Franz ElizMalaysia isn’t only home to stunning world-class architecture like the Petronas Towers but also home to Borneo Cultures Museum.
Borneo Cultures Museum is the largest museum in Malaysia. It’s also Southeast Asia’s second-largest museum. The museum opened its doors to the public in 2022 and sits adjacent to the Sarawak Museum (Old Building) in Kuching. It may take between 1 and 3 hours to explore the 5-storey museum.
Borneo Cultures Museum is one of the largest structures in Sarawak that gets many visits from local and international visitors, including school students. This family-friendly attraction has many interesting displays of artefacts and information, from shamanism to the history of Sarawak’s Independence. Keep reading to explore more about the newly opened Sarawak museum.
What To Expect From Borneo Cultures Museum
Borneo Cultures Museum has a lot to offer. It’s a large museum, after all. Before your visit, it’s helpful to get to know a bit about the museum, so you’ll know what to expect. Below is some useful information:
Borneo Cultures Museum Is Home to Interesting Artefacts
Do you know that there are more than 1,000 artefacts in Borneo Cultures Museum? The vast collection of artefacts reflects the rich culture and history of Sarawak. As you explore the museum, you’ll see displays of shamanism ritual items, old vases used by the natives (even the ones dating from the Qing dynasty), traditional costumes of various ethnicities in Sarawak, and more.
One of the museum’s highlights is the top part of the skull (calvaria) of the ‘Niah Lady’. It was found in the Niah Caves in 1958. Research findings suggest that the woman was buried about 35,000 years ago. Other interesting artefacts found were tools made of stone that proved the existence of early human settlements about 500,000 years ago.
You Can Find Human Skulls in Borneo Cultures Museum
You can even find human skulls hanging on the walls in one of the museum’s galleries. The skulls (collected since Brooke’s ruling) are placed in an area known as the ‘ruai’. You see, headhunting was practised by many tribes in Sarawak, pagan Ibans in particular. The Ibans believe that these skulls hold supernatural powers and thus, they must be handled and kept properly.
A ceremony known as the ‘miring’ was performed before the skulls were put into storage while the Borneo Cultures museum was in progress. Previously, the skulls were kept in the Sarawak Museum Ethnology Department.
There Are 5 Floors in the Building
Borneo Cultures Museum is a large 5-storey building that houses interesting artefacts. There’s a gallery on every level. After getting your ticket, proceed to the first gallery. It’s opposite the ticketing counter.
Level 1 Features an Exhibition on Shamanism in Borneo
The first gallery features shamanism in Borneo. It’s quite dark and eerie. One of the first displays you’ll see upon entering the gallery is a big screen tv that shows shamanism rituals. I spent about 10 minutes watching the video.
There are many shamanism tools displayed in the gallery, big and small. I must say that this is one of the most unique galleries in the museum.
Level 2 Features the Children’s Gallery and the Arts and Crafts Gallery
The second floor’s gallery is the Children’s Gallery and the Arts and Crafts Gallery. It features a ‘Love Our Rivers’ theme, which focuses on water conservation. Also, there are playgrounds and a lounge for both kids and adults to enjoy.
There are many cute displays in this gallery, like the River Waste Band, which is a display of musical instruments assembled using wastes thrown into rivers.
While the gallery is an interesting one, I didn’t stay very long as it was very crowded and noisy at the time.
Level 3 Features the ‘In Harmony With Nature’ Exhibition
On the third floor, you’ll find the ‘In Harmony With Nature’ exhibition. This gallery is the biggest one in the museum, covering 2,188 square metres. Visitors can learn about how the Borneo people co-exist with nature.
It displays traditional costumes (even those for shamanism rituals), old vases, fishing equipment, headhunting essentials, wood carvings, replicas of the different animals found in Borneo, the Bidayuh traditional house or ‘baruk’, and more. There are also interactive theatre panels that retell the folklore of the ‘Santubong Princess’. I must say this gallery is one of my favourites.
Level 4 Features the ‘Time Changes’ Exhibition
As discussed earlier, Borneo Cultures Museum is home to the calvaria of the ‘Niah Lady’. You can find it among other interesting artefacts from the early civilization era on this floor. As you explore the gallery on level 4, you’ll come across different sections, such as Cave Discoveries, Borneo and Empires, the Making of Sarawak, and Sarawak in Motion.
