Bandar Seri Begawan

Bandar Seri Begawan Brunei Town
Other transcription(s)
• Jawi	بندر سري بڬاوان
From top left: Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddin Park, Lapau Diraja, Mercu Dirgahayu and Downtown Bandar Seri Begawan.
Nickname(s): Bandar or BSB
Bandar Seri Begawan
Coordinates: 4°53′25″N 114°56′32″E / 4.89028°N 114.94222°E / 4.89028; 114.94222Coordinates: 4°53′25″N 114°56′32″E / 4.89028°N 114.94222°E / 4.89028; 114.94222
Country	Brunei
District	Brunei Muara
Bruneian Kingdom and the Bruneian Empire	7th-18th century
Settled by the British	19th century
Land development by the British	1906
Resettlement of the Sultanate of Brunei administration centre	1909
Municipality and granted city status	1920
Area
• City	100.36 km2 (38.75 sq mi)
Population (2014)
• City	200,000
• Density	1,395/km2 (3,610/sq mi)
• Urban	276,608
• Demonym	Seri Begawanese / Orang Bandar
Time zone	BNT (UTC+8)
Area code(s)	+673 02
Website	www.municipal-bsb.gov.bn

Bandar Seri Begawan /ˌbaːndə sɨˌriː bɨˈɡaʊən/ BA(H)ND-ə sə-REE bə-GOW-ən (Jawi: بندر سري بڬاوان ; Malay: [ˌbanda səˌri bəˈɡawan]) formerly known as Brunei Town, with an estimated population of more than 200,000 (in 2014), is the capital and largest city of the Sultanate of Brunei.

Etymology

The original name for this city was "Bandar Brunei" or "Brunei Town" in English. In 1967, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III abdicated in favour of his eldest son, Hassanal Bolkiah and took the title of "Seri Begawan".^[1] Bolkiah was then made as a defence minister and in 5 October 1970, he renamed the city to honour his late father.^[1][2][3][4] The word "Begawan" was also used for Bruneian monarchs who have abdicated, which originally coming from the Sanskrit word for "god": भगवान bhagavān. Beside that, Seri Begawan was known as "blessed one" in Sanskrit word.^[2] Seri comes from honorific Sanskrit word Sri, and Bandar comes from Persian via Indian languages and originally means either "harbour", "port" or "haven" respectively.^[2][4] In Malay, bandar is known as a "town" or a "city".

History

Human settlement in Brunei can be traced back as far as 6th and 7th century with Malay trading centre and fishing port located near the current site of this city.^[2] The first settlement on the banks of the Brunei River can be traced back to the 8th century where there had been settlements similar to those in Kampong Ayer, located near the present site of the Brunei Museum with the modern city on the opposite shore.^[5] During the Bruneian Empire period from 15th-17th century, the Sultanate ruled much part of Borneo including the southern part of the Philippines and its capital of Manila,^[6][7] with the water settlement near the city area became the third centre of the administration after been moved twice from Kota Batu and Kampong Ayer.^[2][3][4][8] When the Sultanate rule declined through the eighteenth century due to the arrival of western powers such as the Spanish, Dutch and the British, this settlement population was totally decreased from its peak of 20,000 inhabitants.^[2] From 1888 until its independence in 1984, Brunei had became a British protectorate and land development began in 1906 when the British resident encouraged the Sultanate citizens to moved on a reclaimed land on the western bank of the inlet.^[8] Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II established a new palace on the west bank in 1909 after been persuaded by the British,^[3] along with the arriving of Chinese traders to boost the its economy. Mosque and government buildings was also built along the western shores in 1920.^[2] In the same year, the new settlement was declared as a new capital of Brunei and became a municipal area.^[8]

Brunei Town under Allied attack in 1945, the attack was intended to flush out the Japanese.

Brunei Town in the 1950, with the starting of the redevelopment.

