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Things to Do in Kuching

Though just a small city in Sarawak, Kuching is the pride of Malaysia. Perched on the island of Borneo, this bustling city boasts of a magnificent intermingling of histories and cultures. Bursting with diversity, and full of pomp and splendour, Kuching nevertheless manages to retain a graceful and calm vibe. Modern high-rise towers stand proudly next to ancient colonial structures thus bringing together the past and the present harmoniously. A musical mixture of languages confronts the ear in the streets where blithe tongues speak Cantonese, Teochew, Hainanese, Hindi, Punjabi, Tamilian, English all together, thus revealing a global world encased in Kuching. The city in itself is full of wonderful sights and sounds that enchant tourists. One of the best things to do in Kuching is to visit it's interesting museums that are open to tourists all year round. Here one can experience not just the history of the city but also its culture and its sense of humour. The quirky Kuching Cat Museum, a museum dedicated to cats, who share a link to the city’s name, is a fun place to immerse yourself in cultural humour while the Sarawak State Museum and the Chinese History Museum reveal the brilliant past of Kuching. The Sarawak Cultural Village is also a great attraction for those who want to understand the cultural twists and turns that have led to the diversity of Kuching’s present-day society. Apart from the other museums that also populate the city, tourists can also revel in the topsy-turvy world of the Upside Down House, and enjoy the serenity of the Tua Pek Kong Temple.

Natural wonders enrich the city’s landscape and the many natural parks in Kuching are a great way to escape from the modern rush of the roads. Santubong National Park, Semenggoh Nature Reserve, Matang Wildlife Centre, Kubah National Park, Kuching Wetlands National Park, and Bako National Park are wonderful locations full of nature’s glory. Brilliant coastlines, rugged terrains, and awe-inspiring treks make up these natural parks while the hike up Mount Santubong reveals some of the most breathtaking sights in Malaysia. With the best things to do in Kuching a vacation here is a rewarding experience that will fill you with wonderful memories for life.

Sarawak Cultural Village

Stretched over an area of 17 acres of land at the foot hills of Mount Santubong around 40 mins outside Kuching, this is a living museum and a fascinating cultural display, the charismatic Sarawak cultural village. The place is a display of the multiple cultural styles of the region along with a showcase of their houses and living style and conditions. One can experience the essence of each culture and explore the style of the interiors at own leisure. There s a varied collection of handicrafts available here ranging from Kain Songket (cloth of Malay with gold inlay), Iban parang (swords), Bidayuh tambok (basket), Melanau Terendak (sunhat), Pua Kumbu (housewives textiles), Orang Ulu wood carving and others.

Highlights: The cultural dance programs by various races showcasing their talents and giving a glimpse of their rich heritage.

Timings: 9:00 am to 5:15pm and open on all days

Location: Pantai Damai Price: 60RM for adults and 30RM for children

Sarawak Museum

Sarawak Museum is one of the major attractions in Kuching. Built in 1891 by Charles Brooke, the museum has a wide range of collections comprising of stuffed animals of various areas, handicraft works, model of old boats, archeological materials, Chinese furniture, animals traps, fish traps, musical instruments etc. There are several buildings in the premises and each one has some new attractions to share. Pearl, Brassware, Pottery, the collection is huge and worth exploring. In a nutshell it is a showcase of various tribes of Sarawak and their cultural traditions which forms the major part of their lifestyle. The same is quite interesting and a must visit for all travelers.

Location: Jalan, Tun Haji, Kuching

Timings: 9:00am to 5:30pm

Price: Entry free for all.

Jong's Crocodile Farm & Zoo

Nestled at a mere distance of 20 minutes leisure drive from Kuching, the Jong's Crocodile Farm & Zoo is the first captive breeding crocodile farm and by far the largest in Malaysia. With tropical background and lush greenery it is a charming destination to explore the dangerous animal. Almost 2000 crocodiles and bred here in the zoo. Apart from crocodiles which indeed is the main attraction, there are other species of birds and animals present here. The greatest entertainment in this farm is enjoying a leisure walk with close friends and family and enjoys the up close views of multiple kinds of wild animals. Another popular entertaining activity here is the crocodile feeding show which occurs from 11am to 3pm.

Location: Kuching Serian Road

Price: Adult RM12 and Child RM6 for locals and adults RM22 and Child RM 11for foreigners.

