PUDU SENTRAL

Pudu Sentral, previously known as Hentian Puduraya, has been a prominent landmark in Kuala Lumpur since it was completed in 1976. After undergoing a major facelift in 2011, it remains a key transportation hub in the city. Taxis depart from the designated platform area, while buses operate from platforms 1 to 12. Travelers waiting for their rides can enjoy a meal at the food court, shop at retail outlets, or relax in the comfortable waiting areas. The station is equipped with CCTV cameras and security personnel to ensure the safety of passengers. Pudu Sentral serves a variety of destinations, including Tanjung Malim, Sabak Bernam, Seremban, Bahau, Klang, Genting Highlands, and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). The station is easily accessible via Jalan Tun Perak, Jalan Pudu, and Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, with numerous city buses, taxis, and e-hailing services operating along these routes. Additionally, it is conveniently located near the Plaza Rakyat LRT and Merdeka MRT stations.

FOR the people of Kuala Lumpur in the 1980s, Puduraya, located in the heart of the city in the Pudu area, was more than just the largest and busiest bus terminal. To many, Puduraya was a monumental landmark that left a lasting impression, representing an era and a social group. On the surface, it might have seemed like just any other bus station—perhaps distinguished only by its size. However, Puduraya was a place that captured countless personal moments. It became the backdrop for numerous stories of joy and sorrow, witnessing the ebb and flow of people's lives. It served as the gateway for travelers arriving in the city, welcoming them from all directions, while they carried with them the deep-rooted values of rural life, ready to face the modern and sometimes ruthless pace of the city. For those who faltered, the city would quickly swallow them whole.

For many, Puduraya holds memories of both happiness and heartbreak, preserved in moments long past. While the peak era of Puduraya is now distant, the station remains alive in people’s memories, forever linked to a time that has faded but continues to echo in recollections. Its vibrant presence may have disappeared, but the feelings it evoked still linger, evoking nostalgia for a time that is no longer with us. Puduraya, built in 1973 and officially opened on October 2, 1976, also encapsulated the diverse stories of human experience associated with it. It was the final stop for those traveling to Kuala Lumpur from the north, south, and east coast. More than just a terminal, it became a place where lives intersected, where relationships were born or shattered.

Back when Pudu Sentral was known as Puduraya. Photo Credit: 446 FB

Puduraya encapsulated the entire population of Malaysia—passengers from all over the country, from the north, south, and east, would gather there. One could hear a mix of dialects, representing people from various parts of the peninsula. The station would only fall quiet after 2 a.m. and would come back to life by 4 a.m. when buses began arriving again. Puduraya was the heartbeat of Kuala Lumpur for many years, with people constantly coming and going. It became a symbol, a brand, firmly etched in the memories of countless individuals. In addition to being a major hub for long-distance buses, Puduraya was also a key station for local routes within the Klang Valley, such as Kajang, Sepang, Seremban, and Banting. The route to Seremban was especially popular every Saturday, as many people from Negeri Sembilan would travel home after half a day of work.Puduraya was one of the three main features that defined the once-small and quiet town of Pudu, which had a reputation for crime and gang activity during the 1970s. Along with Puduraya, Pudu also housed the notorious Pudu Jail and Pudu Market. Over time, Pudu underwent rapid development, losing the old-town charm that once characterized its traditional shophouses. Yet, two of Pudu’s icons—Puduraya and Pudu Jail—have become part of history.

Puduraya was renamed Pudu Sentral on August 27, 2011. It’s strange to think that, despite its beautiful name, the station was rebranded with a more colonial-sounding name, "Pudu Sentral." However, today Pudu Sentral no longer serves as the main bus terminal. The primary terminal for long-distance buses is now the Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) in Bandar Tasek Selatan, which is integrated with the KTM commuter lines and the ERL to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Despite this, the sentimental value of Puduraya still remains, especially for those who lived through the 1980s in Kuala Lumpur. The memories associated with Puduraya are deeply ingrained, and its loss feels like the disappearance of an old friend. For those who were young in the 1980s, the Puduraya bus station will always be an iconic place. It was where people made plans, experienced love, heartbreak, and countless other life moments. If only the walls and floors could speak, they would tell the story of many lives, each filled with color and emotion, passing through that legendary station.

Pudu Sentral Bus Platform

Terminal Comparison

Explore how Pudu Sentral compares to Terminal Bersepadu Gombak

Location

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