a simple drive down the MRR2 highway to the exit of the town, which is also where guests can find the Metropolitan Park. Trains also serve the area, and Kepong has two rail stations, both of which run on the same Rawang-Seremban Route. Various buses travel to Kepong and visitors can reach the town via several RapidKL, Metrobus and Selangor services.
Since the development of Kuala Lumpur, Kepong has retained its natural habitat as a relaxing getaway from the bustle of the big city. FRIM has existed since the 1950s, and the lake of the Kepong Metropolitan Park has been around even longer.