national park
Mount Kinabalu (Kinabalu National Park)
Southeast Asia's highest peak at 4,095 meters in Malaysian Borneo, a UNESCO site with extraordinary biodiversity and Via Ferrata climbing.
34 km · about 40 min drive
AsiaMalaysiaSabah
Kota Belud
Sabah, Malaysia · Asia
About Kota Belud
Kota Belud sits on the route: 45 minutes from Bandau, 34km from Mount Kinabalu (Kinabalu National Park).
Kota Belud is in Sabah, Malaysia, with about 13,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Bandau, about 40 km away.
Kota Belud (Malay: Pekan Kota Belud) is the capital of the Kota Belud District in the West Coast Division of Sabah, Malaysia. Its population was estimated to be around 8,392 in 2010. It is roughly at the midpoint of the federal highway connecting the state capital, Kota Kinabalu, and Kudat, near the northern tip ofRead more
Sabah. The town is considered as the unofficial capital and gateway to the heartland of the West Coast Bajau people.
Kota Belud's population is divided between the Bajau-Sama (including Illanun) and Dusun peoples. There is a Chinese minority, which consists mainly of Hakkas. It is noted for its open air market, or tamu, which is held every Sunday. Once a year, the tamu is held on a much larger scale. During this time, it is known as the Tamu Besar or Grand Market.
A 520 feet (160 m) bailey bridge was opened on 12 November 1962, following three months of construction. It was opened by Governor William Goode.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Kota Belud?
Within an hour or so of Kota Belud: Mount Kinabalu (Kinabalu National Park) (34 km), Desa Dairy Farm (41 km).
Where is Kota Belud?
Kota Belud is in Sabah, Malaysia, about 40 km from Bandau.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 12,825
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Malaysia
- Region
- Sabah
- Timezone
- Asia/Kuching
- Coordinates
- 6.3510, 116.4305
Tags
Worth the detour from Kota Belud
2 notable places within an hour's drive.
photogenic
Desa Dairy Farm
A working dairy on the slopes below Mount Kinabalu where cattle graze fenced green pasture at 1,200 metres, an incongruous alpine scene locals call the New Zealand of Sabah. Milking is open to visitors each afternoon.
41 km · about 50 min drive
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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