You can find bone ornaments, earthenware, the Sarawak map, old guns, and more. I came across a display of the old Sarawak flags, including the old Sarawak passport.
Level 5 Features the ‘Object of Desire” Gallery
On the last floor, you’ll find the final gallery that features an exhibition called ‘Object of Desire’. This gallery houses many artefacts that are believed to hold supernatural powers. There are wood carvings, scary wooden masks, beautiful handmade baskets and body accessories, gongs, wedding attires, and more.
It Cost RM308 Million To Build the Museum
RM308 million was spent to build Borneo Cultures Museum. That’s a lot of money. But looking at the museum’s size and unique architecture, it’s not surprising. It took 4 years to build the museum. The architect behind the majestic golden structure was a Sarawakian, Dato’ Seri John Lau Kan Sieng.
Now, what’s the inspiration behind Borneo Cultures Museum’s architecture? Well, the museum’s design was inspired by Sarawak’s cultural diversity. The building has an arched roof. It represents Sarawak’s State Legislative Assembly (or DUN), which sits across the Kuching Waterfront. There’s greenery around the museum and if you take the museum’s back exit, you’ll find a sitting area where you can relax among plants.
Entrance Fees Apply to Both Locals and Non-Locals
All visitors must pay for an entrance ticket at the ticketing counter first. You can see the counter clearly upon entering the museum, so it’s hard to miss. Different rates apply, depending on where you’re from. Below is a breakdown of the museum’s entrance fees:
| Category | Malaysian (Sarawakian) | Malaysian (Non-Sarawakian) | Foreigner (International) |
| 12 years and below | Free | Free | RM20 |
| 13 to 17 years and students with student ID | RM5 | RM5 | RM25 |
| Adult (18 to 60 years) | RM10 | RM20 | RM50 |
| Senior Citizen (61 years and above) | RM5 | RM10 | RM25 |
| Persons with disabilities registered with National Welfare Department | Free | Free | Free |
| Group: 10 or more persons or Registered Corporate Rate | RM8/person | RM16/person | RM40/person |
| Annual (unlimited visits) | RM100 |
Sources: Sarawak Museum
To be eligible for the Malaysian rates, please show your IC at the ticketing counter when making your purchase. For payments, you can use cash or Sarawak Pay.
There have been complaints regarding the steep prices of entrance tickets. However, it’s helpful to consider the cost of maintaining the museum.
The Museum Closes on Certain Public Holidays
Below are the museum’s operation hours:
Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 4:45 PM
Public holidays, Saturday, and Sunday: 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Note that the museum closes on the following public holidays:
- Eid al-Fitr (first day)
- Chinese New Year (first day)
- Labour Day
- Gawai (first day)
- Sarawak Governor’s Birthday
- Independence Day (According to the Sarawak Museum’s website, the Independence Day they’re referring to is Malaysia’s National Day, which falls on August 31. Kindly note that Sarawak’s Independence Day falls on July 22.)
- Christmas Day
Borneo Cultures Museum Is Wheelchair Accessible
The museum is wheelchair accessible, meaning people on wheelchairs can move easily on ramps and around the museum. Maps are also provided to make navigation easier. There are also wheelchairs available on the first floor. They’re by the locker room.
The museum has a lift service, so visitors can opt for lifts instead of escalators.
Is a Trip to Borneo Cultures Museum Worth It?
A trip to Borneo Cultures Museum is worth it if you want to learn about Sarawak’s history and culture and see artefacts you cannot see elsewhere, like the Niah Lady’s calvaria. If you’re not into history and cultural stuff and think the ticket price is too high, then you might want to avoid it.
There are many other museums around the world that you can visit for free, but they won’t be anything like what you’ll see at Borneo Cultures Museum.
Overall, I think Borneo Cultures Museum has a lot to offer. You can easily spend around 1 to 3 hours at the museum. Take your time and don’t rush. Exploring the museum can be therapeutic, and that’s a good reason to visit it.
Before leaving, consider dropping by the souvenir shop right at the museum’s entrance.
Summary
Sarawak welcomes local and international travellers to its newly opened museum. The museum is located in the city centre, so getting to the museum isn’t difficult. It’s also wheelchair accessible.
While some foreign and non-Sarawakian travellers might find the ticket prices rather high, paying a visit to access Malaysia’s largest museum is worth it. I’d say give it some love and visit it at least once. Also, don’t forget to snap photos of you at this one-of-a-kind museum.
Happy travels!
