Kuching is the capital of Sarawak and by a considerable margin the most pleasant and interesting city on Malaysian Borneo. The name means "cat" in Malay — a fact celebrated with sculptural enthusiasm throughout the city — though the actual origin is disputed. The city's character is shaped by its long history as the seat of the Brooke family, the White Rajahs who governed Sarawak as a private kingdom from 1841 to 1941, and by its layered mix of Malay, Chinese, and indigenous Dayak cultures that coexist here with unusual ease.
The Sarawak River divides the city, and the south bank waterfront esplanade runs past colonial-era buildings, food stalls, and river views across to the Astana — the White Rajahs' palace, now the Governor's residence — and Fort Margherita, which guarded the river approach. The Main Bazaar and Carpenter Street are lined with shophouses selling handicrafts and textiles. The Old Courthouse with the Brooke Memorial anchors the historic centre.
The Sarawak Museum is one of the best ethnographic museums in Southeast Asia, covering the material culture of Borneo's indigenous peoples with genuine depth. The city's food scene rewards exploration: kolo mee, laksa Sarawak, and midin (wild jungle fern) are all worth seeking out at the open-air coffee shops around Padungan. The Satok weekend market draws an almost entirely local crowd. Beyond the city, Bako National Park about 37 km north is one of the best places in Southeast Asia to see proboscis monkeys.