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.
55 km · about 65 min drive
AsiaMalaysiaSabah
Kota Kinabalu
Sabah, Malaysia · Asia
About Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu sits on the route: 10 minutes from Putatan, 55km from Mount Kinabalu (Kinabalu National Park).
Kota Kinabalu is in Sabah, Malaysia, with about 500,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Putatan, about 6 km away.
Kota Kinabalu (Malaysian: [ˈkota kinaˈbalu]; previously Jesselton), colloquially referred to as KK, is the state capital of Sabah, Malaysia. It is also the capital of the Kota Kinabalu District as well as the West Coast Division of Sabah. The city is located on the northwest coast of Borneo facing the South China Sea.Read more
The Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park lies to its west and Mount Kinabalu, which gave the city its name, is located to its east. Kota Kinabalu has a population of 452,058 according to the 2010 census; when the adjacent Penampang and Tuaran districts are included, the metro area has a combined population of 628,725. The 2020 Census revealed an increase in the municipal population to 500,421, while the wider area including the Penampang and Putatan districts had a population of 731,406.
Historically, the Kadazandusuns called the area by the name of Dondoung. In the 15th century, the area was under the influence of Bruneian Empire. In the 19th century, the British North Borneo Chartered Company (NBCC) first set up a settlement near the Gaya Island. However, it was destroyed by fire in 1897 by a local rebel leader named Mat Salleh. In July 1899, the place located opposite to the Gaya Island was identified as a suitable place for settlements. Development in the area was started soon after that; and the place was named "Api-api" before it was renamed after Sir Charles Jessel, the vice-chairman of NBCC, as Jesselton. Jesselton became a major trading port in the area, and was connected to the North Borneo Railway. Jesselton was largely destroyed during World War II. The Japanese occupation of Jesselton provoked several local uprisings, notably the Jesselton Revolt, but they were eventually defeated by the Japanese. After the war, NBCC was unable to finance the high cost of reconstructions and the place was ceded to the British Crown Colony. The British Crown declared Jesselton as the new capital of North Borneo in 1946 and started to rebuild the town. After the formation of Malaysia, North Borneo was renamed as Sabah. In 1967, Jesselton was renamed as Kota Kinabalu, Kota being the Malay word for City and Kinabalu after the nearby Mount Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu was granted city status in 2000.
Kota Kinabalu is often known as KK both in Malaysia and internationally. It is a major tourist destination and a gateway for travellers visiting Sabah and Borneo. Kinabalu Park is located about 90 kilometres from the city and there are many other tourist attractions in and around the city. Kota Kinabalu is also one of the major industrial and commercial centres of East Malaysia. These two factors combine to make Kota Kinabalu one of the fastest-growing cities in Malaysia.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Kota Kinabalu?
Within an hour or so of Kota Kinabalu: Mount Kinabalu (Kinabalu National Park) (55 km), Desa Dairy Farm (58 km).
Where is Kota Kinabalu?
Kota Kinabalu is in Sabah, Malaysia, about 6 km from Putatan.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 500,421
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Malaysia
- Region
- Sabah
- Timezone
- Asia/Kuching
- Coordinates
- 5.9749, 116.0724
Tags
Worth the detour from Kota Kinabalu
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.
58 km · about 65 min drive
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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