Visitors
TRAVELER'S INFO
About Sarawak
A Malaysian state on Borneo, stretches along the island’s northwest coast, including many beaches on the South China Sea. It's known for the rugged, dense rainforest of its interior, much of it protected parkland. The capital, Kuching, is a bustling city set on the Sarawak River. Its 19th-century landmarks include the Astana, former palace of the White Rajahs, and Fort Margherita, built to thwart pirates.
About Kuching
Being the most populous city in the state of Sarawak, Kuching emerged as one of the most vibrant cities in the region and it is the largest city on the island of Borneo and the fourth largest city in Malaysia. Many travel brochures refer to Kuching as 'Cat City'. There's a small chance that Kuching actually does derive from the Malay word for cat (kucing) as this word was not used on Borneo to refer to cats at all (pusak). The cat museum and other associations with cats have been largely a recent phenomenon, part of a modern effort of tourism. Current findings tell a different story; the name derives from a small river named sungei kuching. Kuching is a gateway to numerous great attractions in Sarawak.
Local Time
Malaysia is eight hours ahead of UTC and there is no daylight saving.
Language
The official language of the country is Bahasa Malaysia. English is widely used and most road and shop signs, restaurant menus, etc. are in both languages.
Local Currency
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The monetary unit is Malaysian Ringgit.
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The currency is also referred as MYR (Malaysian Ringgit) although RM (Ringgit Malaysia) is widely used in stores and shops, even in hotels and other entertainment and F&B organisations.
Grand Margerita Hotel
Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman,
93100 Kuching, Sarawak,
Malaysia.
+60 82 532 111
+60 82 236 041
Imperial Riverbank Hotel
Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
+60 82 230 033
+60 82 236 041
The Waterfront Hotel
68, Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg,
93000 Kuching, Sarawak
+60 82 227 227
Riverside Majestic Hotel
93756, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak
+60 82 532 222
+60 82 425 858
Hilton Kuching
Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
+60 82 223 888
+60 82 428 984
Pullman Hotels & Resorts Kuching
1A Jalan Mathies, 93100 Kuching Sarawak
+60 82 222 888
+60 82 222 999
The Limetree Hotel
Lot 317, Abell Road, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak
+60 82 414 600
+60 82 414 600
Meritin Hotel
Lot 315, Jalan Padungan,
93100 Kuching, Sarawak
+60 82 550 800
+60 82 550 811
M Hotels
Hock Lee Centre,
Hotel Towers A & B,
Jalan Datuk Abang Abdul Rahim,
93450 Kuching, Sarawak
+60 82 484 888
+60 82 484 999
Accommodations
Explore Kuching
Kuching Waterfront
The Kuching Waterfront was where the first white rajah, James Brooke, landed in Sarawak. The Sarawak government spent a huge sum of money reconstructing the waterfront and reclaiming parts of the riverside that used to be a docking area for villagers crossing the river by small boats. It is now a beautifully landscaped esplanade along the Sarawak River with some eateries and entertainment areas. There are also some historical buildings, an observation tower and other sculptures in the area.
Tua Pek Kong Temple
Built in 1843, this red building is the oldest Chinese temple in Sarawak. It is a major landmark located in the heart of Kuching near the Sarawak River. Chinese worshippers flock to this temple to pray during festivals and other religious celebrations.
Fort Margherita
Fort Margherita was built in 1879, while the island was under British rule, in order to protect the city from attacks. It was named after Charles Brooke's wife, Ranee Margaret. It stands on the other side of the Sarawak River and can be seen from the Kuching Waterfront. The original structure—together with its cannons, cannon balls, guns, prisoners' cells and more—still remains. The old fort has been converted to a Police Museum that has a display of weapons, opium dens and different forms of criminal punishment.
Petra Jaya, 93050 Kuching, Sarawak
Satok Weekend Market (Sunday Market)
The Satok Sunday Market that used to be on Satok Road (Jalan Satok) has been relocated to Medan Niaga Satok. This weekly open-air market operates on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. The stalls provide a huge variety of local offerings, from snacks, regional delicacies, produce, meat, fish, eggs, plants, and pets to clothing, accessories, newspapers, toys, fashion items, local handicraft items and souvenirs.
Some of the sellers are natives from rural areas of Sarawak. They travel from their villages in the rainforest to the city every Saturday to sell their produce at the weekend market. Most of them camp overnight at the market on Saturday and continue selling the following day. The tribal sellers can be easily identified because they usually have a variety of interesting jungle produce spread out on the ground, whereas the urban sellers have tables to display their items.
Medan Niaga Satok
Q309, Petra Jaya, 93050 Kuching, Sarawak
Main Bazaar
A few minutes' walk from the Tua Pek Kong Temple and Kuching Waterfront is the Main Bazaar, which is one of the oldest streets in Kuching. The Main Bazaar area has a row of two-storey shophouses that runs parallel to the main road and the waterfront. These old shophouses were built before World War II. Here, visitors can find a variety of native handicraft items including necklaces, bags, wood sculptures, rattan mats, baskets, ceramics, pottery items and native hunting weapons.
