Interesting Places in SABAH

Kota Kinabalu (Capital City)

Kota Kinabalu, formerly known as Jesselton, is the city capital of Sabah as well as the capital of the West Coast Division of Sabah. Strategically situated in the Northwest Coast of Borneo Island, facing the South China Sea and Tunku Abdul Rahman Park on one side, and set against the backdrop of Mount Kinabalu; this beautiful ‘Nature Resort City’ stretches for miles along the coast and towards the inland.

Affectionately known as KK or Api Api by the locals, Kota Kinabalu is a popular tourism getaway and a major gateway into Sabah and Borneo Island. Apart from featuring a number of tourism attractions in and around the city, Kota Kinabalu is also one of the most thriving industrial and commercial centers in East Malaysia.

Kundasang

Kundasang, home of the luminous Mount Kinabalu lies in Ranau. Ranau was also the terminus of the notorious Sandakan Death March during the World War II. The Kundasang War Memorial serves to commemorate the sacrifices and bravery of the fallen heroes.

A must-visit in Kundasang is the Kundasang War Memorial. Established in 1962, this was one of the first memorials to commemorate the brave Australian and British Prisoners of War who died in Sandakan and during the infamous death marches to Ranau during World War II. The memorial also remembers the people of North Borneo who risked their lives to help the POWs. The Memorial is made up of four beautiful gardens - the Australian Garden, the English Garden, the Borneo Garden and the Contemplation Garden and Pool - to represent the different nationalities. With its towering pine trees and blooming roses, a walk in the gardens is reminiscent to that of a stroll in a quaint English garden. The scent of roses lingers in the air and the serene atmosphere makes the Kundasang War Memorial an ideal place to contemplate and remember the heroes of the war. Visitors can also opt to view a brief video on the history of the Sandakan Death March.






Tambunan

The town of Tambunan is located in the Interior Division of Sabah. It is situated within the parliamentary constituency of Keningau with nearly its entire population comprising of the indigenous Dusun people. Situated approximately 81 kilometers from Kota Kinabalu, this idyllic town is surrounded by terraced padi fields as well as 70 picturesque villages.

The dense bamboo forests engulfing the Tambunan area are a legacy of the British colonial period. Tambunan is the home of the revolutionary Bajau hero, Mat Salleh, who rebelled against the British North Borneo Company. Apart from that, Tambunan is also noted for its quality lihing and tapai (rice wine).



Keningau

This sprawling timber and agricultural town district is located in the Interior Division of Sabah—it is the largest and oldest district in Sabah’s interior part. The Keningau district is situated in a valley surrounded by the Crocker Range to the west and the Trus Madi Range to the east and south sides. The district consists of 43 mukims and approximately 245 villages.

Keningau got its name from that of a Javanese cinnamon tree which grows abundantly in this area. It was once one of the most important administration centers of the British in the early 1900s. During its occupation in World War II, the Japanese also utilized Keningau as one of its government centers.