The Astana
A palace on the north bank of the Sarawak River, built in 1870 by Charles Brooke as a wedding gift to his wife Margaret. It is the residence of Sarawak's governor and closed inside, though its gardens can be reached by boat from the waterfront.
- Where
- Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
- Grade
- Local gem
- Worth
- 10 points collected on site
- Coordinates
- 1.5636, 110.3456
Get the The Astana stamp
Open LOQAH when you are at The Astana. It checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp is yours: confirmed on site in gold and struck with the date. It goes into your Sarawak volume with your photos and a note.
Near The Astana
Darul Hana Bridge 0.2 km
A pedestrian bridge over the Sarawak River beside the Kuching Waterfront, the only one linking the north and south of the city. Its curving deck and twin towers are lit up at night.
Kuching Waterfront 0.4 km
A riverside promenade running nearly 1.9 kilometres along the south bank of the Sarawak River in the centre of Kuching. It looks across the water to the Astana and Fort Margherita, and small boats ferry people to the other side.
Fort Margherita 0.5 km
A fort built in 1879 by Charles Brooke, the second White Rajah, in the style of an English castle to guard Kuching against pirates. It stands on the north bank of the Sarawak River and later served as a police museum.
Tua Pek Kong Temple 0.8 km
The oldest temple in Kuching, a Chinese temple near the waterfront, opposite the Chinese History Museum. It is a stop on the city's heritage trail and busiest around Chinese New Year.
Borneo Cultures Museum 0.9 km
The largest museum in Malaysia, and the second largest in Southeast Asia, in the centre of Kuching. Its galleries hold objects from the history and heritage of Sarawak's peoples and others across the island of Borneo.
Kubah National Park 17 km
A park in the Matang Range about 20 kilometres from Kuching, its three sandstone peaks, Serapi, Selang and Sendok, visible from the city on clear days. Dipterocarp forest covers most of it, with patches of kerangas and scrub.
Mount Santubong 19 km
The highest point of Kuching, rising over the Damai peninsula about 30 kilometres north of the city centre. Jungle trails climb its slopes, and a Sarawak legend tells of a princess turned to stone here.
Sarawak Cultural Village 21 km
A living museum at the foot of Mount Santubong, where traditional houses of Sarawak's peoples, Iban and Bidayuh longhouses among them, stand around a small lake. It is also the home of the Rainforest World Music Festival.
More hidden gems in Sarawak
Questions
Where is The Astana?
The Astana is in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. The nearest other LOQAH stamps are Darul Hana Bridge (0.2 km), Kuching Waterfront (0.4 km), Fort Margherita (0.5 km).
How do I get the The Astana stamp?
Open LOQAH when you are at The Astana and get its stamp. The app checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp goes into your Sarawak volume, confirmed on site, with the date.
I have been to The Astana before. Can I still have the stamp?
Yes. Add it from Earlier trips in your Sarawak volume, with the date if you know it, or import your Google Timeline and LOQAH matches the places you were.
Collect your first stamp.
LOQAH is free on iPhone and Android, in India and 20 more countries, with more countries on the way. Stand at a place, collect its stamp, and keep every trip in a passport that grows.