Jalan Main Bazaar
93000 Kuching, Sarawak
Jalan Padungan
Padungan is the oldest shopping area in Kuching. Most of the hotels are located here, and there are shops and restaurants along the main road. Meow! There are collections of cat statues found at various locations in the area and on roundabouts of the Padungan Road leading to the waterfront.
Jalan Padungan
93100 Kuching, Sarawak
Carpenter Street
Carpenter Street is behind the Main Bazaar. In the nineteenth century, the houses on both sides of the street were covered mainly with palm leaves. The houses were occupied by carpenters who earned their living making furniture. Other illegal activities like gambling, opium usage were also present in the area during the olden days.
The Carpenter Street has a similar selection of small traders and coffee shops, as well as food stalls and two Chinese temples. Having a rich cultural heritage, with a historical building, this street is a venue for Mooncake Festival every year.
Carpenter Street
93000 Kuching, Sarawak
India Street
India Street is lined with shops selling all kinds of goods, particularly textiles. Mid-way down India Street (if you can find it!) there is a narrow passageway that leads to Gambier Road. If you follow this passageway you’ll pass a small Indian Mosque hidden away in the middle of the city. The Mosque’s structure has undergone many changes since it was originally built by Kuching’s Indian Muslim community in the mid 19th century.
India Street
93000 Kuching, Sarawak
Kuching Old Court House
After Charles Brooke was proclaimed as the Rajah of Sarawak in 1868, he was looking for a better venue for the administrative center of the government of Sarawak. The construction of the courthouse building started in 1868 and completed in 1874, which was then officiated by William Henry Rodway. In 1883, the clock tower was added to the building at the entrance area. In 1924, the memorial for Charles Brooke was constructed at the building entrance square. It was used as the administrative center for the government of Sarawak until 1973. In 2003, the building was converted into the Sarawak Tourism Complex.
7, Jalan Barrack,
93000 Kuching, Sarawak
Tours
Sarawak Cultural Village
“See Sarawak in Half a Day” is the claim made by Sarawak Cultural Village, a unique award-winning living museum offering an excellent introduction to local cultures and lifestyles. There are nine authentic replica buildings in the village which represent every major ethnic group in Sarawak; Bidayuh, Iban and Orang Ulu longhouses, a Penan jungle settlement, a Melanau tall-house, a Malay town house, a Chinese farmhouse and pagoda, each is staffed with members of their respective ethnic groups, in traditional costume, carrying out traditional activities. Every house has a “storyteller” who is an expert in describing and interpreting traditional cultures and lifestyles.
Pantai Damai, Santubong,
P.O.Box 2632,
93752 Kuching,
Sarawak.
Operating Hours:
Mon – Sun including public holidays:
9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Bako National Park
Home of Proboscis Monkey, it was gazetted as a protected area in 1957. Bako is Sarawak’s oldest national park, covering an area of 2,742 hectares. It is one of the smallest national parks in Sarawak, yet one of the most interesting, as it contains almost every type of vegetation found in Borneo. A well-maintained network of trails - from easy forest strolls to full-day jungle treks – allows visitors to get the most out of this unique environment.
Muara Tebas Peninsular
93000, Kuching, Sarawak
Operating Hours:
Mon – Sun including public holidays:
8.00 am - 5.00 pm
Semenggoh Nature Reserve
Experience to encounter one of the Borneo’s endangered species – Orangutans. It is home to a colony of semi-wild orangutans who are trained and used to human encounters. Visitors will gain the golden opportunity to interact with the orangutans as they will swing down from trees for free fruits!
KM 20,
Jalan Puncak Borneo,
93250 Kuching,
Sarawak.
Operating Hours:
Mon – Sun including public holidays:
8.00 am – 4.00 pm
ORANGUTAN FEEDING TIME
9.00 am – 10.00 am
3.00 pm – 4.00 pm
Kubah National Park
Kubah National Park is an easy and enjoyable day trip from Kuching. Situated on a small sandstone plateau, this small park (2,230 ha.) boasts crystal clear streams and a host of small waterfalls and bathing pools. Kubah is mostly covered by mixed dipterocarp forest, but it also has one of the widest selections of palms and orchids in Borneo. The varied wildlife includes bearded pig, mouse deer, black hornbill and many species of amphibians and reptiles. However, Kubah’s wildlife tends to stay deep in the forest so it is not really a park for “wildlife encounters” (Bako is unbeatable in that respect). The appeal of Kubah National Park lies in its rainforest scenery, its waterfalls, streams and bathing pools and the 93 species of palm found within its boundaries.
93050, Kuching,
Sarawak.
Operating Hours:
Mon – Sun including public holidays:
8.00 am – 5.00 pm
Fairy Cave & Wind Cave Tour
The Fairy Cave stands 3-storey high. After a quick climb, the cave opens up into a main chamber. Sunlight streams into the chamber, revealing to you the beautiful shapes of nature's creations, the stalactites and stalagmites. The Wind Cave is a tunnel-like cave filled with bats and swiflets. Look around the walls of the cave and see if you can spot the bird nests.
94000 Bau, Sarawak
Operating Hours:
Mon – Sun including public holidays:
8.00 am – 4.30 pm
Note!
Public transportation is widely available throughout Kuching City. Alternatively, you may use Grab service (similar to Uber). You may download the app. from Google Play or Apple Store.