Top Attractions in Limbang, Sarawak

History of Limbang, Sarawak

Apart from being a trading town, Limbang is economically supported by the timber and agricultural sectors. Their main products include oil palm, rattan and pepper. In the past, Brunei considered Limbang as their “rice bowl” when it became the country's major producer of rice and sago. Due to this important reason, concerns over the ownership of Limbang were raised multiple times.

The small and cultural town of Limbang, Sarawak

Origins of the Limbang Claim

Debates over the status of Limbang have existed since the rebellion of the Limbang residents in 1884. They protested against the high tax rates imposed by the former Bruneian Empire due to the British and Sarawakian expansion under the administration of Charles Venyer Brooke. In 1885, Pengiran Temenggung Pengiran Anak Hashim, who was the 25th Sultan of Brunei, was unable to contain the rebellion movement. Eventually, he involuntarily sought help from the acting British Royal Consul that was located in Labuan.

However, Charles Brooke and the North Borneo Chartered Company (NBCC) continued to put pressure on Brunei to cede Trusan, Padas and Limbang. Trusan was subsequently surrendered in 1885, followed by Padas in 1887. Despite that, Brunei stubbornly refused to relinquish Limbang as the Limbang River historically belonged to Brunei.

Limbang River historically belonged to Brunei.

In hopes of preventing further losses of Limbang territories to Brooke’s government and NBCC, Brunei signed an agreement with Great Britain on the 17th of September 1888 for Limbang to be placed under British protectorate. In March 1890, Charles Brooke publicly announced that Limbang was to be part of the Kingdom of Sarawak.

In 1957, there was an attempt by Brunei to claim Limbang as part of its integral territory. However, higher officials stated that the issue was never fully discussed between both Malaysia and Brunei during meetings of both countries.

With unclear interferences between Malaysia and Brunei regarding Limbang, it is common to see people getting into or out of Limbang without a passport. Limbang is completely cut off from Sarawak’s road network but it has good road links to both parts of Brunei on its west and east. This characteristic defines the way Limbang is ‘being hidden’ in Brunei. As a result, many Bruneians can freely enjoy the amazing bargains of goods in Limbang.

Limbang Population

The population of Limbang consists mainly of Brunei Malays, Kedayan and Iban. They live harmoniously with other smaller groups such as the Chinese, Lun Bawang, Kelabit, Bijaya, Penan and Tabun communities.

What to See in Limbang, Sarawak

Today, the residents of Limbang lead a simple life in the quiet and humble river town. Once you step into Limbang, you’ll quickly notice rows after rows of beautiful wooden shophouses. On a daily basis, people are doing their odd jobs, socialising through community club activities, performing prayers at the mosques or temples, as well as shopping at the local markets. In the evening, Limbang has the best scenic spots for sunset viewing by the river banks.

Limbang is one the best places to catch the spectacular sunset in Borneo

Limbang, Sarawak Postcode

There are four postcodes in Limbang, which are 98700, 98707, 98708, and 98709.

How to Get to Limbang, Sarawak

There are several ways to arrive in Limbang. If you are visiting from Brunei, catch the bus from Bandar Seri Begawan to Kota Kinabalu which passes through Limbang. Tickets can easily be bought from the coffee shops on the main road or in the bus. Note that travelling to anywhere beyond Brunei such as Miri, Kuching or Kota Kinabalu by land will require you to go through Brunei.

You can travel to Limbang by plane to the LMN airport which is located approximately 5 kilometers away from the town.

Canada Hill in Miri, Sarawak

Canada Hill History & Background

Canada Hill is a limestone ridge overlooking the Miri town. It stands gloriously between the sea in the west and inland areas of Miri in the east. This place is originally called ‘Bukit Telaga Minyak’ by the locals. The name Canada Hill is nicknamed after a Canadian driller by the name of Charles McAlpine after he drilled the first well here in 1910. He was also responsible for the recruitment of both locals and foreigners to work on the oilfields.

Back in the early 11th century, the locals in Miri started to extract oil from hand dug wells. These activities have attracted the attention of several foreign governors who were on duty at that time. It was reported that in 1882, a man by the name of Claude Champion or C. C. de Crespigny proposed the idea of an oil exploration development to the Brooke government. However, the proposal was later turned down due to poor logistic considerations.

Top Attractions at Canada Hill, Miri

After nearly three decades, the idea of oil exploration in Miri resurfaced when several oilfields were mapped out from August 1909 until July 1910 at Canada Hill. During this period, anticlines that were suitable for oil drilling were found and identified at the site. It eventually became the only onshore oilfield in Sarawak with its historical Miri Oil Well No. 1, also known as the Grand Old Lady which is situated on top of Canada Hill.

