Sarawak Back

Fort Margherita

Constructed in 1878, it was recently renovated and converted into a palace museum. It is a building of love, named after the wife of the second White Rajah. The fort commands a breathtaking and strategic position along the Sarawak River. Its location was deliberately chosen to overlook the long straight stretch of river approaching Kuching. Now a palace museum, it houses a rare collection of Royal Regalia and historical paraphernalia.

Luconia

The South Luconia Shoals is one of the finest locations to dive. It is as good as the most pristine areas of the Great Barrier Reef. It is suitable for both the novice diver and the veteran with large areas of shallow flat reef, as well as drop-offs that have healthy corals to well below 120 feet. It also lies in the center of biodiversity for coral reefs, and as such contains hundreds of different tropical fishes and corals.

The Kuching Mosque

The Kuching Mosque is one of the city's most important landmarks, with its idyllic riverside location and its multiple gilded cupolas. Although a relatively modern building (1968), its design is faithful to traditional Islamic architecture. It is set in an ancient Muslim cemetery on the site of an old wooden mosque. The mosque and its grounds are open to visitors, but they are asked to dress respectfully and to not enter the mosque during prayer times. The Kuching Mosque previously functioned as the State Mosque but this role has now been taken over by the splendid new State Mosque across the river at Petra Jaya, which has an unusual modern single cupola design. Another interesting mosque can be found in Gambier Street. It is completely hidden away by rows of shophouses. This mosque originally served the Indian Muslim community in Kuching and is the oldest in the city.