welcome to sabah

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Kota Kinabalu International Airport is located approximately 8 km from the city of Kota Kinabalu, the state capital of Sabah, and it is the main gateway into the state of Sabah and into Borneo.

This airport first began as a military airfield built by the Japanese occupying forces during World-War II. Back then, it was also known as the Jesselton Airfield.

Post independence in 1957, the airport has gone through various phases of upgrade and today, it is the second busiest airport in Malaysia after KL International Airport (KLIA). In 2006, approximately 2 million tourists visited Sabah through this airport, making it one of Malaysia s fastest growing regional international airports.

WELCOME TO KOTA KINABALU
Sightseeing in Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu (Capital City)

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 which all but leveled them. Emerging from the War, the BNBCC discovered it was too costly to rebuild, so in 1946, Sabah became a British Crown Colony - until 1963, when Sabah was granted Independence within the Federation of Malaysia.
On 30th September 1967, Jesselton was renamed Kota Kinabalu. 23 years later, on 2 February, 2000 she was proclaimed a city. As the capital of the State of Sabah, KK is also the gateway to other major towns and districts and has a population of around 300,000 .
In the vicinity of the city, there are various places of interest. Many can be explored on foot while others may be reached by bus or taxi.

City Mosque
Kota Kinabalu (Capital City)
Built on a 2.47 acres site at the Likas bay, the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque is exemplary of the Islamic contemporary architecture. Situated near the sea, this majestic white mosque boasts similar features to the Nabawi Mosque in Medina. This floating mosque has a prayer hall which houses three madrasahs and accommodates from 9, 000 to 12, 000 people at a time.
By far the largest mosque in Kota Kinabalu, the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque is even possibly the most beautiful one in Malaysia – the man-made lagoon which surrounds it gives a serenely gorgeous and dramatic look to the mosque on a full moon night.
The Kota Kinabalu City Mosque is open for public visits daily except Fridays from 8am to 5pm. There are no fees charged on visitors.

Signal Hill Observatory Platform
Kota Kinabalu (Capital City)
Signal Hill, the highest point in the city, is one of the best places to get a good view of Kota Kinabalu. Just a couple of minutes drive from Padang Merdeka will bring you to the airy deck where you can get amazing views that extend to the outlying islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park and further. Tariff





Puh Toh Tze Temple
Kota Kinabalu (Capital City)
Sabah is proud of its multiculturalism and this is often reflected in its diverse architecture. The Puh Toh Tze temple is a Buddhist temple located off Tuaran Road.
Built in 1980, the temple stands out with its traditional Chinese roofing and structure. Ten large statues of deities adorn the temple with the Goddess of Mercy, Kwan Yin, standing tall at the main entrance of the temple.


St. Michael's Church Penampang
Kota Kinabalu (Capital City)
St. Michael’s Church in Penampang was initiated by Fr. August Wachter. The Foundation stone was laid on 29th September 1936; nonetheless, the construction was postponed during the Second World War only to resume in 1947.

The church is located about 15 to 18 kilometers from Kota Kinabalu, approximately 25-30 minutes drive away.

Getting ThereTo visit St. Michael church, from Kota Kinabalu visitors need to take the No.13 bus from the bus station in front of City Hall to Donggongon; the fee charged is RM1.50 per person.

From Donggongon, take the bus headed to Kampung Babah and ask to be dropped off at St. Michael church. Bus fare is RM1 per person.
North Borneo Railway
Kota Kinabalu (Capital City)
In the 1880s, with the emergence of rubber and coffee plantations in Borneo's hinterland, a need of some kind of transportation between towns was triggered, thus the North Borneo Railway was born.

Today, it runs from Tanjung Aru till Tenom town, passing coastal and rural areas, picturesque villages and small towns, a mountain tunnel and a spectacular Gorge. Revisit the early days of North Borneo when adventurous young British officers ventured deep into the heart of Borneo, opening up new towns and establishing Sabah's only railway line with a ride on a British Vulcan Steam Locomotive.