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Bandar Seri Begawan Bandar Brunei
Municipality
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): BSB, Bandar
Bandar Seri Begawan Show map of Brunei Bandar Seri Begawan Show map of Asia
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 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
Government
• Body	Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Department
Area
• Municipality	100.36 km2 (38.75 sq mi)
Population
• Estimate (2007)	100,700[1]
• Density	1,395/km2 (3,610/sq mi)
• Urban	279,924
• Demonym	Seri Begawanese / Orang Bandar
Time zone	UTC+8 (BNT)
Area code(s)	+673 02
Website	www.municipal-bsb.gov.bn

Bandar Seri Begawan (/ˌbɑːndər sɪˌriː bɪˈɡaʊ.ən/ or /ˌbæn-/ BA(H)ND-ər si-REE bi-GOW-ən) (Jawi: بندر سري بڬاوان ; Malay: [ˌbanda səˌri bəˈɡawan]) (formerly known as Brunei Town) is the capital city of the Sultanate of Brunei. It is officially governed as a municipality (Malay: bandaran). Bandar Seri Begawan has an estimated population of 100,700,^[1] and including the whole Brunei-Muara District, the metro area has an estimated population of 279,924.^[2]

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".^[3] Omar was then made the defence minister and on 5 October 1970, the city was renamed to honour him.^[3][4][5][6] The word Begawan was also used for Bruneian monarchs who have abdicated, the word originally coming from the Sanskrit word for "god": भगवान् bhagavān. Besides that, Seri Begawan was known as "blessed one" in Sanskrit.^[4]Seri comes from the honorific Sanskrit word श्री Sri, and Bandar comes from Persian via Indian languages and originally meant "harbour" or "port" or "haven".^[4][6] In Malay, the word bandar means "town" or a "city".

History

Human settlement in Brunei can be traced back to the 6th and 7th century with a Malay trading centre and fishing port near the current site of the city.^[4] The first settlement on the banks of the Brunei River can be traced to the 8th century where there had been settlements similar to those in Kampong Ayer, near the present site of the Brunei Museum with the modern city on the opposite shore.^[7]

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,^[8][9] with the water settlement near the city area became the third centre of the administration (after moving twice from Kota Batu and Kampong Ayer).^{[4][5][6][10]} When the Sultanate rule declined through the 18th century due to the arrival of Western powers such as the Spanish, Dutch, and the British, the settlement population decreased from its peak of 20,000 inhabitants.^[4]

From 1888 until its independence in 1984, Brunei was 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.^[10] In 1899, first oil well was drilled at Ayer Bekunchi near Kampung Kasat, Bandar Seri Begawan. Although the well was drilled to a depth of 259 metres (850 feet), no oil was found. Oil exploration in Brunei later shifted to Seria and Belait District in 1924.^[11][12][13] Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II established a new palace on the west bank in 1909 after been persuaded by the British,^[5] along with the arrival of Chinese traders to boost the economy. Mosque and government buildings were built along the western shores in 1920.^[4] In the same year, the new settlement was declared as the new capital of Brunei and became a municipal area.^[10]

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

Brunei Town in 1950, with the starting of redevelopment

However, the city prosperity was almost ended when it was captured by the Japanese in 1941, before being recaptured by the Allied forces in 1945. During the war, most infrastructure was destroyed by Japanese and Allied bombing.^[14] The British began reconstructing most of its possessions in Borneo at the end of 1945 with the restoration of law and order and the reopening of schools.^[14]

In 1950, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, upon his ascension to the throne, negotiated with the British for an increase in corporate taxes, growing from 10% to 30% in 1953. A M$1.2 million (US$0.39 million) allotment to Brunei for war damages during the Japanese occupation increased from M$1 million in 1946 to M$100 million (US$32.6 million) in 1952. A five-year development plan with a budget of M$100 million was also implemented in 1953, with infrastructure receiving the largest percentage (80%) and the rest going toward social programmes.^[14] Together with the expansion of the oil and gas industry, commercialisation began to transform Brunei's capital and a large number of public buildings were constructed, along with the development of a central business district in the 1970s and 1980s.^[4][5] On 1 August 2007, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah gave consent for the expansion of the city from 12.87 km² (4.97 sq mi) to 100.36 km² (38.75 sq mi).^[6]

Capital city

Istana Nurul Iman is the seat of the Brunei government and is the largest residential palace in the world according to Guinness World Records.^[15] There are two prime minister offices in the city: one is located inside Istana Nurul Iman and another one is located at Jalan Kumbang Pasang.^[16][17]

Local authority and city definition

The city is administered by the Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Department, a department which was originally responsible to maintain the cleanliness and provide services to the municipality. The locality achieved the status of city in 1920.^[18]

With an area of 100.36 square kilometres, the city is located in the most populous district of Brunei namely Brunei-Muara District.^[19] The city comprises the following Mukims (subdivisions of a district):^[20]

However, 6 mukims are collectively known as Kampong Ayer or Water Village namely: Burong Pinggai Ayer, Sungai Kebun, Sungai Kedayan, Peramu, Saba, and Tamoi.

