Sarawak

Introduction

Sarawak, known as the Land of Hornbills, is Malaysia’s largest state. Sarawak welcomes visitors with its lush green rainforests, meandering web of rivers, pepper and the diverse lifestyles of the natives. The population comprises of local ethnic groups, Malays and immigrant Chinese living together in harmony for more than a century.

Getting There

By AirMalaysia Airlines and budget carrier Air Asia operate direct and connecting flights to Kuching, Miri, Bintulu and Sibu.

Attractions

Kuching
Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, is a riverside town in the west of the state, located on the banks of the Sarawak River. There are many places of interest in and around Kuching that is easily accessible by land transport. The town has landscaped parks and gardens, some elegant colonial buildings, colorful markets and a bustling waterfront.

Kuching Waterfront
Located at Jalan Gambier, this is a colorful place for soaking up the sights and sounds of the local culture. Built for the people of Sarawak. It has many facilities such as restaurants, handicraft shops, entertainment hall, and the dancing water fountains. On the eastern end of the Main Bazaar, stands the Tua Pek Kong Temple which has a history dating back to 1876. Nearby is the Chinese History Museum.

Sarawak Museum
The Sarawak Museum, located in Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, is one of Asia's finest. It houses a collection of Bornean ethnological and archaeological items and an exhibition featuring a reconstruction of the great Niah Caves, with remains of the Neolithic people who lived in the Caves.

Cultural Village
Tucked away on the foothills of legendary Mount Santubong, 35 km away from Kuching is Sarawak Cultural Village. Popularly known as the Living Museum, The Sarawak Cultural Village is a showcase for Sarawak's rich cultural diversity. The Cultural Village is tastefully landscaped with a manmade lake at the centre surrounded by 7 authentic replicas of ethnic houses the Bidayuh centre house and longhouse, the Iban longhouse, the Penan hut, the Orang Ulu longhouse, the Melanau Rumah Tinggi, the Malay house and the Chinese farmhouse.

Fort Margherita
It is named after the Rajah Charles Brooke's wife. Constructed in 1878, it was recently renovated and converted into a palace museum. The fort commands a breathtaking and strategic position along the Sarawak River. Now a palace museum, it houses a rare collection of Royal Regalia and historical paraphernalia.

Sunday Open Market
The Sunday Market also known as "Pasar Minggu" is ideally located within the City near the well-known Satok Suspension Bridge. A vast variety of handicraft items are available here such as woodcarvings, beadwork, bamboo and rattan products, and woven cloth, hats, baskets, sleeping mats and pottery, all created in the distinctive designs peculiar to each ethnic group. Sago worms, also find their way to the Sunday Market. It is a specialty for some locals who believe in eating them raw for good health and vitality.

Santubong Fishing Village
This picturesque fishing village is 32 km from Kuching and can be reached by express boat or taxi from downtown Kuching. It has good beaches. It has also captured the interest of archaeologists who have discovered Hindu and Buddhist influences around the Santubong River estuary. During the Tang and Sung dynasties from the 9th till the 13th centuries, Santubong was an important trading centre.

Jong's Crocodile Farm, Kuching, Sarawak
Located about 20km along Kuching/Serian highway, this privately owned crocodile farm is arguably the largest of its kind in Sarawak. Spread over an area of three and a half acres of land, it houses over 1000 crocodiles. Other birds and animals bred in the farm include goats, turkeys, monitor lizards, hornbills, deers and even a python.

Skrang River Safari
Skrang is an exciting destination for the tourist who wishes to see and experience life in a long house. Visitors would be able to experience the traditions and customs of the Dayak Ibans by spending a night in a longhouse. The highlight of any visit to a Skrang longhouse is the entertainment by the longhouse residents featuring traditional dances and music. Their traditional ceremonies include an offering of tuak (rice wine) to their guests..The journey to Skrang is firstly by road, and then by a motor propelled long boat up the river.

Mulu National Park
The mix of natural habitats in all its diversity amidst such wild and rugged scenery makes Mulu one of Sarawak's most popular destinations. Mulu is very rich in flora and fauna with her virgin forests harboring not less than 20,000 animal species (mostly insects and over 3,500 plant species, not including 8,000 types of fungi). The caves of Gunung Mulu, as it is known locally, are the crowning glory of Sarawak's national parks and contain the largest limestone cave system in the world. The caves which are open for public inspection include the world's largest natural chamber (Sarawak Chamber), the world's largest cave passage (Deer Cave) and the longest cave in South-East Asia (Clearwater Cave).

Niah Caves
The Great Cave of Niah is one of the largest limestone caves in the world, and an archaeological treasure house. The caves are located close to the coast a couple of hours South of Miri. The Niah Great Cave sheltered human life 40,000 years ago. The oldest human remains in Southeast Asia could be found here along with many other relics of prehistoric man. The famous Painted Cave is another highlight of the visit to Niah. Niah also supports birds nest collectors who climb up spindly scaffolding and poles to reach the roof of the cave some 50 metres above the floor to collect the edible white birds nests formed by swiftlets which live in the cave, and which are used in the famous Chinese dish - "birds nest soup". The caves are also inhabited by bats which deposit guano on the floor of the cave. Guano collection has become another thriving industry based in the vicinity of the caves.

Damai Beach
Damai, Sarawak's main beach resort area, is located on the Santubong Peninsula, about 35 minutes' drive from Kuching. The area has sandy beaches at the foot of an imposing jungle-covered mountain. Damai hosts three international-class resort hotels - the Holiday Inn Resort Damai Beach, Damai Lagoon Resort and Santubong Kuching Resort. Each resort boasts with its own secluded beach, landscaped, swimming pool and offers sports activities such jet skiing, water-skiing, windsurfing, mountain biking, tennis, squash and fitness centers. For visitors wanting more adventurous activities, climb through the rainforest to the summit of Mount Santubong. It is a five to six-hour trek and surrounding hotels will usually provide a guide and a packed lunch.

Satang Island
Situated offshore from Santubong and Damai, in Sarawak. The Island consists of two small islands, Pulau Satang Besar and Pulau Satang Kecil.. Traditionally, the island is a haven for turtles on their migratory journey around the world. Between May and October, the island is the perfect time for green turtles to come ashore and lay their eggs at the island. Pulau Satang Besar and its surrounding waters are protected as a sanctuary for these endangered turtles. The turtle sanctuary, is supervised by the Sarawak Turtles Board of Management in close cooperation with the Sarawak Museum and the Sarawak Forestry Department. To ensure that the turtles survive, park rangers collect the eggs, count them and replace them in a beach hatchery. When the hatchlings emerge from their eggs after 40 to 60 days, rangers record their numbers and release them into the sea.

Contact
Tourist Office
Name Sarawak Tourism Board
Location Kuching, Malaysia
Address 6th & 7th Floor, Bangunan Yayasan Sarawak, Jalan Masjid, 93400 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Fax +60 82 416700