Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Fort Margherita
(Kampung Boyan; 9am-4.30pm)
Built by Charles Brooke in 1879 and named after his
wife, Ranee Margaret, this hilltop fortress long protected Kuching against surprise attacks
by pirates. It did so exclusively as a remarkably successful deterrent: troops stationed here
never fired a shot in anger.
Inspired by an English Renaissance castle, whitewashed Fort Margherita manages to
feel both medieval-European and tropical. A steep spiral staircase leads up three flights of
stairs to the crenellated roof, a great place to take in panoramic views of the river and get
a feel for the lie of the city.
To get there from Kampung Boyan, follow the signs up the hill for 500m.
HISTORIC SITE
Astana
(Petra Jaya; closed to public)
Built by Charles Brooke in 1869, the Astana (Bahasa
Sarawak for 'palace') - conveniently labelled in giant white letters - and its manicured
gardens still serve as the home of the governor of Sarawak. The best views are actually
from the south (city centre) bank of the river, so it's not really worth taking a
tambang
across.
To walk from the Astana to Fort Margherita, you have to circle a long way north,
around the Sarawak State Assembly.
HISTORIC BUILDING
Sarawak State Assembly
(Dewan Undangan Negeri, north bank of Sungai Sarawak, Petra Jaya; closed to pub-
lic)
Inaugurated in 2009, the iconic home of Sarawak's State Assembly is an imposing
structure whose soaring golden roof is said to resemble either a
payung
(umbrella) or a
terendak
(Melanau sunhat). The best views are from Jln Bishopsgate and the Waterfront
Promenade.
NOTABLE BUILDING
ELSEWHERE IN KUCHING
St Thomas's Cathedral
CHURCH
