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In search of Kota Kinabalu’s cultural heritage
Kota Kinabalu is a masterpiece that may just outshine nature’s splendor.

Located in northern Borneo, Kota Kinabalu is the state capital of Sabah and the seventh largest city in Malaysia. Mount Kinabalu, the country’s largest mountain, is often referred to as an “ecological repository,” while the city’s coastline is known as one of the world’s most beautiful sunset locations. Lesser known is the fact Kota Kinabalu is home to cultural facilities that are as majestic as the city’s natural surroundings.

Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu

Sabah Museum: An archive of old Malaysia

If you want to know what Kota Kinabalu looked like before becoming a resort destination, try visiting Sabah Museum. From the outside, the museum resembles a traditional Borneo longhouse, which, as its name suggests, is a long and narrow building. Longhouses are multi-unit dwellings that are divided into several independent spaces that are occupiedby different families. The museum’s exhibitions cover in great detail not only Sabah’s folk customs, religion, and arts but also the city’s natural history. The museum is an excellent place to better understand the history and culture of Malaysia as a whole, thanks to its broad coverage of the history and culture of Sabah’s many ethnic groups through various artifacts, including traditional clothing, folk objects, handicrafts, pottery, musical instruments, and more. A walk through the museum’s garden, which includes a pond, leads to Heritage Village, a folk village-like compound. Nestled inside eco-friendly surroundings, Heritage Village is made up of replicas of traditional houses, representing different regions and functions, that were created with natural materials, such as bamboo and clay. Some of the houses are kept open for visitors.

Masjid Bandaraya: A fascinating municipal mosque

Masjid Bandaraya, nicknamed “floating mosque,” is a majestic Islamic mosque that is partially lined with an artificial pond. It is also called the “blue mosque” for its impressive blue dome. The building’s design was inspired by what is known as “The Prophet’s Mosque” (Al-Masjid an-Nabawi), the first mosque built by Mohammed, the founder of Islam, that is also the largest of its kind in the world. Visitors are free to enter the mosque outside of regular worship times but must abide by its dress code: traditional Muslim attire can berented at the entrance for a modest fee. The mosque is the first in Malaysia to offer recreational activities on an artificial lake. Visitors can appreciate the beauty of Masjid Bandaraya through a 15-minute tour via paddle boat. The fact that Masjid Bandaraya is a space not only for prayers and worship but also for recreational activities is indicative of the liberal nature and openness of Malaysia’s Muslim culture.