However, the city prosperous was almost over when the city been captured by the Japanese in 1941 before been recaptured back by the Allied forces in 1945. During the war, most infrastructures were destroyed either by Japanese or Allied bombs.^[9] But the British doing a lot to reconstruct most of its possession in Borneo at the end of 1945 with law order been restored and the reopening of schools.^[9] Already in 1950, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III negotiated with the British at the start of his accession to the throne for an increase in corporate taxes, from 10% to 30% in 1953. An M$1.2 million (US$0.39 million) allotted to Brunei for war damages during the Japanese occupation, increasing from M$1 million in 1946 to M$100 million (US$32.6 million) in 1952. A five-year development plan with a total budget of (M$100 million) was also implemented in 1953, with infrastructures received the most part of 80% and another 20% for social programmes.^[9] Together with the expansion of oil and gas industry, the industry has began to transform Brunei's capital and a large number of public buildings was then constructed along with the development of central business district from 1970s and 1980s.^[2][3] On 1 August 2007, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah gave consent for the extension of the city from 12.87 km² (4.97 sq mi) to 100.36 km² (38.75 sq mi).^[4] The list of the included villages and mukims can be seen on the expansion section below.

Capital city

Bandar Seri Begawan city comprises the following mukims:^[10]

Out of these, the following Mukims are collectively known as Kampong Ayer or Water Village: Burong Pinggai Ayer, Sungai Kebun, Sungai Kedayan, Peramu, Saba, Tamoi

Local authority and city definition

The city is administered by the Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Department, a department which originally responsible to maintain the cleanliness and provide services to the municipality. The city obtained city status on 1920.^[11]

Geography

Bandar Seri Begawan is located at 4°53'25"N, 114°56'32"E, on the northern bank of the Brunei River.

Climate

Bandar Seri Begawan features a tropical rainforest climate with no real dry season. In fact, the city sees heavy precipitation throughout the course of the year with the driest month (March) on average having 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain. October through December are the rainiest months of the year in the city, when precipitation is seen roughly two out of every three days. As is common to cities with a tropical rainforest climate, average temperatures are relatively constant throughout the course of the year, with average highs temperatures of around 32 °C (90 °F) and average low temperatures of 23 °C (73 °F).

Demographics

The population of Bandar Seri Begawan is around 140,000 and the metropolitan area is 278,000 as for August 2010. The majority of Bruneians are ethnic Malays, with Chinese being the most significant minority group. Aboriginal groups such as the Iban also exist and are loosely classified as Bumiputera. Large numbers of transitory workers are to be found within Brunei, the majority being from Indonesia, the Philippines and the Indian subcontinent.

Places of interest

Mosques

The Ceremonial Ship beside the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque

• The Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque - Built in 1958, it features a golden dome and an interior of Italian marble walls, carpeting and an elevator. It also has tunnels, which are used by the sultan on journeys through the town. This mosque is considered by some one of the world's most beautiful mosques^[14]
• Jame'asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque - This mosque is the largest mosque in Brunei. It was built to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the sultan's reign. It is locally known as the Kiarong mosque.

Historical sites

• The Royal Ceremonial Hall or Lapau

Located in Jalan Kianggeh the Lapau (Royal Ceremonial Hall) is used for royal traditional ceremonies. It was here that the sultan Hassanal Bolkiah was crowned on 1 August 1968. The interior of the Lapau and sultan's throne are decorated in exquisite gold. Within the precincts of the Lapau is the Dewan Majlis where the legislative assembly used to sit. Official permission is required by visitors to enter this building. With the completion of the new legislative council building in Jalan Mabohai, the Lapau will soon become a symbol of the sultanate's constitutional history.

• Late sultan Bolkiah's tomb in Kota Batu
• Late sultan Sharif Ali's tomb in Kota Batu
• The Royal Mausoleum (Makam Di-Raja)

Located away from on the banks of Sungei Brunei behind the department store Soon Lee Megamart at Mile One, Jalan Tutong, the Royal Mausoleum and the graveyard have been used by succeeding generations of sultans. Inside the Mausoleum itself are the remains of the last four sultans, Haji Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddin (1950–1967), who died in 1986, Ahmad Tajuddin Ibnu Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam (1924–1950), Muhammad Jamalul Alam Ibnu Sultan Hashim (1906–1924), and Hashim Jalilul Alam Putera Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II (1885–1906). Other members of the royal families from those times are also buried there.

Museums

Located on an archaeological site at Kota Batu, Brunei museum is the largest in the country.

• Brunei Museum (Muzium Brunei) - Located on an archaeological site at Kota Batu about 5 km (3.1 mi) from Bandar Seri Begawan, this museum is the largest in the country. It was first established in 1965 and occupied its present site since 1970. Officially opened in 1972, the museum focuses on Islamic history, natural history, Brunei artefacts and customs, ceramics and the oil industry of Brunei. of oil, process of drilling, refining, the history of the petroleum industry in Brunei and a map depicting current oil fields..

