Sri Hartamas
Encyclopedia
Sri Hartamas or Taman Sri Hartamas (translation 'Glowing Estates Park') is an affluent residential township in Kuala Lumpur
, Malaysia. Sri Hartamas is located in Kuala Lumpur
, under jurisdiction of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
and the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur
. The zip/postal code is 50480.
and Damansara-Puchong Expressway
. The travel time to anywhere in the Klang Valley
area, as a result is surprisingly short, even during rush hour.
Sri Hartamas's most prized feature is the greenery and isolation. It is surrounded by a hill range that dots the Klang Valley
, giving the area an isolated country feel, despite being only 15 minutes away from the center of Kuala Lumpur
. The country feel, coupled with the easy transportation access via car, has made it a magnet for the up and coming, young professional, Malaysian upper middle classes. The neighborhood has a manicured esthetic, with a park like feel, something the area residents guard.
Residents of the neighborhood participate in the resident's association. In years past, the association has hired a private security firm to patrol the area. The isolation of Sri Hartamas and the surrounding area made it prey to crime for a while, though this is not so prevalent today.
The homes in Sri Hartamas consists of townhouses, adjoining semi detached homes and small town bungalows. Built by a Malaysian developer in the 80s, the streets are strangely wide, compared to other areas. The wide streets turned out to a boon for multi car households that live in the area with limited garage space when the neighborhood went through a renaissance period.
In 2009, an established residential area with a similar name is located in Alor Setar, capital city of the state of Kedah
.
increased, this soon became irrelevant.
Indeed, easy transportation access by virtue of being close to the expressways, proved to be Sri Hartamas's saviour. Other developments in the area followed. Down the street, a huge condominium project, "Mont Kiara", soon took off.
Mont Kiara
as well as Sri Hartamas quickly became very popular, not only with the Malaysian young professionals, but also with expatriate families, who hail mostly from Australia
, Japan
, Britain
and Europe
.
The extra security and the two international private schools in Sri Hartamas that opened at this time made the area a boon for expatriate families. Sri Hartamas, circa 1996-1999 became an international neighbourhood, with residents originating from different countries.
Americans
as well as single expatriates on the contrary tended to prefer living in nearby Bangsar
, another neighborhood closer to restaurants, clubs, bars and shopping malls.
opened. See Sprint Expressway
.
. There is a disproportionate number of Japanese
and Korean restaurants in Sri Hartamas, catering to the large number of Japan
ese now living in nearby Mont Kiara.
Amenities nearby include: 2 golf courses, a country club, a very "posh" health club and spa, several American chain stores and other conveniences, such as being within 20 minutes delivery of Pizza Hut
or Dominos.
, electricity & broadband
internet
) and services (i.e trash collection). Prior to 1995, due to the terrain of the area, mobile phone coverage here on certain operators in Sri Hartamas was spotty at best. Today, all mobile phone carriers have base stations throughout the neighborhood, with excellent coverage.
Kindergartens:
Primary School:
Secondary School:
Colleges:
However, the expatriate community that once lived here in large numbers dwindled after the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997-1999, when people moved back to their home countries. The area continues to be popular with expatriate families, particularly those with children.
Though no reliable census exists, there is a healthy balance in the number of residents from the different Malaysian ethnic groups in Sri Hartamas, with no obvious majority group, unlike other parts of Malaysia.
In terms of night life Sri Hartamas is now a small, vibrant community. Of particular interest is the wide range of restaurants and bars that have developed around the shopping area in Desa Sri Hartamas. Whilst there are some western style ex pat bars there is also a good food court and a multitude of Korean, Japanese, Thai and Malaysian restaurants.
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, Malaysia. Sri Hartamas is located in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, under jurisdiction of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
and the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
. The zip/postal code is 50480.
