Sarawak Culture and Heritage, Malaysia

Colonial District

There are many old buildings in the Colonial District of Kuching which survived World War II. The Courthouse was built in 1874, and features ironwood roofs. In 1883, a clock tower was added; and in 1924, the Charles Brooke Memorial was erected. In 1907, another structure called the Pavilion was built.

The Sarawak Steamship Building, built in 1930, now houses a tourist information centre and souvenir stalls. The Round Tower, on Jalan Tun Haji Openg, was built in 1931, and is impressive with its columns and arches. The Bishop's house was built in 1849 for the first Anglican Bishop of Borneo.

Kuching Waterfront

Located at Jalan Gambier, this is a colorful place for soaking up the sights and sounds of the local culture.

Main Bazaar, the oldest street in the city, faces the Waterfront. It consists of open-air food stalls, cafes, a promenade, and handicraft shops.

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.

Cat Statue

Unveiled in 1988 to celebrate Kuching's city status, this statue stands at the junctions of Jalan Pandungan and Jalan Central Timur and Petanak Central Market. Kuching means cat in the Malay language.

Petrajaya

Unveiled in 1988 to celebrate Kuching's city status, this statue stands at the junctions of Jalan Pandungan and Jalan Central Timur and Petanak Central Market. Kuching means cat in the Malay language.

The Astana

This impressive, squat palace of three substantial bungalows linked by verandahs was built in 1870 by Rajah Charles Brooke as a gift of love to his wife Ranee Margaret.

It is set among rolling lawns on the northern bank of the Sarawak River.

It is plainly visible from the waterfront on the opposite side of the river. Occupying a commanding position, it is now the official residence of the governor of Sarawak and the venue for important state functions.

Fort Margherita

Close by the Astana is Fort Margherita, completed in 1879. The fort was dedicated to Ranee Margherita Brooke, wife of Charles Brooke. It commands a strategic position along the Sarawak River and served as a defence for the town, especially from attacks by pirates which came from downriver.

The fort has since been renovated and is now a police museum.

The Court House

The Court House is another legacy of the Brooke Empire and serves as a Secretariat. The imposing fac,ade has intricate patterns of native designs of the various tribes on the doors and window, grills and ceiling.

Completed in 1874, it was the seat of government during the reign of the white Rajahs. A clock was added in 1883, and the obelisk memorial to Rajah Charles Brooke commissioned in 1924. Today it houses the High Court of East Malaysia.

General Post Malaysia

The Kuching General Post Office was built during the reign of Rajah Charles Vyner. Its Greek-style portico is supported by Corinthian columns. The building's fac,ade is the only one of its kind in this part of the world. The post office marks the beginning of Sarawak's first trunk road.

Square Tower

This tower lives up to its title, resembling old towers in England. It was originally built as a detention center and has a real dungeon for prisoners. The tower was added later. During the Brooke era, however, it also doubled as a fortress and a dance hall.

The Pavilion

Situated apposite the General Post Office, the Pavilion was the first building in Kuching.

Sarawak Museum

With an external structure inspired by a house in Normandy, the Sarawak Museum is Borneo's main repository of ethnological and archeological artifacts featuring a permanent exhibition of native arts and crafts.

Many of the exhibits are from the collection of Alfred Russell Wallace, a naturalist who, with Charles Darwin, was a co-founder of the theory of evolution. Wallace spent a lot of time in Borneo and was a particular friend of the Brookes'.

An annex to the Museum has ancient Chinese porcelain recovered from shipwrecked junks off Sarawak's coast, and galleries devoted to the way of life of the various tribes.

There is also a reconstruction of the Niah Caves where evidence of human remains dating back 40,000 has been discovered.

Admission to the museum is free and is open on weekdays, except Fridays, from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm. On Sundays and public holidays it is open from 9.30 am to 6 pm.

Sarawak State Mosque

The multi-million dollar mosque beside the Sarawak River was completed in 1968. It stands on the site of the original Masjid Besar, a wooden construction completed in 1952. With the increase in the Muslim population, the need for a bigger mosque was pressing. The state mosque is a magnificent structure topped by golden domes.

Tua Pek Kong Temple

Kuching has many ornate temples and this, the oldest of its kind in Kuching, is particularly famous for its Wang Kang celebration to commemorate the spirit of the dead. The temple was built in 1843 but official records only recognized its existence in 1876 when repairs and renovations were done to it.

Kuek Seng Ong Temple

This temple was built in 1895 in honour of the deity, Kuek Seng Ong. Henghua fishermen offer their prayers here for a good catch and safe return from the sea. Legend has it that Kuek, a native of Hokkien Province, became a god over 1,000 years ago and prayers to him never go unanswered.

Sarawak Cultural Village

Called the 'Living Museum', the Cultural Village was set up to preserve Sarawak's cultural heritage. Located at Pantai Damai, Santubong, it is the perfect place to get introduced to local cultures and lifestyles.

Sprawled over 17 acres, there are about 150 people living in the village, demonstrating traditional daily activities like the processing of sago, and the making of handicrafts. They wear traditional costumes and also put on dances for visitors.

Visitors can see replicas of buildings that represent every major ethnic group in Sarawak: longhouses of the Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu, a Melanau tall-house, a Chinese farm house and other attractions. The village residents provide information on their traditional cultures and lifestyles.

The village also has a theatre where visitors can enjoy a multicultural dance performance. A restaurant and handicraft shops are also available.

You can even get married at the Sarawak Cultural Village, in traditional Iban, Malay, Bidayuh or Orang Ulu style, as the village also hosts themed dinners and parties.

The Sarawak Cultural Village is about 40 minutes' drive from Kuching.

Longhouse Tours

A holiday in Sarawak is not complete without a visit to the longhouses that are the traditional dwellings of many of the races here such as the Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu.

A longhouse is a terraced street of separate dwellings covered by one roof. A tuai rumah (headman) is the head of the longhouse.

Every family has their own separate bilik (room). Communal activities are carried out on the ruai (verandah).

Male visitors will spend a night here whereas female visitors are invited to stay in the bilik.

Longhouse communities normally wear practical clothes like jeans and T-shirts. They only wear their traditional costumes during festivals like Gawai Dayak or the Iban harvest festival and also during weddings.

Tour groups are normally greeted with a glass of tuak or rice wine and a welcome dance. After that, they will tour the longhouses and will be entertained by various cultural performances, including the ngajat. Guests are usually invited to join the dance.

Visitors can spend a night at the longhouses or in the nearby guesthouse.