Geography

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

Climate

Brunei features a tropical rainforest climate which is relatively hot and wet.^[21] The city sees heavy precipitation throughout the course of the year with the Northeast Monsoon blows from December to March, while the Southeast Monsoon around June to October.^[22]

Demography

Ethnicity and religion

The Bruneian Census 2011 Report estimated the population of Bandar Seri Begawan to be approximately 20,000, while the metropolitan area has around 279,924.^[26][2] The majority of Bruneians are Malays, with Chinese being the most significant minority group.^[2] Aboriginal groups such as the Bisaya, Belait, Dusun, Kedayan, Lun Bawang, Murut and Tutong also exist. They are classified as part of the Malay ethnic groups and have been given the Bumiputera privileges.^[26] Large numbers of foreign workers are also found within Brunei and the capital city, with the majority being from Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia (mostly Betawi) and the Indian subcontinent.^[27][28]

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 has tunnels that are used by the sultan on journeys through the town. It is considered by some to be one of the world's most beautiful mosques,^[29]
  


• 
  Jame'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque – This is the largest mosque in Brunei. It was built to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the sultan's reign. It is known locally as the Kiarong mosque.


• Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam Mosque – This green mosque is next to Jalan Jerudong.


• Ash Shaliheen Mosque – This mosque is next to the prime minister's office in Bandar Seri Begawan. Its architecture is inspired by Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Saudi Arabia and Spain's Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba.


• Surau Brunei International Airport – This surau (small mosque) is next to Brunei International Airport.

Historical sites

• Late sultan Bolkiah's tomb in Kota Batu


• Late sultan Sharif Ali's tomb in Kota Batu


• Royal Wharf

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.

The Royal Mausoleum (Kubah Makam Di Raja)

Located away from the banks of Brunei River, behind the Freshco Shopping Centre 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 ten sultans, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin (1950–1967), who died in 1986, Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin (1924–1950), Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II (1906–1924), Sultan Hashim (1885–1906), Sultan Abdul Momin (1852-1885), Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II (1828-1852), Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam (1807-1826), Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam I who ruled less than a year in 1804, Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin (1778-1804,1804-1807), and Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin I (1740-1778). Other members of the royal families from those times are also buried there.

Dang Ayang Mausoleum

A legendary figure who was chased away from Kampong Ayer for committing adultery. Adultery was a taboo in Bruneian society. She died in what we know today as Pusat Bandar (Central City). However some sources^[who?] say that she was a Queen of Brunei.

Istana Darussalam

This Istana or Palace is located near to the river. It is one of the oldest non-residential palaces in Brunei. This palace was where the Begawan Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin III resided and where Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah was born. It is not open to the public.

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 Museum

• 
  Royal Regalia Museum – 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.


• Brunei History Centre – Located at Jalan Sultan next to the Royal Regalia Museum 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.


• 
  Bumbungan Dua Belas – 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. It is located 3 km southwest of the city centre. 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 Corporation, mixing Malay and Islamic elements in the building architecture.^[30] It contains 1,788 rooms, with 257 bathrooms, and a banquet hall that can accommodate up to 5,000 guests. The palace only opens to public during the yearly three-day Hari Raya Adilfitri celebration.^[31]

Kampong Ayer

Kampong Ayer

The city's suburb incorporates nearby Kampong Ayer (water village), in which houses were built on stilts and stretches about 8 km (5.0 mi) along the Brunei river. It was founded 1,000 years ago.^[32] The village is considered the largest stilt settlement in the world with approximately 30,000 residents and 2,000 houses.^[33] "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 Ferdinand Magellan's last voyages when he visited Brunei in 1521.^[34]

Parks and trails

The Waterfront

This latest addition to 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 located 11 km (6.8 mi) from the town centre and can be reached in 10 minutes via the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Highway. Royal Brunei Airlines, the national airline, has its head office in the RBA Plaza in the city.^[35][36]

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 Penambang Ferry Service and from Bangar and Limbang.

Economy

The city produces furniture,^[37]textiles, handicrafts, and timber.^[38][39]

Shopping

Brunei has a number of shopping areas, including the following:

• Gadong Central is where many shopping complexes, shops and restaurants are located (e.g., The Mall Gadong, Western fast food restaurants and Ayamku, the local fast food chain). There is also a night market called Pasar Malam Gadong.


