Kota Kinabalu is a beautiful as well as vibrant tourist spot, situated on the north-west coast of Borneo, bordering the South China Sea to the west and the Celebes Seas to the east. Kota Kinabalu, or KK as it is popularly known, is the capital of Sabah, a Malaysian state.
KK is also the largest city in Sabah as well as the sixth largest in the country. With the Mount Kinabalu - the highest mountain in the South East Asia - in its background, Kota Kinabalu has been listed among the UNESCO Heritage Sites, due to the richness and diversity of flora and fauna found here.
Kota Kinabalu is much famed for its gorgeous attractions covering long stretches of white sandy beaches, beautiful islands, magnificent coral reefs, rain forests, and much more. Additionally, Kota Kinabalu is also the seat of administration and politics in the state of Sabah. Further, elucidated in this article are some of the top attractions in the region, which among many others, are:
Sabah Foundation Building : This is an astounding 30-storeyed building which is much famed for its architectural splendor. A unique thing regarding this structure is that it is one of the four of such structures in the world.
State Mosque: The mosque is one of the prominent places of worship for the Islam population. It is graced with beautiful domes as well as golden motifs.
The State Museum : It is a great spot for those who are interested in the history as well as ancient architecture of the country. Included in displays that are spread across several galleries within the museum are old photographs, totemic artifacts, antique Qurans, and ancient pottery collected from different parts of South East Asia. In addition, the museum is home to the Heritage Village, featuring life-sized models of various traditional houses.
Atkinson Clock Tower : This was built to commemorate Francis George Atkinson - the city 's first district officer. This clock tower also holds the distinction of being the oldest monuments in the state of Sabah that survived the vigorous attacks as a result of the Second World War.
Kota Kinabalu City Bird Sanctuary : Located in the center of the city, it is home to a large species of birds including migratory species. This is a must-see tourist spot for bird lovers as well as nature lovers.
Sutera Harbour Resort: Situated at the southern end of the city, the resort area consists of an international yacht club and a state of the art golf club.
Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Islands Park : Just about ten minutes via boat ride from the city, this park is a great spot for those tourists seeking peace and tranquility. It consists of five serene islands, such as, Mamutik, Sapi, Gaya, Sulug, and Manukan.
Turtle Island Park : This Park is much famed for its green as well as Hawksbill turtles.
Lankayan Island : This serene island is credited to be one of the best diving spots in Asia.
Apart from these, places of interest in and around Kota Kinabalu also include Layang Island, with spectacular reef topography; Pulau Tiga Marine Park, which consists of three scenic islands; Rafflesia Centre, a research facility; Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary, which is one of the world 's only four Orang Utan centers; and Sipadan Island, a sought after diving spot.
Additionally, the destination offers fabulous opportunities to indulge in a number of activities. For instance, if you are a shopping freak, then you could take advantage of the Gaya Street Fair, which take place every Sunday. During the fair, one could purchase everything from handicraft items and clothing to sumptuous food and drinks and that too at reasonable rates.
The city also has several other options for shopping in the form of huge shopping malls such as Wisma Merdeka, Karamunsing Complex, Centrepoint, KK Plaza, and Wawasan Plaza. In addition, there are also areas exclusively for shopping electronic items, such as, Asia City, Segama, and Gaya Street. Above all, worth mentioning are the superb dining options available in the region, with a large number of restaurants serving sumptuous cuisines.
With these umpteen attractions and options to enjoy a plethora of activities, Kota Kinabalu is frequented by people from across the world year-round.
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