The Royal Brunei Museum situated along the banks of the Brunei River is known for its rich collection of antiques which includes a ceramic collection retrieved from a shipwreck dating back to as many as 500 years.
There are some invaluable pieces of Islamic art, antique jewelry, and tapestries. The Royal Brunei Museum has a section dedicated to the oil and gas industry as this industry has been instrumental in shaping up and giving a major impetus to Brunei’s economy.
Brunei Theaters
The cultural life of Brunei holds limited scope for performing arts and entertainment. Despite been historically rich, the cultural life of the country gets marred by the absence of Brunei theaters and lack of venues for hosting cultural extravaganzas. The Malay instruments are often used as an accompaniment to make the event more distinctive and give it that extra local flavor. These kinds of performances are mostly organized at official occasions. However, significant amongst the theaters in Brunei is the Radio Television Theater. The theater is often used to host cultural shows. The capital of Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan, has a couple of theaters which organize screenings of popular Chinese, Malay and English movies. Some hotels also have private theaters of their own. One such hotel is the empire Hotel which includes a mini-multiplex cinema. The Brunei theaters, though few in number, offer good entertainment.
Mosques in Brunei
The main religion of Brunei is Islam. Therefore one can find several mosques in the country. The most famous Mosques in Brunei are Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Silver Jubilee Mosque and Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque. The architecture of both these mosques is amazing.
Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque:
It is located on an artificial lagoon near the Brunei River. It is considered to be the largest mosque of the Far East. The walls, arches, columns and towers are made of Italian marble. The walls support the gold dome on the top of the mosque. It was named after the 28th Sultan of Brunei.
Jerudong Theme Park
Jerudong Theme Park is one of the most favorite places of the visitors of Brunei. It is open to public. You don’t need to buy any ticket for visiting this park. There is a polo complex nearby. It is one of the largest polo complexes of the world.
Jerudong Theme Park was built by the Sultan of Brunei for the people of this country. You can find various amusement rides for kids in this park. Adults can also enjoy some of the rides. There are some food kiosks. This is an ideal place for picnic. Other than the holidays the park is not over crowded. So you can enjoy the rides as long as you want.
Royal Regalia Museum
While touring the rich sultanate of Brunei, one can come across a number of cultural centers, royal buildings and historical sites that speak of architectural magnificence and the traditional heritage of the country. One of the most culturally significant places is the Royal Regalia Museum. Located at the heart of the capital this museum was constructed in 1992 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of His Majesty of Brunei.
Containing a vast and fascinating collection of items of Brunei royal dynasty, the Royal Regalia Museum is a must visit. The Royal Regalia Museum of Brunei houses a large number of articles related to the sultan and the royal family. The museum displays the royal chariot, the jeweled crowns of the sultans that are used during the ceremony of coronation, a replica of the sultan’s throne, the armory in gold and silver etc.
Brunei Monuments
There are several monuments in Brunei that are scattered across the length and breadth of the country. Brunei monuments speak volumes of its rich cultural heritage. The monuments exemplify Islamic art and architecture. The mosques and the archaeological sites are all works of art in themselves. The sites are decked with intricate carvings and antic sculptures. One of the landmark monuments in Brunei is the Istana Nurul Iman. It is the residence of the Sultan of Brunei. The largest residential palace in the whole world it is located on a hill. One can get a panoramic view of the capital from the palace. It is emblematic of the Brunei royalty and the center of administration and governance.
Kampong Ayer – Venice of East
With dense tropical forests and a number of tourist attractions distributed all over the country, Brunei is a haven for tourists. From Bandar Seri Begawan to the Jerudong area, Brunei abounds in various places of interest. Unique among them is the Kampong Ayer, Venice of East. This place lies in the Brunei-Muara district and is popular as the ‘Water Village’.
The appellation, ‘Venice of East’ was given to Kampong Ayer by the Europeans who visited the place during the early times. Today also, Kampong Ayer-Venice of East continues to charm and attract large crowds of tourists visiting Brunei. The entire village of Kampong Ayer in Brunei consists of traditional houses that are built on stilts on the Brunei River. Hence the name is Water Village.
Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque
One of the amazing attractions of Brunei is Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, the royal Islamic mosque.
The Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque is a real treat to the eye of the visitor. The architecture of this mosque is outstanding in a word. Located on an artificial lagoon, this mosque is the sign of the tremendous architectural achievement of the country. It is situated near the Brunei River in Kampong Ayer. It is considered to be the largest mosque of the Far East.
Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque of Brunei is one of the most renowned mosques of the South East Asia. It is known worldwide for its beauty. The height of this mosque is 52 meters. The walls are made of Italian marble. The arches, columns and towers are made of the same marble. The walls support the gold dome on the top of the mosque. The carpets are made in Saudi Arabia. The hand made stained glass, that were brought from England add more charm to the beauty of this Mosque.
Brunei Beaches
Brunei is bordered by a coastline throughout the length of the country. The Brunei coastline encircling the South China Sea with its sun kissed beaches, warm sands, enrapturing sunrises and sunsets is very popular with the locals as well as with the tourists. There are several Brunei beaches. Of them the Meragang beach, the Serasa beach, the Muara beach, the Lumut beach and the Pantai Seri Kenangan beach are well known. The beaches in Brunei serve as popular spots for outings and picnics. The Muara beach is especially equipped with amenities like picnic spots and playground for children. The Meragang Beach is often known as the Crocodile Beach though there are none. The Pantai Seri Kenangan beach is known for its breathtaking beauty. The Serasa beach is ideal for water sports and thus very popular amongst adventure loving people. The Lumut Beach also holds a lot of attraction amongst tourists.
Serasa Beach
Serasa Beach in Brunei is the favorite destination for lovers of water sports. Beaches in Brunei make for a pleasant retreat from the monotonous urban existence. The water, the sands and the entire natural setting seem to beckon the people of Brunei as well as tourists. The Serasa beach in Brunei is located at a stone throw distance from Muara. Tourists on a visit to the Muara Beach can drive to the Serasa beach and reach the spot in barely 10 minutes. The Serasa Beach is extremely popular with water sports enthusiasts. The beach is equipped with the Serasa Watersports Complex. The complex is provided with all the amenities necessary for a fun filled aquatic adventure experience. These facilities match up to global standards. The various water sports conducted by this complex include windsurfing, jet skiing, power boat racing, kayaking, water skiing, regatta sailing along with training in water sports. There is also another Watersports complex in the making namely the Government Watersports Complex. The project, nearing completion, is expected to provide world class facilities for the various water sports. The complex targets both water sports professionals as well as amateurs.
Jame’Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque
Being ruled by the dynasty of sultans for 600 years, Brunei abounds in religious, historical and cultural places. Mosques constitute some of the major tourist attractions in Brunei and the most important and the most splendid among them is Jame’Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque.
Jame’Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque is located in Kampong Kiarong which lies close to the capital of Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan. Built to celebrate and mark the silver anniversary of the reign of the sultan of the country, Jame’Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque of Brunei narrates the story of the royal dynasty.
Brunei Sightseeing Tours
The majestic mosques, the royal residences, the breathtaking architecture all contribute to the beauty of Brunei. Brunei Sightseeing Tours give you the golden opportunity to explore all this and more.
Brunei Sightseeing Tours include several packages. Some of the tour packages of Brunei offer half day tour while some of them full day tour or evening tour. Some of the packages are as follows:
- Brunei Proboscis Monkey River Safari
- Water Village & Proboscis Monkey Tour
- Local Home Cooking Experience
- City & Water Village Tour
- Brunei Golden Tread Weaving & Country Side Tour
- Full Day Temburong National Park Nature Escapade
- Full Day Seria Oiltown Tour
- Full Day City and Water Village Tour
- Jerudong Royal Polo Club & Playground Tour with dinner
- Brunei Majestic Capital Night Tour with dinner
- Lambir Waterfall National Park Nature Self Exploration
- Labuan Island Day Trip with Lunch
- Miri Oiltown Full Day Excursion with Lunch
- Miri City Self Exploration Day Trip
Sightseeing Tours in Brunei will take you to some of the fantastic attractions of Brunei such as:
- Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque
- Jerudong Theme Park
- Istana Nurul Iman
- Kampong Ayer
- Royal Regalia Museum
- Brunei History Center
Staying in Brunei is absolutely comfortable as there are a number of hotels with all the facilities you need. Some of the hotels are as follows:
- Riverview Hotel
- Centrepoint Hotel
- Orchid Garden Hotel
- Sheraton Utama
Sightseeing of Brunei will be a rare experience that you will cherish throughout your life.