Still under construction, Putrajaya covers 4,931 hectares, which were mostly palm plantations before the federal government purchased the lot from the surrounding state of Selangor. About 40 per cent of Putrajaya remains natural, but the landscape has been extensively reworked: lush foliage and botanical gardens are spread across the landscape, crisscrossed by large bodies of water and wetlands. The city’s main sights are the colossal showcase buildings located in its central Core District.
Five confluences meet at the north forming a main waterway, the Putrajaya Lake, which flows across the city area. For the water in the lake to be clean enough for body contact, water sports and recreational activities, a wetland was constructed to remove pollutants and to clean the water before it enters the lake.
The wetland also acts as a natural cooling system for the city. Facing the lake, the Putra Mosque is arguably Putrajaya's most distinctive landmark and one of the most modern mosques in the world. An adjacent sister city, Cyberjaya, is built along the same lines, and is aimed at attracting the IT industry.
Construction of the Putrajaya Monorail has been halted until the occupancy of the Core District increases. There are no budget or midrange options in town, but suffering from acute overcapacity, Putrajaya's luxury hotels offer some very good deals. All the hotels are brand new and have facilities for traveling executives.
The nearest airport is Kuala Lumpur International Airport, a 30 minute taxi journey away. As public transportation within Putrajaya remains undeveloped, and distances between sights are long, visitors may find that renting a car is the best way to get around.
