Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman

Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman or formerly Batu Road is a prominent road in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and is named after the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) of Malaysia.

It is located in the business district of Kuala Lumpur and is a stones throw away from Dataran Merdeka and Little India

History

The road was previously known as Batu Road as it was originally a path leading to the Batu village where mining activities took place.

In the 1930s, development overtook the village turning the swamps, rice fields and coconut estates in the area into one of the busiest roads in Kuala Lumpur.

Traders here sell a variety of items along with the retailers, wholesalers, and hawkers. There are also hotels and a cinema here.

Post-war buildings with interesting architectural designs are also part of the road’s draw.

The road was later renamed after the country’s first Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad. He was also the eighth Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Seri Menanti and second Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan.

In present day, the older folks still refer to the road as Batu Lut, a localised version of its old name while the younger generation often refer to it as Jalan TAR.

Attractions

The road comes alive early in the day and is always bustling with activities as shoppers throng the street for its many boutiques and shopping arcades.

The road is a haven for textile companies, carpet traders and small boutiques that sell modern Malay designs. There are also many small second-hand books dealers who have thrived despite the boom of giant bookstore chains.

One of the significant landmarks on the road is the Coliseum cinema. It is still popular and screens movies that cater to different segments of society, mainly Tamil movies.

At the end of the road, the newly-built Maju Junction stands tall, creating a modern touch to the surrounding older architecture.