The Malay Technology Museum at Kota Batu.

• Malay Technology Museum - The museum was officially opened in 1988.

Front exhibit, Royal Regalia Building

• The Royal Regalia Building - Located at Jalan Sultan, this museum is devoted to the sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. The main gallery displays the coronation and Silver Jubilee Chariots, gold and silver ceremonial armoury and traditional jewellery encrusted coronation crowns. A collection of documents that chronicles the sultan's life up to the coronation together with the constitutional history gallery is also housed in the same building.
• The Brunei History Centre - Located at Jalan Sultan next to the Royal Regalia building is the Brunei history centre. The centre was opened in 1982 with a brief to research the history of Brunei. Much of that work has been establishing the genealogy and history of the sultans and royal family. The public display has a wealth of information on these subjects including replicas and brass rubbings of tombs. A flow chart giving the entire lineage of the Brunei sultans can be found at the entrance.
• Brunei Stamp Gallery - The recently opened Brunei Stamp Gallery is located inside the post office building in Jalan Sultan.
• Bubongan Duabelas - The name which translates to the House of Twelve Roofs is located in Jalan Residency. It was built in 1906 and was formerly the official residence of British residents and high commissioners in Brunei. It is one of the oldest surviving building in Bandar Seri Begawan. It now serves as a gallery that exhibits the long-standing relationship between the sultanate and the United Kingdom
• The Arts and Handicrafts Centre - Located at Jalan Residency it was opened in 1980. Brunei's fine arts and crafts date back to centuries and are part of the nation's proud heritage. The Arts and Handicrafts Centre conducts courses in silverware, brassware, woodcarving, songkok-making, weaving and basketry.

Istana Nurul Iman

The Istana Nurul Iman palace is the residence of the sultan of Brunei. The palace is located on a leafy, riverside sprawl of hills on the banks of the Brunei River directly south of Bandar Seri Begawan, a few miles outside the city centre. Istana Nurul Iman is believed to be the world's largest residential palace of any type. Its name is taken from Arabic, meaning Palace of the Light of Faith. The palace was designed by Leandro V. Locsin, and built by the Filipino firm, Ayala International.

Kampong Ayer

Kampong Ayer.

The city incorporates nearby Kampong Ayer, 'water village', which has houses on stilts and stretches about 8 km (5.0 mi) along the Brunei river (Sungei Brunei). It is a well preserved national heritage site, the largest of its kind in the world with approximately 30,000 residents. The Kampong is over 1,000 years old. The name Venice of the East was coined by Antonio Pigafetta in honour of the water village he encountered at Kota Batu (just east of city's central business district). Pigafetta was on Magellan's voyages in 1521.

Parks and trails

• The Waterfront

This latest addition to the beautiful Bandar Seri Begawan is strategically overlooking the historical Kg. Ayer. The approximately 1.8-hectare (4.4-acre) site took almost three years to be completed and was officially opened to the public on 28 May 2011. The Waterfront is accessible to everyone as it is open 24 hours where public can enjoy sightseeing and take a break at the outdoor cafes offering varieties of drinks and dishes.

• Persiaran Damuan

This narrow strip of landscaped park between Jalan Tutong and the Sungei Brunei was created in 1986 as a "Square". It has a permanent display of the work of a sculptor from each of the original ASEAN countries. The 1 km (0.62 mi)-long park has pleasant walkways bordered by shrubs and the mangrove fringed Pulau Ranggu where two species of monkeys live, including the notable Proboscis Monkey only found in Borneo. The park also offers some of the best views of the Istana Nurul Iman.

Brunei Darussalam's sculpture at Persiaran Damuan.

• Jalan Tasek Lama

Located just a few minutes walk from the city centre, this is a popular trekking trail for the local residents of Bandar Seri Begawan. There are well made walkaways through the small park which has benches and picnic spots as well as a waterfall and ponds with water lilies.

• Bukit Subok Recreational Park

The park offers a great view of the Kampong Ayer and downtown Bandar Seri Begawan. There is a well maintained wooden walkaway with viewing huts along the way. These huts provide a good vantage points of Kampong Ayer and its surroundings.

Transportation

The main bus station is located at Jalan Cator.

Water taxis awaiting passengers near Jalan MacArthur.

