Kota Kinabalu Travel Guide
Gateway to Adventure
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Capital of the State of Sabah and gateway to other major towns and districts, Kota Kinabalu lies in a fertile lowland plain overlooked by towering Mount Kinabalu. Often simply referred to as K.K., there are many attractions in and around the city, its long sandy beaches, crystal blue waters, coral reefs, tropical rainforests and mountain ranges proving irresistible to adventure lovers and those seeking relaxation alike. If you prefer travel that has an edge of excitement to it then KK is the perfect gateway to adventure.
Kota Kinabalu was formerly known as Jesselton, named after Sir Charles Jessel, one of the Directors of the British North Borneo Chartered Company, or BNBCC. During WWII, Kota Kinabalu and other towns throughout Sabah suffered heavy allied bombing but emerging from the war, the BNBCC discovered it was too costly to rebuild, so in 1946, Sabah became a British Crown Colony, which lasted until 1963 when Sabah was granted Independence within the Federation of Malaysia. On 30th September 1967, Jesselton was renamed Kota Kinabalu and on the 2nd February 2000 the town received official city status from the Malaysian government.
Attractions in Kota Kinabalu
A World Heritage Site, Kinabalu National Park was formed to preserve this valuable natural environment including the mighty Mount Kinabalu, the focal point of the park – See separate “Place of Interest”.
In a similar vein, the Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre covering 24 hectares (60 acres) of mangrove forest is an educational and recreational centre where almost 80 species of birds have been identified.
Sabah State Museum & Heritage Village houses various galleries of natural history, ceramics, ethnography and archaeology exhibits, as well as musical instruments, tools and ritual paraphernalia.
Gaya Street (Sunday Market) is the best place to experience the cross-section of the local population and at the same time shop for batik sarongs, fruits and flowers, arts and crafts, footwear, antiques and souvenirs, cakes, even pets and herbs!
Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park is a cluster of islands comprising Pulau Gaya, Pulau Sapi, Pulau Manukan, Pulau Mamutik and Pulau Sulug, only a 10 - 20 minute speedboat ride from the city of Kota Kinabalu. Characterised by shallow waters, sumptuous coral gardens and boasting splendid white sandy beaches this area is an ideal location for diving.
The Atkinson Clock Tower was built in 1903 in memory of Francis George Atkinson and has the distinction of being the oldest standing structure in the whole of Sabah.
Located a stones throw from the city centre of Kota Kinabalu is the State Mosque, one of the most outstanding pieces of architecture in Sabah.
Activities in Kota Kinabalu
A whole range of activities awaits you, from discovering the cultural and historical sites of the city of Kota Kinabalu to scuba diving off the island of Layang Layang and Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park to trekking to the summit of Mount Kinabalu.
Relaxing
Located 20 km outside of the city, the Orchid de Villa centre covers an area of 12 acres and boasts of about 50 hybrid species showcased in their Hybrid Garden. There are also 300 species of Borneo wild orchids, including some extremely rare specimens.
Getting Around
Most of the city centre is flat so it is easy to get around by foot, alternatively there is a good bus system or you could hire a bicycle.
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