• Serusop Complex, Few small shopping malls and shopping complexes can be found near Brunei International Airport.


• Rimba, a medium-sized mall with Giant supermarket.


• Tungku-link Commercial Complex, various shophouses and local and Korean restaurants, textiles shops, carpet.


• Beribi Complex


• Kiulap Commercial Precinct in Kiarong, Kiulap Mall, private colleges, banks and various restaurants from local to Pakistani and Korean restaurants.


• Abdul Razak Complex and Seri Complex in Jalan Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha, Batu Satu.

Traditional markets

Tamu Kianggeh

The open market brings together numerous small entrepreneurs selling local vegetables, fruits, live chickens and fish, potted plants, assorted food and beverages.

Pasar Pelbagai Barangan Gadong / Pasar Malam (night market)

Located a few metres away from the Mall Gadong, the market brings together numerous small entrepreneurs just like in Tamu Kianggeh. However, it focuses more on selling foods such as sate, soto, national dishes like nasi katok and ambuyat, fruits and beverages, and wooden handicrafts. During the day, it is where local botanists sell their potted plants.

Education

All levels of education are available in Bandar Seri Begawan from kindergarten to the tertiary level.

Primary and secondary

There are several primary and secondary schools in Bandar Seri Begawan which may be government or private. Nevertheless, the curriculum in all of the schools, except Seri Mulia Sarjana International School, are standardised and set by the Ministry of Education, as with the schools elsewhere in the country.

Religious

There are also several religious schools which provide Islamic education for the Muslim pupils. The schools that can be found in the capital include primary religious schools as well as Arabic preparatory schools, which provide preparatory education in Arabic medium for entry into the secondary level of the Arabic religious stream. There is also a specialised secondary religious school, Institut Tahfiz Al-Qur'an Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, which aims to produce local hafiz.^[40] The curriculum in these schools is set by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Sixth form

There are two sixth form centres in the capital and they are government schools. Duli Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah College provides sixth form in the general stream where as Hassanal Bolkiah Boys' Arabic Secondary School is for leavers of Arabic secondary religious schools.

Universities and colleges

Technical and vocational

Technical and vocational education are available in the two campuses of the Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE) as well as the main campus of Brunei Polytechnic. The Business Campus and Sultan Saiful Rijal Campus, which are part of IBTE, were once separate schools, known as Business School (Sekolah Perdagangan) and Sultan Saiful Rijal Technical College (Maktab Teknik Sultan Saiful Rijal) respectively.^[41]

Vocational education is also available in a few private institutions, which provide diploma- and certificate-level courses.

Higher

Two of the four national universities of the country can be found in the capital. Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University, located in Gadong area, offers degree programmes in Islamic studies,^[42] where as Seri Begawan Religious Teachers University College is a teacher training college which produces teachers in Islamic religious education mainly for the religious schools in the country. The other two universities, University of Brunei Darussalam and University of Technology Brunei, are located in Tungku, which is not part of Bandar Seri Begawan but located on its outskirts.

There are also two private colleges which offer bachelor programmes, namely International Graduate Studies College and Laksamana College of Business.^[43][44]

International relations

Several countries have set up their embassies, commissions or consulates in Bandar Seri Begawan, including Australia,^[45] Bangladesh,^[46] Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burma,^[47] Cambodia, Canada,^[48] Chile, China,^[49] Finland,^[50] France,^[51] Germany,^[52] India,^[53] Indonesia,^[54] Japan,^[55] Laos, Malaysia,^[56] Netherlands, New Zealand, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia,^[57] Singapore,^[58]South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand,^[59] United Kingdom,^[60] United States^[61] and Vietnam.^[62][63]

Sister city

Bandar Seri Begawan currently has only one sister city:

• 
  Nanjing, China^[64]
  

Gallery

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  View of the Judiciary complex with the City Centre and Kampong Ayer in the background
  

  
  

  
  


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  Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque facade
  

  
  

  
  


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  Kampong Ayer
  

  
  

  
  


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  Memorial depicting 60 in Arabic, to commemorate the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's 60th birthday
  

  
  

  
  


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  Tomb of Sharif Ali, also known as Barkat Ali, the third Sultan of Brunei, who ruled 1426–1432
  

  
  

  
  


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  Street view of Jalan Masjid Omar 'Ali Saifuddien
  

  
  

  
  


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  Outside view of the Royal Regalia Building
  

  
  

  
  


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  Sungai Brunei (Brunei River)
  

  
  

  
  


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  Street in Gadong, one of the main commercial areas 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


• KEMUDA Institute