Visiting Brunei

Brunei, one of the smallest nations of the world, was once the capital of the great empire that ruled over all of the Borneo. Smallest but one of the richest nation of the world as well because of the huge amounts of oil reserves it has. This underground wealth has resulted in a great infrastructure as well as it has left the natural beauty of the place intact as people here don’t have a need to use the resources like timber which means it boasts some of the Borneo’s most intact rain forests.

Bandar Seri Begawan is the capital of the country and is its only international airport. The national airline of the country Royal Brunei fly’s frequent flights for destinations worldwide and offers a good quality service at competitive rates. You can get a direct flight to Bandar Seri Begawan from many airports of Europe and Asia. Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airline and Qantas also flys to Brunei.

Finding accommodation in the capital is easy as it has not yet become a favorite destination for the travelers. You can start your tour of the country with the capital itself. The glorious mosques and the beautiful river villages in the vicinity of the city along with its museums and parks, Bandar Seri Begawan offers a lot to its visitor in a small area.

You can start your visit with the tour of Ali Omar Saifudin Mosque in the centre of the city. This glorious mosque was built in 1951 and bears the name of the late Sultan of Brunei, father of the present ruler of the country. With its 44 m minaret, it is the tallest building in the central BSB and if you consider the fact that it is standing in an artificial lagoon, the feat of engineering surely seems astounding.

To get a feel of the real Brunei, the one that it was before the discovery of black Gold here, you can take a boat from the capital and by travelling 45 minutes up river you will find the old river villages. There are a few decent hotels available in the villages like Kuala Balai.

The museums of the city of Bandar Seri Begawan are also a great attraction of the city. You can visit the Malay Technology Museum, Which provides extensive information about the Ancient Culture and architecture of Brunei’s people. The Brunei Museum is also a famous sight of the city as most of the items here were once in use of the Royal family.

The lush Rainforest parks like Taman Perganian with their picnic zones and relaxing atmosphere are indeed worth a visit.