Landmarks of Selangor: Kota Darul Ehsan

Travelling along the rather busy Federal Highway from Shah Alam to Kuala Lumpur and vice versa, I have passed under this spectacular double archway of Kota Darul Ehsan more times than I can remember.

Kota Darul Ehsan at dusk (CNB 2013)

Kota Darul Ehsan is a ceremonial gateway that marks the boundary between Selangor Darul Ehsan and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur (a 244-square-kilometer area created out of a part of Selangor state in 1974). The gigantic double archway, (constructed in 1975), 'straddles what was the first dual carriageway in Selangor, the Federal Highway connecting Petaling Jaya and the nation's capital'.

The architecture of Kota Darul Ehsan is largely based on the features and motifs of the notable Mogul style buildings of Kuala Lumpur. Kota Darul Ehsan has twin pointed arches with two smaller side arches that spring from 'Y'-shaped capitals on grooved concrete pillars. Bands of decorative Islamic geometric patterns frame the arches. Across the top the name of Kota Darul Ehsan is spelt in English and Jawi. Crowning the central pillar is a chatri (from the Hindi chatta, 'umbrella'), the umbrella-shaped cupola surrounded by finials, replicated from the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station. Small onion-shaped domes top the corners and over the small side arches are two smaller chatris.

Kota Darul Ehsan during the blue hour (CNB 2012)

There are cannons at the base of the archway facing both directions. These old cannons, are originally from Kuala Selangor. Kota Darul Ehsan lights up at night and is indeed an impressive gateway.

Ref: Landmarks of Selangor. Jugra Publications, 2003.