Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The area, snatched from the sultan of Brunei by Charles Brooke in 1890, is still claimed
by Brunei.
LIMBANG
The bustling river port of Limbang (pronounced
lim
-bahng) is something of a backwater,
but you may find yourself here before or after taking the Headhunters' Trail to/from
Gunung Mulu National Park.
Sights & Activities
Limbang's old town stretches inland from riverfront Jln Wong Tsap En (formerly Main
Bazaar) and southward from 12-storey Purnama Hotel, a useful landmark.
Limbang Regional Museum
(
www.museum.sarawak.gov.my
;
Jln Kubu; 9am-4.30pm Tue-Sun)
Features well-
presented exhibits on the Limbang Division's archaeology, culture and crafts. Situated on
the riverbank about 1km south of the Purnama Hotel, on the upper floor of a Charles
Brooke fort built in 1897 and rebuilt (after a fire) in 1991.
MUSEUM
Limbang Raid Memorial
(Jln Wong Tsap En)
Commemorates four members of the Sarawak Constabulary and five
members of the UK's 42 Commando Royal Marines killed before and during the famous
Limbang Raid on 12 December 1962, which retook the town from rebels of the pro-In-
donesian North Kalimantan National Army. As one local put it, 'if the rebels win, we will
be Indonesian, not Malaysian'. A trailer for a TV documentary about the raid,
Return to
Limbang
, can be found on
www.vimeo.com
. The memorial is 400m south of the Purnama
Hotel, on the riverfront across the street from the police station.
MEMORIAL
Public Library
(Perpustakaan Awam; 4th fl, Limbang Plaza Shopping Mall; 9am-5pm Mon-Sat,
closed public holidays)
The library has an excellent collection of English-language books
on Sarawak (on a shelf labelled 'Sarawakiana'). This is a great place to do air-conditioned
research before an upcountry trek, especially on a rainy day. Free internet for up to an
hour. Situated next to the Purnama Hotel.
LIBRARY
