Jalan Tun Razak (JTR), the city’s backbone, stretches for 8 km, from Jalan Tun Dr Ismail intersection near the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), and ends at Jalan Cheras-Pudu right before Pudu Uptown. Previously called Jalan Pekeliling (Circular Road) for its beltway-like layout, it was renamed JTR in 1983 to commemorate the second Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein.
JTR is lined with many celebrated national markers, owing to its prominence in the city’s evolution. Heading northeast after PWTC, on the right are the 140-year old Kuala Lumpur General Hospital (KLGH) and the Institut Jantung Negara (IJN), two of the nation’s foremost public medical institutions.
Next is a cluster of 90’s structures that stood out for their unusual forms, which drew from traditional designs. The Istana Budaya, Malaysia's premier performance art venue, is shaped like the wau bulan with roof that resembles a massive turquoise origami. Next, stands the National Library, designed based on the traditional Malay headgear, the tengkolok, with silver roof motives inspired by the songket design.
Also near-by is the National Visual Arts Gallery, opened in 1958, displaying more than 2,500 artworks by local and international artists. JTR also connects to the 95-hectare Titiwangsa Lake Gardens that features a 57-hectare pristine lake, a remnant of tin-mining Malaya.
Past all that comes the famous JTR-Jalan Ampang intersection: Intermark towers and DoubleTree hotel on the left, and Ampang Park, KL’s oldest mall, on the right. This junction is the bottle neck of the capital, leading to KLCC and Bukit Bintang CBDs.
This area houses the iconic, drum-like Lembaga Tabung Haji, and due to its central location, various foreign embassies, such as Japan, USA, Canada, Indonesia, Singapore, Iraq and Spain.
Further down JTR is the 123-year old Royal Selangor Golf Club and next to it, the newly opened entertainment and f&b hub TREC. Here, JTR links up to several major turn-offs including to the SMART Tunnel, Bulatan Kampung Pandan and Maju Expressway (MEX), and to Jalan Loke Yew and Jalan Sungai Besi further on. One of the city’s major thoroughfares, TRX is working with DBKL to upgrade and expand JTR to better manage the traffic flow, reducing the congestion along JTR and its surrounding area.
Photo credit: Google Maps
