Brunei Top Destination
Istana Nurul Iman
Istana Nurul Iman, taken from the Arabic name, means Palace of the Faith Light, is a glittering example of Brunei’s majestic royal heritage. The palace is the Sultan’s lavish home situated on the top of a hill overlooking the Bandar Seri Begawan city. It is the largest residential palace in the world and the world's largest residence of any type ever built.
As an enigmatic symbol of Brunei’s enduring monarchy, Istana Nurul Iman palace is the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, and the seat of the Brunei government. The palace is located on a leafy, riverside sprawl of hills on the banks of the Brunei River, a few miles south of Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei's capital. The palace contains 1,788 rooms, which includes 257 bathrooms, a banquet hall that can be expanded to accommodate up to 5,000 guests, a mosque accommodating 1,500 people. The palace also includes a 110-car garage, an air conditioned stable for the Sultan's 200 polo ponies, and 5 swimming pools.
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Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque
The Jame’Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque is the most important religious sites in the country. The mosque is the largest and one of the most magnificent looking mosques in Brunei. It was built to commemorate the 25th anniversary His majesty the Sultan reign.
Located in Kampong Kiarong, which is quite close to the nation’s capital, it is mainly a place of worship among Muslims. The shining gold domes of the mosque overlook a landscape of attractive gardens and fountains. Along with them are the ornamented towers that can be seen from the main road. The interiors of the mosque combine the profoundness of art and the religious significance of Islam.
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Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque is a royal Islamic mosque located in Bandar Seri Begawan. The mosque is quite picturesque being situated on an artificial lagoon near the banks of the Brunei River at Kampong Ayer, the "village in the water". This religious site has become quite popular in South East Asia being known for its transient beauty.
Completed in 1958 and named after the 28th Sultan of Brunei, Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque is a symbol of Islamic faith in Brunei and an impressive example of modern Islamic architecture. The mosque is surrounded by a large number of trees and floral gardens. The most recognizable feature is the large main dome which is covered in pure gold. The mosque stands 52m high and can be seen from virtually anywhere in Bandar Seri Begawan. The main minaret is the mosque's tallest feature. The minaret has an elevator to the top, where one can enjoy a panoramic view of the city.
Ulu Temburong National Park
Brunei is also home to some of Asia’s best nature reserves and field study centres, such as the world famous Ulu Temburong National Park. The park offers an exciting array of ecotourism and adventure activities. Indeed, the longboat ride down a winding jungle river, surrounded on all sides by pristine rainforest makes the journey as much of an adventure as the destination itself.
Located in the easternmost part of Brunei, which is separated from the capital and the three other Bruneian provinces by the Malaysian state of Sarawak, the Ulu Temburong Park is rich in unspoiled natural heritage. Here the magnificence of Borneo's lowland rainforests can be truly experienced. The park includes a range of wilderness habitats, from lowland forest and jungle rainforest, to montane forest at an elevation of almost 2000 metres. In fact the forests teem with wildlife, but these creatures are invariably shy and are quick to avoid human contact. A birds-eye view of the surrounding forests can be had from the not-to-be-missed Canopy Walkway.
Kampung Ayer
Built entirely of stilt houses and wooden walkways, this cluster of 42 villages houses more than 30,000 inhabitants; where the people lived for over 1,300 years. It is the world's largest water village known as the ‘’Venice of the east’’. Here, the village's centuries-old web of homes, markets, mosques, schools, medical clinics and police and fire stations hovers on stilts over the shallows of Brunei River. Even today, water taxis are the most efficient and popular means of negotiating the Kampung's labyrinthine waterways. From their prows, one could see the mosque's glistening minarets rising above multi-hued, garden-draped homes.
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