Miri

98000 Miri
Sarawak
East Malaysia

The Miri Division covers an area of 26,777 square kilometres in the northern-eastern sector of the State, with a coastline of approximately 150 kilometres. It consists of dense tropical rainforests with an enormous variety of vegetation and wild life. The Baram River and its tributaries reach into the remote areas of the Division forming a major form of transportation and water supply.

Miri is more than just a booming oil and timber town; it is the gateway to the northeast region, rapidly becoming Sarawak's most popular tourist area. The town is also gaining a reputation for swinging nightlife as it caters to oil workers and weekend visitors from neighboring Brunei. It is within easy reach of national parks, huge rivers, heritage and adventure travel destinations and some of the best scuba diving in Borneo.

Don't see Miri as just a staging post as it has attractions of its own. Not least is a wide range of accommodation from international class hotels to budget inns, good beaches and dozens of lively restaurants, pubs and bars.   The town's rapid growth has meant the opening of several modern shopping malls, but near the old harbors there are handicraft shops. Exotic jungle produce can be found at the native market opposite the main bus station. The town's most famous landmark is the grand Old Lady on top of Canada Hill, the first well to strike oil in 1910. These days production is offshore and some of the platforms can be see n from Canada Hill.

Good places to meet the local people are Brighton Beach, near the mouth of the Miri River and the open-air seafood centre on the promenade at Taman Selera. Miri also has a number of travel agents specializing in adventure holidays. The Mulu National Park is just 40 minutes away by light aircraft; Niah Caves are less than two hours drive away and you can reach the world's most biodiversity site at Lambir Hills in just 25 minutes. Half a day away by longboat or four-wheel-drive is Loagan Bunut a unique expanding and contracting lake that is a bird watcher's paradise.

Updated On: 04.11.14