Gadong Night Market History

In the late 1970s, Pasar Pelbagai Barangan Gadong was a night market packed with makeshift tents and stalls. The site is located close to the Jame’ Asr Mosque, right next to a beautiful suburb river. At the end of 2016, the Sultan of Brunei ordered for the construction of an open-air complex which has since changed the overall layout and structure of Pasar Pelbagai Barangan Gadong.

The new Pasar Pelbagai Barangan Gadong was completed in February 2017. The brand new complex is 5,979 square-metre big and is equipped with roofs and spacious walkways between stalls. There are also convenient facilities provided for both vendors and visitors so they can operate with ease.

Telaga Tok Sheikh at Yan, Kedah

Sultanate of Kedah & Conversion to Islam

Due to his wisdom and honesty, Sheikh Abdullah bin Ja'afar Quamiri was offered the position as the royal advisor to the King of Kalaha. He managed to convince the King and his elite dignitaries into converting to Islam and becoming Muslims. The King subsequently changed his name to Sultan Muzaffar Shah, and the name of Kalaha or Kataha to Kedah.

In order to officially commemorate the changes of names, Sheikh Abdullah suggested the construction of a tower at the top of Gunung Jerai. It was intended to be used for the broadcast of the adhan or call to prayer. Just before the completion, Sheikh Abdullah has passed away. He was buried in-ground in a location close to the tower. Today, the burial site is known as ‘Padang Tok Sheikh’.

Telaga Tok Sheikh was founded during the construction of the tower. What was astonishing was that ever since then, the water in the well never stopped flowing - even during the dry season.

How to Get to Telaga Tok Sheikh

Telaga Tok Sheikh is approximately 700 metres above sea level. Upon reaching the summit of Gunung Jerai, visitors will come across a signboard which points to the exact location of the well. The one-way footpath is rather narrow and can get congested during peak visiting times. A bridge entrance will lead you to the open ground, where you can see a flat rock that was used in the past as a site to perform prayers.

How to get to Telaga Tok Sheikh

What to Do at Telaga Tok Sheikh

Visitors to Telaga Tok Sheikh typically take turns to collect the water from the well - either for drinking or to cleanse themselves by washing. Some might even bring the water home using bottles. Besides being free of chlorine, the water of Telaga Tok Sheikh is also claimed to be able to cure diseases. The coolness of the clear, magical water helps to reduce fatigue and instantly refreshes the body, mind and soul.

To really enjoy your trip to Telaga Tok Sheikh, simply observe the uniqueness of the surroundings. You may discover a big giant rock that looks like it has been cut into perfect slices, or a white line inside a rock found at Padang Tok Sheikh that is believed to be the mark for the direction of prayer or ‘qiblat’.

If you’re lucky enough, you may even be able to enter a small cave known as Gua Tok Sheikh, where you’ll see hidden rocks in the shapes of humans performing the prayer in various positions. Not to be missed is also the ‘Batu Kapal’, which is a massive rock that resembles a large ship, believed to have belonged to the late Merong Mahawangsa.

Facilities at Telaga Tok Sheikh

Public amenities such as public restrooms and prayer rooms are well maintained by the authorities. You may expect larger crowds during the weekend as there are many treasure hunters as well as spiritual believers who will spend the night at the site. Despite being banned by the authorities and the strict warnings imposed, illegal activities such as worshipping, black magic or rituals are still widespread. People of all religions flock the place in hopes of obtaining lottery ticket numbers, trading banned items such as keris or talismans, or calling the spirits of the dead.

Visiting Tips & Recommendations

While Kedah is not the most popular destination in Malaysia, it is home to some of the most historical and unique sites in the world. We highly recommend making a trip here, especially for history enthusiasts, as there are many well-preserved ancient buildings and structures. You will also find a large collection of artifacts and other items with incredible artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific importance not just to Kedah Tua - one of the oldest civilisations in Southeast Asia, but also to the world. Read about the Sungai Batu Archeological Site which dates back to the 8th century!

Telaga Tok Sheikh at Yan, Kedah

Address: Kompleks Telaga Tok Sheikh, 274, 08300 Yan, Kedah
Opening hours: All-day

Ticket price: Free entry

Fancy an experience like this? Head over to Ladang Nira Nipah Napiah for the freshest, sweetest air nira nipah drink you'll love.

Read also: 8 Must Try Unique Food in Kedah, Malaysia

Air Nira at Ladang Nira Nipah Napiah, Kedah

It hydrates and nourishes the body while keeping it energetic and refreshed, while providing countless health benefits including to aid digestion, act as a body coolant or a diabetic-friendly beverage replacement, as well as having the ability to improve liver functions.

Fresh Air Nira Nipah at Merbok, Kedah

Uses of Air Nira

Air nira nipah can also be manufactured into jaggery, sweeteners or concentrated syrup due to the high sweetness intensity. Some producers collect the sap to further ferment it into a local alcoholic drink known fondly as tuak.