Timings: 9:00am to 5:00pm

Kuching Waterfront

One of the most peaceful yet refreshing zones in Kuching is the fascinating Waterfront. This waterfront previously was just a riverbank with old warehouses and dilapidated buildings but later with the decision of city council it was beautified with a paved pathway of 1km to facilitate leisure walking and making it so popular for both locals and tourists. With innumerable light bulbs, cool refreshing air and some refreshments café this is transformed into one of the preferred romantic destination in Kuching. The nighttime is especially attractive in this place. Apart from scenic beauty the gigantic heritage buildings like The Sarawak Steamship Company and the Square tower also add up to the charm of the location

Highlights: Boat or cruise ride to capture some photos of the beautiful place

Location: Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kuching

The Cat Museum

One of the fun oriented exciting places to visit is the Cat Museum which is the first one of its kind in the whole world. Kuching in Malay means Cat and that is one can find quite a few cat statues at prominent places within the city. But what attracts more is the elaborate museum in Petra Jaya in North city hall of Kuching. For the cat lovers this is a complete whole new world with more than 4000 pictures and souvenirs, feline art of various types cats found. Covering an area of 1035 sq meter it is a one of the entertaining destinations especially for the kids.

Location: North City Hall on the top of hill called “Bukit Siol”, Kuching

Timings: 9 am to 5 pm daily (close Public Holiday)

Price: Entry is free for all visitors however there is a charge of RM3 for Camera and RM5 for video camera

Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre

Established in 1975, the 740 acre Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre is the largest Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre located in Sarawak which takes care of the injured and sick or may be orphaned orangutans along with the very famous Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Sabah. Being such a big rehabilitation centre it is a prominent tourist destination for all the people visiting the country. The location of the Rehabilitation Centre is only at a distance of 30 minutes drive from Kuching and here one can gather enough knowledge about the same. There is a special visitor’s platform from where one can witness the feeding of the orangutans. The rehabilitate animals are nurtured and taken care in this centre and when ready they are released in the forest.

Timings: 8am and 12.30pm & 2pm and 4pm

Price: RM3 per entry, RM40 for guide Kuching Wetlands National Park

Kuching Wetlands National Park

Covering an area of 6610 hectares, the Kuching Wetlands National Park is approximately 15 km away from Kuching. Mostly filled with saline mangrove system, the greatest benefit of the park is its rich marine network with creeks and waterways connecting the major Sibu Laut and Salak rivers bordering the park. The best way to explore the park is by arranging a river cruise through the park where one can enjoy the dense vegetation and luscious greenery. The cruise usually takes half a day tour through the Salak River and entering the smaller creeks thus passing through Malay fishing village, coming up close with wild animals like money , crocodiles etc. All through it’s a fabulous and entertaining experience

Highlights: spotting Irrawaddy dolphins

Timings: Best during low tide, as crocodiles come to bask in sunlight.

Kubah National Park

Kubah National Park was established in 1989 due to its rich diversity in plat life but the decision to open it for public came in 1995. One of the most exciting tourist location, this park stretches for 2230 hectares with fascinating waterfalls, bathing pools, sections of palms and orchids. The diversity in wildlife is equally remarkable in the park. One can enjoy the sight of bearded pig, mouse deer, black hornbill and many species of reptiles and amphibians. The park has six jungle trails and each trail provides something unique to explore. There are resting arrangements in each pathway to enjoy the jungle trail comfortably enjoying its beauty. There is availability of accommodation within the park and the same can be booked online.

Highlight: Water fall trail

Location: Jalan- Landu Sampadi, 20km west of Kuching.

Timings: 8:00am to 5:00pm

Price: RM10 per adult

The Great Orangutan Project

The Great Orangutan Project is a initiative where people can work as volunteers and spend 2 to 4 weeks time aiding in the conservation project of Orangutan in the beautiful Kubah National Park. It is a pleasant experience where one can extend a helpful hand under the guidance of an expert volunteer. It is also a experience to cherish taking care of the beautiful animals and learning about ways on how they are fed, bathed and taken care of. The volunteers in the project are extremely friendly and it is for them that the project becomes more comfortable, knowledgeable and much interesting. For the travelers it is an excellent chance to be up close to nature and photograph some of the best actions of the native birds and animals.

