Damansara is one of the 36 districts in the Petaling region in Selangor. According to City Population, Petaling has one of the highest populations in Malaysia, with 2,298,130 (as of 2020). It’s a well-known commercial hub after Kuala Lumpur and houses elite residentials.
However, do you know the story behind this prestigious and high-end district? Here are some of the important points you need to know!
How did Damansara get its name?
Surprisingly, the district originated from a place formerly known as Damar Sara. The name remained until the late 19th century when it changed to Damansara.
Picture: Skyscrapercity
There was a theory that Sabah, a beautiful state in Borneo, is named after a banana, pisang sabba. As for this district, it’s almost similar. But, this time, it’s because of a spelling mistake in the 1980s!
Sir William Maxwell (the British Resident of Selangor) implemented the Torrens system of land registration according to the Selangor Registration of Titles Regulations of 1891. He mistook it for Damar Sara!
After sorting out the confusion, Damar Sara is now Damansara!
What happened before 1974?
Before 1974, the district was a part of Klang. It covered areas like Shah Alam, Subang Jaya, Bandar Sunway, Kelana Jaya, Kota Kemuning and some places in Putra Heights.
Then, these areas moved to the northern part of Petaling Jaya’s municipal area. It’s divided by Kelana Jaya in the south, Segambut in the east, and Kepong/Sungai Buloh in the north.
There are more than 25 neighbourhoods, roads and landmark buildings in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor using the name Damansara.
Damansara may have come from Indian words
Theoretically, in Hindustani, Daman means foothills. Sara could be a mansion of wealth or water in Sanskrit. Even though there’s no solid proof of this claim, it’s interesting to know!
Damansara Heights in the early 1970s
Picture: The Five
Wisma Damansara is the first building built in the 1970s by Selangor Properties. Then it was followed by the Damansara Office Complex on Jalan Dungun. After that, there were two-storey link houses built in 1972 named the Medan Damansara neighbourhood.
We’ve learned a bit about the history behind this district. Today I Learned!
Sources: Maxland, City Population
