Lake Gardens — now officially Perdana Botanical Gardens — is the largest green space in central KL: 92 hectares of landscaped parks, lakes, and gardens spread across a low hill west of the National Mosque. It was laid out by the British in 1888 as a recreational park for the colonial administration and has since grown into a cluster of major attractions linked by tree-lined paths.
The KL Bird Park, one of the world's largest free-flight aviaries, occupies the park's northern section. The Butterfly Park, Orchid Garden, and Hibiscus Garden fill out the southern end. On the park's eastern edge sit the National Museum and the National Monument, a bronze sculpture commemorating Malaysian independence. It's the calmer, greener alternative to KLCC — especially good on a weekday morning before the tour buses arrive.