Land

The capital is connected to Bus of Bandar Seri Begawan the western part of the country by road. To get to the eastern part of Brunei (Temburong) it is necessary to travel through Sarawak which is in Malaysia, via the town of Limbang which is accessed by the Kuala Lurah Bus terminal. To get to Bandar Seri Begawan from the west, access is via Miri town in Sarawak via the Sungai Tujuh Bus terminal and then along the coastal highway.

The main bus station in the city is located in Jalan Cator underneath a multi-story car park. There are six bus routes servicing Bandar Seri Begawan area; the Central Line, Circle Line, Eastern Line, Southern Line, Western Line and Northern Line. The buses operate from 6.30 am till 6.00pm except for Bus No. 1 and 20 which have extended to the night. All bus routes begin and terminate their journey at the main bus terminal. Buses heading to other towns in Brunei such as Tutong, Seria and Kuala Belait also depart from the main bus terminal and Taxicab.

Air

Brunei International Airport serves the whole country. It is 11 km (6.8 mi) from the town centre and can be reached in 10 minutes via the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Highway.

Water

A water taxi service known as 'penambang' is used for transportation between downtown Bandar Seri Begawan and Kampong Ayer. Water taxis are the most common means of negotiating the waterways of Kampung Ayer. They can be hailed from the numerous "docking parts" along the banks of the Brunei River. Fares are negotiable. Regular water taxi and boat services depart for Temburong between 7:45 am and 4 pm daily, and also serve the Malaysian towns of Limbang, Lawas, Sundar and Labuan. A speedboat is used for passengers travelling to Penamdang Ferry Service and from Bangar and Limbang.

Economy

The city produces furniture, textiles, handicrafts, and timber. Royal Brunei Airlines, the national airline, has its head office in the RBA Plaza in the city.^[15][16]

Gadong is where many shopping complexes located. From the infamous The Mall Gadong to McDonald and locals favourite fastfood restaurant, Ayamku Restaurant are concentrated here. Another shopping complexes located just nearby the International Airport, Serusop.

Education

All levels of education are available in Bandar Seri Begawan from kindergarten to the tertiary level. The Universiti Brunei Darussalam, established on 28 October 1985, only a year after the sultanate regained full independence, is located 4.5 km (2.8 mi) from the city centre.^[17] It is the oldest and also the largest university in Brunei in terms of student enrolment and curriculum offered. The Sultanate's second university, Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali, is also located in Bandar Seri Begawan's suburb of Gadong. It was established on 1 January 2007^[18] as an Islamic university.

Higher educational institutes in Bandar Seri Begawan include Maktab Sains Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan (Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan College of Science), Institute Teknologi of Brunei (Brunei Institute of Technology), Maktab Jururawat Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah (the only nursing college in Brunei), Maktab Teknik Sultan Saiful Rijal (Sultan Saiful Rijal Technical College), Pusat Tingkatan Enam Katok and Pusat Tingkatan Enam Meragang (Meragang Sixth Form Centre).

Schools in the capital include Chung Hwa Middle School, St. George's School, St. Andrew's School, International School Brunei (ISB), Jerudong International School, Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan, and Institut Tahfiz Al Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (ITQSHHB).

International relations

Several countries have set up their embassies, commissions or consulates in Bandar Seri Begawan, including Australia,^[19] Bangladesh,^[20] Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burma,^[21] Cambodia, Canada,^[22] Chile, China,^[23] Finland,^[24] France,^[25] Germany,^[26] India,^[27] Indonesia,^[28] Japan,^[29] Laos, Malaysia,^[30] Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia,^[31] Singapore,^[32] South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand,^[33] United Kingdom,^[34] United States^[35] and Vietnam.^[36][37]

Sister city

Bandar Seri Begawan currently has only one sister city:

Gallery

The Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque facade  Kampong Ayer  Memorial depicting 60 in Arabic, to commemorate the His Majesty the Sultan's 60th birthday  Tomb of the late Sultan Sharif Ali, also known as Sultan Berkat, the third Sultan of Brunei, who ruled 1426-1432  Street scenery, Jalan Sultan  Outside view of the Royal Regalia Building  Sungai Brunei (Brunei river)  Street in Gadong, the main shopping centre of Bandar Seri Begawan

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bandar Seri Begawan.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Bandar Seri Begawan.

• Municipal Department of Bandar Seri Begawan