SARAWAK is one of the 13 states in the Federation of Malaysia. Located on the
northwestern edge of the exotic island of Borneo, it is also the largest state
covering a total area of 124,400 sq km. SARAWAK is a unique tropical paradise
with a variety of things to fascinate visitors. She has natural wonders of the
world, a rich and colourful history, and a fascinating blend of over thirty
different ethnic groups.
THE PEOPLE
 The people of Sarawak are divided into three major groups: the indigenous
races, the Malays and the Chinese. Of the indigenous groups, the Iban makes up a
vast majority, which is about 30% of the State s total population of 2 million.
Travel in Sarawak is easy and pleasant because tourists are welcomed in most
places and the local people are very friendly. Although the national language is
Malay, English is widely spoken.
A RICH HERITAGE
Sarawak - the Land of the Hornbills is a land of rich cultural heritage. It
has an excellent collection of native handicrafts and arts - from the famed pua
Kumbu , a native ikatwoven by the Iban women to bamboo handicrafts by another
indigenous race, the Bidayuh. Sarawak s variety of goods has something to offer
for every one.
Sarawak is also famous for its longhouses. A longhouse is a village under one
roof, and a trip to Sarawak is incomplete without a visit to one.
Home to the world s oldest rainforest, Sarawak has a number of interesting
national parks to fascinate nature lovers. The Mulu National Park is renowned
for its caves system, the Niah National Park for its burial grounds and cave
paintings dating back to 40,000 years, the Bako and Gunung Gading National Parks
for their vast col lection of exotic flora and fauna, and many more.
ATTRACTIONS OF SARAWAK: KUCHING
Kuching, the Capital City and administrative centre of Sarawak, is simply
unique. The word Kuching means cat in Malay and has many unique tourism
attractions to cater to the interests of the visitors. It has many fine museums,
including the living museum Sarawak Cultural Village , national parks, wildlife
centres, historical sites and monuments from the colonial days and more.
NATIONAL PARKS
Sarawak has nine national parks located throughout the State. The Mulu
National Park with its world-famous caving network is located in Miri*. The
oldest known modern human remains discovered in South East Asia is found in the
Niah Caves National Park, making this park one of the most important
archaeological sites in the world. Other national parks include Similajau
National Park, Bako National Park, Gunung Gading National Park, Batang Ai
National Park, Tanjung Datu National Park, Loagan Bunut National Park, and
Lambir Hills National Park.
These parks which can be found in Miri, Bintulu and Kuching offer visitors an
excellent collection of flora and fauna. They contain abundant wildlife, jungle
streams, waterfalls, exotic plant species, secluded beaches and jungle treks.
The world s largest flower, Rafflesia can be found in the Gunung Gading National
Park. A mature flower can grow up to 1 meter in diameter.
Sarawak s rich forest is home to thousands of wildlife species. Wildlife centres
are set up to allow the public to safely view these species in their natural
habitat. Two centres, which are easily accessible, are the Matang Wildlife
Centre - a sanctuary for wildlife and a centre for education, research,
conservation and recreation as well as the Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation
Centre. This centre is open to the public but a permit must be obtained from the
forestry department for any visits.
* Miri is the 4th division of Sarawak and is easily accessible by air and land.
Contact your travel agent or Sarawak Tourism Board (+6082-423600) for further
details.
THE LONGHOUSE EXPERIENCE
A visit to Sarawak will not be complete without a trip to a longhouse.
A longhouse is like a village under one roof with families occupying the
terraced street of dwellings or bileks but sharing a common verandah or ruai.
Enjoy the warm hospitality of the longhouse folks and bask in the enriching
cultural experience for a truly memorable stay. in Sarawak. Iban longhouses can
be found throughout Sarawak and although some enjoy access to modern facilities,
most still retain the traditional longhouse lifestyle.
MUSEUMS
For those keen on the historical aspects of Sarawak, there are several good
museums to visit. The Sarawak museum has exceptional ethnographic collections,
good natural historical displays and some excellent archaeological exhibits.
Other interesting museums include the Islamic Museum and the Chinese History
Museum where one is presented with a vivid picture of the State s historical
heritage and culture of the Muslim & Chinese community in Sarawak respectively.
One unique museum is the Cat Museum. It features a collection of everything
feline, which ranges from exciting exhibits to cats souvenirs. If one fancies a
display on weaponry and exhibit of the colonial militaria, the Police Museum,
which is located at Fort Margherita should not be missed.
The living museum or Sarawak Cultural Village is a must-see. It is set in 17
acres of natural tropical forest where one can visit any of the traditional
houses and enjoy the daily cultural shows performed by the award-winning
Villages dancers.
HISTORICAL SITES AND MONUMENTS
There are many historical buildings and sites in Sarawak but the more prominent
ones are mostly found in Kuching.
Fort Margerita was built in 1879 to guard Kuching s river approaches from
pirates. The Astana was built in 1870 by Charles Brooke as a bridal gift to his
wife Margaret. Today it is the official residence of the Head of State of
Sarawak. Built in 1879, the Square Tower was once a fortress. Today it houses a
multimedia information centre for the Kuching Waterfront
Other historical sites and monuments include the Court House (1871), Clock Tower
& Charles Brooke Memorial (1924), Pavilion Building (1907), the Round Tower
(1886), Post Office (1931) and the Sarawak Steamship Building (1930). All of
these are found in the capital city, Kuching, and most have been converted to
museums.
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