Sarawak Cultural Village is the Best Cultural Museum in South East Asia.

 

 Rumah Bidayuh (Bidayuh House)

Seven unique traditional houses, spread over a beautiful 17-acre site, gives you the perfect introduction to Sarawak, its cultures, whether you are looking for insight into longhouse lifestyle or a taste of exuberant Sarawak hospitality, Sarawak Cultural Village is a must visit for visitors to Kuching and Damai.

Possibly the finest "Living Museum" in South East Asia, Sarawak Cultural Village combines history, tradition, lifestyle and architecture with a dash of education and portion of theatre to create a unique multi-cultural.

"Explore Sarawak In a Half Day..."

Sarawak is rich in history and heritage. It is also known as Land of The Hornbills. The population comprises of local ethnic groups namely Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, Melanau and other minor tribes plus the Malays, Chinese and Indians living together in harmony for more than a century.

Being the largest state in Malaysia, Sarawak covers a vast area of 124,000 sq-km of land along the northwest coast of Borneo, the third largest island in the world. Sarawak offers you a journey of relentless discovery as you travel from city to city and from village to village where you will find, remnants of colonial architectures and in a rich heritage.

About Sarawak Cultural Village

Tucked away at the foothills of legendary Mount Santubong, 35 km from Kuching is Sarawak's fascinating cultural showcase, the award winning "Sarawak Cultural Village" which is also the venue for the World Harvest Festival and the Rainforest World Music Festival, an internationally renowned festival.

This living museum is wholly owned by the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) depicts the heritage of the major racial groups in Sarawak and conveniently portrays their respective lifestyle amidst 14 acres of tropical vegetation.

Here, it is possible to see Sarawak's ethnic diversity at a glance. The handicraft is both bewildering and tempting, including the Kain Songket (Malay cloth with gold inlay), Pua Kumbu (Iban housewives textiles), Melanau Terendak (sunhat), Bidayuh tambok (basket), Iban parang (swords), Orang Ulu wood carving and Chinese ceramics.

The 45-minute cultural performance of songs, dances and entertainment is something you will not want to miss during your visit to Sarawak.

To see Sarawak in one day, this is the basic concept of Sarawak Cultural Village, where the 48,000 square miles of Malaysia's most majestic state are condensed into just 17 acres. One leisurely stroll opens seven homes to the visitor, seven cultures, including the famous longhouses of Borneo.

Ever since tourism industry took its first commercial step into Sarawak in the 1960s, the intrepid 'adventurers' who veered off the beaten track found Borneo's unique house-form an irresistible attraction. Of course, they wanted to see the landscape of breathtaking splendour and the world's richest ecosystem, but the fascinating array of peoples and cultures was the real magnet. Unfortunately, Sarawak is huge, much of it covered by rugged mountains and jungle. How can a visitor hope to sample it all in less than three weeks of arduous travel?

A few far-sighted planners suggested that we build a 'model' village or longhouse within easy reach of Kuching. In the 1970s, cultural performances in a "langkau" in the Museum Gardens scored a spectacular success. This reactivated the idea; the Reservoir Park was suggested as a possible site, so was Sungai Cina in Matang. The Sarawak Museum contributed ethnographic and cultural input but nothing came of it. There were other development priorities.

But build it they did, SCV took shape with a Bidayuh, Iban, Orang Ulu and Melanau longhouse, a Penan hut and a Malay village house, and a Chinese farm house. By mid-1989 a solemn house-warming ceremony with offerings and sacrifice put life into the empty wooden structures. The dream had become reality.

Your chosen destination is the Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV), which is located at the foot of Mount Santubong. As Sarawak is the largest state in Malaysia, quite impossible kid roaming the entire contents niche in a short time.

So, the best way is to visit the SCV to approach the cultural traditions of various ethnic communities in Sarawak in half a day only. SCV can be likened to a museum 'life' that show how to live, home of ethnic, ritual, dance, clothing, crafts, food and so on.

The journey takes 40 minutes from Kuching. Quite early that morning because we still have not opened ticket counters and agent at Damai Beach Resort was not up yet.

The 17-acre village has 150 residents who demonstrate daily activities tribes of Sarawak like the processing of sago and handicrafts. Their traditional dress and performed traditional dances for the visitors. visitors who want to experience the lifestyle and unique residential real society.

The village also has a theater where visitors can watch a traditional dance many people, a restaurant and handicraft shops. You can even get married at the Sarawak Cultural Village follows the style of traditional Iban, Malay, Bidayuh or Orang Ulu. Longhouse found here have a row of rooms.

For more information please visit: Sarawak Cultural Village