Brunei: the capital of Brunei, population, attractions. Holiday in Brunei

Not every Russian, probably, has heard about such a state as Brunei. Nevertheless, this sultanate is known from the Chinese chronicles of the XV century, however, under other names: Puni, Polo, Poli. A little later, in the XVI century, it was a powerful empire, which influenced its influence part of the Philippines and almost the entire Borneo. The protectorate of Great Britain - from the end of the XIX century, since 1984 - an independent state, headed by the sultan. Today we will expand your knowledge of the country called Brunei. The capital of the state is Bandar Seri Begawan.

Location of the Sultanate

If you have never heard of such a state, the first question will be: "Where is Brunei?" It is located on the island of Kalimantan, its north-west coast. It consists of the eastern and western regions, separated by a Malaysian territory about 30 kilometers wide. Somewhere 85% of its area is covered with a huge rainforest, overgrown mainly with valuable trees. There are several rivers flowing into the South China Sea: Temburong, Pandaruan, Tutong, Belait, all of them are small in size. By the way, being interested in where Brunei is, pay attention to the fact that the full name of the state is Brunei Darussalam, which translates as "the refuge of the world". The climate here is equatorial, humid, because it is exposed to monsoons from the South China Sea.

The population of Brunei

About 400 thousand people live in this country. As we know, in many countries the population is steadily declining. Brunei, nevertheless, a state for which it is not typical. It has a positive annual population growth of 1.73%. Women here live on average 78 years, men - 74. The ethnic composition of the population is as follows: indigenous people, Malays, here 67%, Chinese - 17%, Indians and Europeans - 9%, Diyac Aborigines - 6%. The standard of living depends entirely on oil production in local fields, employing approximately 30,000 technical and civilian personnel from New Zealand, Australia, England and workers from South-East Asia. Distributed in the country are Chinese and English, official - Malay. Most people are literate, women - 90%, men - 95%. The density of population is uneven, but on average - 62 people per square kilometer, and one third of them live in the capital. In cities - 75% of the total number, as well as many live in oil production sites. The state religion is Islam.

Brunei - the sights of the country. General overview

This country is a typical state of the Islamic world. Tourists who come here to relax should take this fact into account, so as not to get into trouble. There is practically no night life here, it's necessary to behave in public places strictly according to the rules. What does the traveler have to do? To get acquainted with the history of the East and its traditions, to examine its sights, to look at the primeval nature. So, if you arrived in Brunei, the capital of the Sultanate is exactly the place from which to begin your acquaintance with the state.

We are inspecting Bandar Seri Begawan

In addition to the fact that it is the capital, it is also the only big city in the country. Modern, clean and tidy, with wide quality roads, high-rise buildings, markets and, of course, mosques. Nevertheless, almost at every step there is a real national flavor - many houses are made in the oriental style, religious buildings are framed by parks and gardens, next to the bank offices and palaces with old, the beginning of the oil production era, houses. Istana-Nurul-Iman - the most beautiful palace of the Sultan - the main attraction of the capital, the largest residential palace in the whole world. It is located on the coastal strip, in the west of the city center, in a very picturesque place. It stands out by combining in one object a very expensive modern decoration, local traditions and Islamic architecture. Imagine: 1778 rooms, 51 000 lamps, 44 staircases, 18 elevators and several throne rooms - all in one palace! From England, chandeliers were brought there, from Shanghai - granite, from Italy - marble. At the end of Ramadan, the palace can be visited by any person, in accordance with local traditions. If you arrive in Brunei, the capital of the state, the city of Bandar Seri Begawan, will show many other magnificent buildings.

Omar-Ali-Saifuddin Mosque

This is a colossal building - one of the most beautiful and impressive eastern mosques. It was built in 1958 and named after one of the sultans of Brunei, on the 28th. It is a symbol of Islam in the state. This giant structure has 52 meters in height and bells of gold, which are decorated with magnificent mosaics, a 44-meter-high minaret and many decorative architectural elements. A building was built on the shores of an artificial lagoon, right by the river bank. Access inside for non-Muslims is closed, and they can not inspect the luxurious interior of the mosque. Nearby is the largest shopping mall of the country - Yayasan-Sultan-Hadji-Hassanal-Bolkia-Foundation, built in 1996. So know: if you fly here on vacation, Brunei will not let you go without shopping.

Jerudong Park - the green zone of the capital

This landmark is a huge beautiful green zone, which turned into a real entertainment and sports complex, which is under the patronage of the Sultan. Entrance to the complex is free. There are: a first-class croquet court, a golf course, a polo stadium, a go-kart track, and a shooting range. Some tourists expressed their complaints by visiting Brunei. Reviews say that not all the objects of this complex travelers could get. Some people are allowed only if invited by one of the members of the club. And where do ordinary tourists have such acquaintances or friends? But, having got to the nearby Luna-park, they calmed down, having seen a huge variety of attractions and entertainments. For religious reasons, there are no chic beaches in the country. The whole of Brunei, the capital of it, more precisely, has one beach - equipped and modern. It is just behind the Luna Park. It has a well developed recreation infrastructure, and, in addition, there are many trays that sell fish and other marine delicacies.

Temburong - the ecological zone of the country

Brunei - the country is not so small. There are other interesting places in it, except those located in the capital. Let's share some information about one of them. In the eastern part of the state there are many marshes and rivers, evergreen forests, where millions of the most diverse living beings live. The main attractions of this region are Ulu-Teburung, National Park, Bukit-Patoi - an ecological trail, as well as ethnic colorful villages inhabited by the people of Murut, Malay and iban. Due to the fact that Ulu-Teburung Park is located relatively far from the central places and has a difficult terrain, the authorities managed to preserve the ideal natural environment wherever there is a wide variety of animals and plants. The area of the Batu-Apoi forest, on the territory of which this park is located, is almost 50 thousand hectares.

Where to stay a tourist

On the territory of the country there are not as many hotels as in some other tourist places. But for those travelers who still got here, there are enough places where you can comfortably accommodate. Here are some of the upscale hotels in Brunei: Rizqun International 5 *, The Empire 5 *, Empire Hotel & County Club 5 *, The Centrepoint 4 *. A bit simpler: Abdul Razak 3 *, Terrace 3 *, Riverview 3 *, Pusat Belia Youth. By the way, the list does not end there. The majority is located in the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan. Many travelers know the only branded international hotel - Sheraton Utama.