Location, Area Description and Demographic
Sri Hartamas has a geographical advantage; located very close to the entrance of two major expressways that link the city with the surrounding suburbs. See New Klang Valley ExpresswayNew Klang Valley Expressway
The New Klang Valley Expressway, or the NKVE refers to a stretch of the North-South Expressway in Peninsular Malaysia which starts from Bukit Raja near Klang town, and ends at Jalan Duta in Kuala Lumpur. It is a busiest expressway in Klang Valley during rush hour from/to Kuala Lumpur...
and Damansara-Puchong Expressway
Damansara-Puchong Expressway
The Damansara–Puchong Expressway or Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong, LDP, is a major expressway in Klang Valley, Selangor in Malaysia. It links major townships in Damansara and Puchong and decreases travel time between them...
. The travel time to anywhere in the Klang Valley
Klang Valley
Klang Valley is an area in Malaysia comprising Kuala Lumpur and its suburbs, and adjoining cities and towns in the state of Selangor. An alternative reference to this would be Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan Area or Greater Kuala Lumpur. It is geographically delineated by Titiwangsa Mountains to the...
area, as a result is surprisingly short, even during rush hour.
Sri Hartamas's most prized feature is the greenery and isolation. It is surrounded by a hill range that dots the Klang Valley
Klang Valley
Klang Valley is an area in Malaysia comprising Kuala Lumpur and its suburbs, and adjoining cities and towns in the state of Selangor. An alternative reference to this would be Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan Area or Greater Kuala Lumpur. It is geographically delineated by Titiwangsa Mountains to the...
, giving the area an isolated country feel, despite being only 15 minutes away from the center of Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
. The country feel, coupled with the easy transportation access via car, has made it a magnet for the up and coming, young professional, Malaysian upper middle classes. The neighborhood has a manicured esthetic, with a park like feel, something the area residents guard.
Residents of the neighborhood participate in the resident's association. In years past, the association has hired a private security firm to patrol the area. The isolation of Sri Hartamas and the surrounding area made it prey to crime for a while, though this is not so prevalent today.
The homes in Sri Hartamas consists of townhouses, adjoining semi detached homes and small town bungalows. Built by a Malaysian developer in the 80s, the streets are strangely wide, compared to other areas. The wide streets turned out to a boon for multi car households that live in the area with limited garage space when the neighborhood went through a renaissance period.
In 2009, an established residential area with a similar name is located in Alor Setar, capital city of the state of Kedah
Kedah
Kedah is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice...
.
1990s Renaissance
Sri Hartamas gained considerable popularity as a desired neighbourhood during the Asian boom of the mid 1990s. Prior to that, the belief by Malaysians was that the neighborhood was too isolated, with little to no infrastructure in the area. With no grocer in the neighborhood at the time, a pint of milk was a 15 minute drive away. As the demand for quality housing in Kuala LumpurKuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
increased, this soon became irrelevant.
Indeed, easy transportation access by virtue of being close to the expressways, proved to be Sri Hartamas's saviour. Other developments in the area followed. Down the street, a huge condominium project, "Mont Kiara", soon took off.
Mont Kiara
Mont Kiara
Mont Kiara, is an affluent township north of the city centre of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The township consists mainly of residential condominiums and office complexes. It is located at the heart of Klang Valley, adjacent to Sri Hartamas. Mont Kiara commercial projects include Plaza Mont Kiara, Seni...
as well as Sri Hartamas quickly became very popular, not only with the Malaysian young professionals, but also with expatriate families, who hail mostly from Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
The extra security and the two international private schools in Sri Hartamas that opened at this time made the area a boon for expatriate families. Sri Hartamas, circa 1996-1999 became an international neighbourhood, with residents originating from different countries.
Americans
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as well as single expatriates on the contrary tended to prefer living in nearby Bangsar
Bangsar
Bangsar, also Bungsar , is an affluent residential suburb on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, lying about south-west of the city centre. It is part of the Lembah Pantai parliamentary constituency...
, another neighborhood closer to restaurants, clubs, bars and shopping malls.
