The Sarawak Cultural Village is located about 24 KM from Kuching. It is an award-winning 'living' museum, spread over grounds at the base of Santubong Mountain.
As soon as you step into the Sarawak Cultural Village, you are greeted with a beautiful garden full of blooming flowers with various wooden statues surrounding it. As Sarawak is also known as 'Land of the Hornbills', one of the statues was designed based on the iconic bird.
A map and a booklet are provided at the ticket office as part of your visit to the village. The map shows the recommended roads to walk through the Village, while the booklet has a few square boxes, stamping each time you visit an attraction.
Once you walk further into the Cultural Village, you will get a glimpse of the tribal life of the many ethnic groups that inhabit the beautiful land of hornbills, Sarawak. About 150 people live in the village, demonstrating traditional daily activities to show you crafts, games and delicacies from the 7 main ethnic groups.
A leisurely stroll will take you past nine authentic replica houses, which have been recreated from every major ethnic group living in Sarawak. You will see houses of the Bidayuh, the Iban, an Orang Ulu longhouse, a Penan jungle settlement, a Melanau high house, a Malay mansion, a Chinese farm and pagoda. Each is staffed with members of their respective ethnic groups, in traditional costume, performing traditional activities.
Each home has a "storyteller" who is an expert in describing and interpreting traditional cultures and lifestyles.
You can learn how to throw a spinning top, but you can also try a Penan blowgun or pick a tune on an Orang Ulu-sape (a stringed instrument).
The handiwork is both mind-boggling and seductive: the Kain Songket (Malaysian fabric with gold inlay), Pua Kumbu (textiles from Iban housewives), Melanau Terendak (sun hat), Bidayuh tambok (basket), Iban parang (swords), Orang Ulu wood carving and Chinese ceramics.
After the visit of the village you can enjoy a lively dance performance in the theater of the village. You can even take dance, music, and craft classes from bamboo carving to straw weaving.
There is also a good ethnic restaurant and craft shop on site. Other attractions and amenities include: a sculpture garden, the Rainforest Music House, featuring traditional instruments and interactive music workshops. The Dewan Legenda (Hall of Legends) has a creative space complete with dance studio, library, information center, costume gallery, lecture hall and creativity space.
The Sarawak Cultural Village also hosts the World Harvest Festival (April) and the Rainforest World Music Festival (July).
The purpose of Sarawak Cultural Village is threefold:
1.
Showcase Sarawak's multi-ethnic cultures and traditions through innovative products and first-class services.
2.
Giving all visitors an unforgettable experience of Sarawak's rich cultural heritage.
3.
Promote an appreciation of Sarawak's culture among the younger generation.
