Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Central Market

Central Market is the place to go to in Kuala Lumpur for Malaysian souvenirs and handicrafts to take back home. The shopping centre is housed in a late 19th century building built during the British colonial era and expanded to its current size in 1933. Central Market was initially a wet market for nearly 100 years from where it got its name. I remember following my mother in the 70s to Central Market to purchase vegetables, meat and fish. It was a typical Asian market (at least by the standards of the time) - the floor was wet and soiled and the place stank! 

Central Market's days as a wet market are long gone. It was once considered to be demolished until the Malaysian Heritage Society intervened. In 1986, Central Market was converted into a shopping centre for Malaysian handicrafts and souvenirs - woodcarvings, batik, pewter, paintings and the typical refrigerator magnets and T-shirts. The exterior of the building still retains its colonial architecture (brings back memories) but the interior is modern, clean, air-conditioned and definitely without the smell of a wet market (thank goodness).

Front entrance to Central Market

Inside Central Market

Handicraft shops