Sri Hartamas Today
The isolation and greenery of Sri Hartamas, with easy access to anywhere; the trademark of the area, gave away some of it’s luster when access to a 3rd expressway that links the area with the rest of Kuala LumpurKuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
opened. See Sprint Expressway
Sprint Expressway
Sprint Expressway is the main expressway network in Klang Valley, Malaysia. The of expressway is divided into three sections. This sections included the Kerinchi Link, Damansara Link and Penchala Link...
.
Changes post-1990s boom
Another development followed, this time bringing some of the infrastructure that Sri Hartamas initially lacked: restaurants, shops, bars and as well as an outdoor Malaysian style food bazaar. Much of the shops and pricing cater to the relatively affluent and expatriate demographic of the area.Upscale Amenities and Conveniences
For Malaysia, the area conveniences reflect the demographic, a sharp contrast to other areas of Kuala Lumpur: A nursery in Sri Hartamas, aside from childcare, offers introductory classes in FrenchFrench language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. There is a disproportionate number of Japanese
Japanese cuisine
Japanese cuisine has developed over the centuries as a result of many political and social changes throughout Japan. The cuisine eventually changed with the advent of the Medieval age which ushered in a shedding of elitism with the age of shogun rule...
and Korean restaurants in Sri Hartamas, catering to the large number of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese now living in nearby Mont Kiara.
Amenities nearby include: 2 golf courses, a country club, a very "posh" health club and spa, several American chain stores and other conveniences, such as being within 20 minutes delivery of Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut is an American restaurant chain and international franchise that offers different styles of pizza along with side dishes including pasta, buffalo wings, breadsticks, and garlic bread....
or Dominos.
Basic Infrastructure
Infrastructure here is excellent, with developed country utility services and operating standards (i.e Wired telephoneTelephone
The telephone , colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sounds, usually the human voice. Telephones are a point-to-point communication system whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other...
, electricity & broadband
Broadband
The term broadband refers to a telecommunications signal or device of greater bandwidth, in some sense, than another standard or usual signal or device . Different criteria for "broad" have been applied in different contexts and at different times...
internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
) and services (i.e trash collection). Prior to 1995, due to the terrain of the area, mobile phone coverage here on certain operators in Sri Hartamas was spotty at best. Today, all mobile phone carriers have base stations throughout the neighborhood, with excellent coverage.
Schools
Sri Hartamas is home to many government and private schools.Kindergartens:
- Taska Seri Hartamas (government)
- Smart Reader Kids Desa Seri Hartamas (private)
- Garden International SchoolGarden International SchoolGarden International School is an international school based in Malaysia. It is one of the largest private, co-educational schools in Malaysia, offering education based on the British Curriculum....
(private)
Primary School:
- Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Hartamas (Seri Hartamas National School)
Secondary School:
- Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Seri Hartamas (Seri Hartamas National Secondary School)
Colleges:
- Taylor's University College Sri Hartamas Campus (private)
- SRI College (private)
Changing Area
Little of the greenery and isolation remains and hence Sri Hartamas is not as quiet as it used to be. The traffic influx as well as other new developments nearby has brought an increasing number of people to the area. Through some of its isolation is gone, the young Malaysian professionals that initially moved into the area stayed on.However, the expatriate community that once lived here in large numbers dwindled after the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997-1999, when people moved back to their home countries. The area continues to be popular with expatriate families, particularly those with children.
Though no reliable census exists, there is a healthy balance in the number of residents from the different Malaysian ethnic groups in Sri Hartamas, with no obvious majority group, unlike other parts of Malaysia.
In terms of night life Sri Hartamas is now a small, vibrant community. Of particular interest is the wide range of restaurants and bars that have developed around the shopping area in Desa Sri Hartamas. Whilst there are some western style ex pat bars there is also a good food court and a multitude of Korean, Japanese, Thai and Malaysian restaurants.