On holiday in Brunei, among ancient villages, mosques and princely palaces: short itinerary to discover the most interesting places in the capital.
Bandar Seri Begawan, which in Malay means "port of the honored ruler", is the capital of the small Sultanate of Brunei, in northern Borneo, considered one of the richest countries on the planet. Built on the Brunei river, the city summarizes with its architecture a double aspect of the development of the territory: on the one hand, the modern physiognomy given by its imposing buildings, and on the other, a more traditional character, with its wooden stilts that make it particularly fascinating and evocative.
A young and recent city, sumptuous and imposing, but also humble and simple. For those who intend to travel to Brunei, even for just a few days, perhaps on a tour that also includes Singapore and Malaysia, we suggest starting from Seri Begawan Town; the places of interest are numerous. For the tourist who visits the capital of the Sultanate for the first time, the most fascinating and picturesque part is certainly the historic area dominated by the majestic mosque dedicated to Omar Ali Saifuddien.
Located in an artificial lagoon on the banks of the Brunei River, the Omar Ali Saifuddien mosque it is one of the most impressive in Borneo and the entire East. Built at the end of the 1950s at the behest of the country's first monarch, it was designed by the Italian architect Rodolfo Nolli; the Italian Renaissance influence is enriched by traditional elements of Malaysian culture.
Externally there is the dome covered with leaves and golden mosaics made with Venetian glass, while inside you can see Carrara marbles and Asian granites as well as sumptuous Arabic carpets and even an elevator that leads to the top of the tower, 44 meters high, from which it is possible to admire a splendid panorama of the first city of the Sultanate of Brunei. To enter the mosque it is necessary to remove your shoes and wear a tunic, provided at the entrance free of charge. A night visit is recommended to appreciate the spectacular reflections of the mosque on the water.
Authentic historic center of the ancient capital of Brunei Kampong Yesterday. Here, in fact, crossing bridges and streets you reach the largest aquatic village in the world. A city within the city, equipped with all services, schools, hospitals and shops. A hamlet of 28 villages built on stilts along the Brunei River, where more than 30.000 people live. The different villages are connected by pail, wooden bridges that form a dense communication network between the stilts. To visit it, it is best to rely on the capital's tour operators or hoteliers who provide useful information on how to rent boats or speedboats based on the time and destination.
Not far from Kampong Ayer and the Omar Ali Saifuddien mosque there is the only Chinese temple in the city, the Teng Yun temple, characterized by golden wood carvings; and then the palace of Lapau Diraja, with the sumptuous throne room, and the Brunei History Centre, which tells the long history of the country and the Sultanate. Also nearby, you can visit the Royal Regalia Building, the museum which houses a vast exhibition of gifts received from the Sultan.
Never surroundings of the capital of Brunei are home to other interesting museums, reachable by bus, taxi or river boat, including the Brunei Museum, which illustrates the history of this extraordinary country through ancient jewels, Chinese porcelain and a private collection of gilded sacred books (the Koran). Also noteworthy is the Malay Museum of Technology, which has sections dedicated to the architecture of river villages and the technologies used by the inhabitants. Also interesting near the Bukit Subok Forest reserve is the Bubongan Dua belas, or house of the twelve roofs, built in 1906, a picturesque example of British colonial architecture, the ancient home of English residents, now a museum, from which you can enjoy a wonderful view of Kampong Ayer.
Dominating the city from a hill, about two kilometers away from the centre, is the princely palace of the Sultan of Brunei, theNurul Iman Palace. Characterized by incredible splendor and topped with golden domes, the palace internally includes 1788 rooms, 257 bathrooms with sinks covered in diamonds, and an immense ceremonial hall, as well as dozens of elevators, marble-paved floors and a private mosque.
Designed by Filipino architect Leandro Locsin in Moorish Islamic style, the home of the Sultan of Brunei is considered the most impressive royal residence in the world. Externally the building is surrounded by an enclosed park which includes a garage with a rich collection of prestigious cars - including several Ferrari models - and stables equipped with air conditioning to protect the thoroughbreds from the tropical climate. The Istana Nurul Iman opens its doors to the public only three days a year, on the occasion of the end of Ramadan, when the Sultan himself meets the population, according to ancient traditions.
About 3 km from the city center, exactly in the village of Kampong Kiarong, there is another important tourist attraction in Brunei: the mosque of Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah. Inaugurated in 1992 on the occasion of the twenty-fifth year of the reign of the current Sultan, it fully reflects all the sumptuousness of his power. Imposing and sumptuous, this mosque is the largest in Borneo and its peculiarity lies in the 29 golden domes, the immensity of the interior and an impressive exterior surrounded by wonderful gardens.
Another attraction of Brunei are the markets, first of all that of the village of Gadong, where long expanses of beautiful flowers follow one another, with a thousand colors and heady scents, but also the open-air market of Tamu Kianggeh, the only local market in the city center that offers a glimpse of life daily life of the poorest part of Bandar Seri Begawan. While on the weekend you can wander around the Tamu Hujung Minggu night market, with stalls displaying food, clothes, fabrics and home accessories.
The cuisine is very spicy and recalls Malaysian, Indian and Chinese cuisine. You can taste the traditional dishes in the restaurants of the capital Bandar Seri Begawano at street vendors, especially in the evening markets or in the stalls along the Brunei river: street food is very inviting. Specialties based on fish, chicken and rice are very popular and widespread, including satay, small skewers of mixed meat, nasi lemak "creamed rice" or nasi goreng "fried rice" mostly served for breakfast. Among the desserts we suggest kueh melayu, pancakes stuffed with peanuts, raisins and sugar. All accompanied by the popular local drink, an unripe coconut milk granita.