Highlights: feeding the orangutans

Location: Jalan- Landu Sampadi, 20km west of Kuching

Mount Santubong

Mount Santubong offers a breathtaking view to the visitors with its natural attractions. The green rainforest touches the aquamarine water of the sea, to offer the most magnificent sites. The mangrove forests are excellent place to experience a range of wildlife from close. The Santubong area also provides an opportunity to experience the exotic sea life, where you can spot the rare Irrawaddy dolphin, humpback dolphins and porpoises. It is a must place to visit if you love being close to nature.

Sarawak Orchid Garden

A major tourist attraction, Sarawak Orchid Garden is home to around eighty two species of orchids including the Sarawak state’s flower Normah Orchid. The garden was open for visit since 2009, and is a place of visual delight to the visitors. Apart from the native species, it also contains a wide assortment of epiphytic orchids from worldwide. There are two parts of the garden, a nursery and a display area where the vibrant flowers blooming throughout the year are put on display for the visitors.

Highlights: A fun way to reach the park is on a 5 minutes jetty ride across the Sarawak River. Reach early in the morning as soon as the park opens and enjoy a delicious lunch at a nearby restaurant.

Location: The garden is located next to Astana, opposite the Sarawak River in Kuching.

Timing: 09:30 am - 06:00 pm, from Tuesday to Sunday

Price: N/A

Fairy Caves

The Fairy Cave in Kuching is a massive cavern located about thirty meters above the ground, adorned with abundant plant life mainly ferns and moss covered rock formations, which gives it a mystical aura. To reach the cave you need to climb a five story concrete staircase. Outside the cave you can see huge trees jutting out of the rocks in different angles. Inside the huge and wide chamber you will find crisscross stairways and beautiful rock formations.

Highlights: One of the stalactites here resembles Guan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, which have drawn many local Chinese people to come here to offer prayers. For rock climbers, the cliffs near Fairy Caves, offer you an excellent rock climbing opportunity with difficulty range of 5-8 as per the French Grading.

Location: The cave is located 50 Km from Kuching and 8 km from Bau.

Timing: 8.30 am – 4:00 pm

Price: N/A

Wind Caves

Wind Cave is a major tourist attraction in Kuching. The cave is just a few minutes’ drive from the Fairy Cave. The cave consists of three tubes like passages which are completely enveloped in dark, and therefore, bringing a torch is a must. There are millions of bats living inside the cave. A number of notice boards can inform you about the different species of bats. There are many underground streams running inside the cave and for this reason, the caves are usually closed during the rainy months.

Highlights: At the end of the cave passage, a passageway leads down to a small sandy beach next to the bank of Sungai Sarawak Kanan, where you can swim and enjoy snacks and drinks, after visiting to the cave.

Location: Located about 5 Km from Bau.

Timing: 8.30 am - 4.30 pm

Price: RM 5 for Adults and RM 2 for children.

Fort Margherita

Standing atop a hill and overlooking the Sarawak River, the imposing three story structure of Fort Margherita, with medieval European architecture and white washed walls, is a magnificent reminder of times gone by. The fort was built in 1879 by Sir Charles Brooke and was christened after his wife Margaret Alice Lili de Windt. For long, the fort protected the city from the attacks by pirates. Brooke was the second Rajah of Sarawak, and during his time, the castle functioned as a defensive building, a prison, a weapon store and a place for central control. For some time, the castle also functioned as a Police Museum.

Highlights: The journey to the fort becomes more interesting if you take a Tambang to cross the river Sarawak.

Location: The Fort is located across the Sarawak River near The Astana in Kuching.

Timing: 9:00 am – 4:45 pm.

Price: Free Admission.

Kuching Main Bazaar

Located at the heart of Kuching, the Kuching Main Bazaar is the best place in Kuching to shop for antiques, handicrafts and souvenirs of your trip to this city, which is a perfect blend of nature, culture, craft, tradition and cuisine. The market is full of shops selling ethnic handicrafts and antiques. The area is an excellent example of the shop house culture of China where the two storey shop houses sit in a long row. It is best to shop around a bit and explore the shops before buying.

Highlights: Parallel to Main Bazaar is Jalan Carpenter, a similar row of shop houses. Both the areas are excellent for handicraft shopping, enjoying drinks and meals at old fashioned cafes and enjoy the view of Sarawak River.

Location: The Main Baazar is located opposite to the Kuching Waterfront near the Sarawak Tourism Complex.

Timing: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm.

Price: N/A