Kuching, the getaway to both the sea and jungle, is also the most sophisticated city in Borneo. The capital of Sarawak perfectly combines cultures, crafts and cuisines, making it one of the top travel destinations in Malaysia.
1. Kuching Waterfront
Kuching Waterfront is the place to be when you’re in Kuching. The walkway, which lines the south bank of Sarawak River and stretches for almost one kilometre, is the most popular meeting place and top hang out spot in the city. The place comes even more alive at night with the lights and cultural shows that would be on every now and then.
2. Sarawak Cultural Village
“See Sarawak in Half A Day” and absorb the local culture at Sarawak Cultural Village, a unique award-winning museum that offers an excellent introduction to local cultures and lifestyles. The open air museum, tucked away at the foothills of Mount Santubong at Damai Beach, offers visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the Sarawakian traditions and is one of the top travel destinations in Kuching.
3. Cat Museum
The city of cats, Kuching is home to the world’s very first cat museum. As the name suggests, the museum, which is located in Petra Jaya in the Kuching City North City Hall, is devoted to all things feline. Cat lovers will definitely enjoy the photo exhibits, feline art and cat souvenirs, as well as the rare Egyptian mummified cat! Since its opening in 1988, the museum has received regular number of visitors from all over the world.
4. Bako National Park
Situated in the northeast of Kuching, Bako National Park is the oldest one of the smallest national parks in Sarawak and is one of Malaysia’s top travel destinations. It takes about an hour and a boat ride to get to the park’s entrance. The highlights of the park includes its resident population of endemic proboscis monkeys, pangolins and slow loris, as well as hundreds of species of birds, lizards, other mammals.
5. Sarawak State Museum
Sarawak State Museum was commissioned by then-White Rajah of Sarawak, Charles Brooke, who had a passion for natural history. The museum, the oldest in Borneo, was founded in 1888 and opened three years later in 1891. The Sarawak State Museum Complex consists of Natural Science Museum, Ethnology Museum, Art Museum, Heroes Monument, pavilion and more.
6. Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
Located about 21 kilometres away from Kuching, Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre specializes in taking care of baby and orphaned orangutans and is one of the top travel destinations in Malaysia. The centre opened its doors in 1975 and since then has been accepting animals either orphaned, injured, or rescued from captivity and reintroducing them back into the wild. At the centre, no animals are kept in cages unless quarantined, so they are free to roam about the thick forest canopy.
7. Tua Pek Kong Temple
Holding the fort as Kuching’s oldest temple, Tua Pek Kong dates all the way back to 1843. The colourful temple, which sits on the foothill overlooking the river and Main Bazaar, was one of the few buildings that survived the Great Fire of Kuching back in 1884. Various traditional festivals are held here every year, including the famous Wang Kong Festival where the dead are commemorated.
