Fort Margherita
Fort Margherita
4
9:00 AM - 4:45 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:45 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:45 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:45 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:45 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:45 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:45 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:45 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
112 reviews
Excellent
42
Very good
47
Average
19
Poor
3
Terrible
1
Jes Koh
4 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Access update. 2023-10
You can see the fort from the Kuching waterfront.
Most obvious way to get here would be to walk across the bridge and access the fort from the highly visible feature staircase leading up to it
HOWEVER ,
The riverfront promenade on the other side is blocked by two steel gates and even if you could access the promenade , the staircase is cut in two ( barricaded ) by the construction site for a new water feature under the flag pole .
The Kuching Information Center had no idea on how to get there after we told them the staircase was blocked.
However a nice local gave us excellent advise reflecting what others have listed here before.
From the jetty in front of Hotel Margherita, take a ferry (sampan ) across to Kampong Boyan on other side.
From there , it is a easy ( uphill ) , well sign posted walk to top of hill adjacent to the fort
NB ; there are no longer ferries operating from the jetties in front of the old Courthouse as in the past .Are either further upstream to Astana or fore mentioned ones from in front of the hotel
You can see the fort from the Kuching waterfront.
Most obvious way to get here would be to walk across the bridge and access the fort from the highly visible feature staircase leading up to it
HOWEVER ,
The riverfront promenade on the other side is blocked by two steel gates and even if you could access the promenade , the staircase is cut in two ( barricaded ) by the construction site for a new water feature under the flag pole .
The Kuching Information Center had no idea on how to get there after we told them the staircase was blocked.
However a nice local gave us excellent advise reflecting what others have listed here before.
From the jetty in front of Hotel Margherita, take a ferry (sampan ) across to Kampong Boyan on other side.
From there , it is a easy ( uphill ) , well sign posted walk to top of hill adjacent to the fort
NB ; there are no longer ferries operating from the jetties in front of the old Courthouse as in the past .Are either further upstream to Astana or fore mentioned ones from in front of the hotel
Written October 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TK How
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia22 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Small museum but interesting. They kept many historical items from Brooke’s family. I can see the reasons why Sarawakians are so friendly and united. It’s really built from their root. Good place to spend 1 to 2 hours of your trip. Highly recommended.
Written February 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear teckkienhow,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback and experience on your recent visit to Fort Margherita as well as the Brooke Gallery.
We are glad that you had enjoyed the exhibits that we had put up and that you had enjoyed your time spent here. We are also pleased that the exhibition had led you to the certain level of understanding of the unique heritage that Sarawak has.
We look forward to welcome you again to any of our museums in the future.
Thank you.
Kind regards,
Adams
Written February 8, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Donald F
Edinburgh, UK648 contributions
Mar 2023 • Solo
If you like history, visit both this Fort and the exhibition at the Old Courthouse. They detail the Brooke family who ruled Sarawak for 100 years. Take a sampan over the river to the Fort - only 1 ringgit each way.
Written March 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Catherine
Singapore, Singapore605 contributions
Apr 2019 • Solo
The fort has been beautifully restored and wonderfully curated to tell the story of the first two “white rajahs”, James And Charles Brooke, in particular. It does go on until the cessation post WWII as well.
Entry is 20 ringgit for adult foreigners, but you can have local rate of 10 if you’re living/working in Malaysia.
Easiest way to get there is using the river boat and then walking up through the kampong for 10 minutes.
Entry is 20 ringgit for adult foreigners, but you can have local rate of 10 if you’re living/working in Malaysia.
Easiest way to get there is using the river boat and then walking up through the kampong for 10 minutes.
Written April 10, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear catherinemac24,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback and experience on your recent visit to Fort Margherita as well as the Brooke Gallery.
We hoped that you had a great time in discovering the fort as well as going through the exhibits in the Brooke Gallery.
We look forward to welcoming you again to Sarawak, in general, and to any of our museums in the future, in particular.
Thank you.
Kind regards,
Adams
Written April 10, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Phil_Dr
UK82 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
If you have read anything about Sarawak and Kuching you will have read about the White Raja’s, the Brookes dynasty.
Fort Margherita has an excellent exhibition detailing the foundation, duration and legacy of these Rajahs.
Three floors of interesting exhibits,photos and descriptions, and a great view of the city from the top of the Fort. Only 20MR each for over overseas visitors
From the Hilton hotel, the Fort is straight over the river. Got to be a short walk.
From the hotel, along the riverbank and over the new footbridge. Then past the Sarawak Assembly building: dead simple. Except the Assembly building is fenced off. It’s more than a mile to walk to the Fort Margherita. And it’s always hot in Kuching.
So, river taxi back. Got to be easy, surely? Nope, another hour to walk to the Encik Omar Jetty. Oh, and that’s along a dual carriageway without a footpath.
However, it does look like as part of the development/upgrade of Fort Margherita that simple access to the river walk/boardwalk is being made. If so, it will hugely improve access from the main town side of the river in Kuching.
Definitely make Fort Margherita part of your visit to Kuching.
Fort Margherita has an excellent exhibition detailing the foundation, duration and legacy of these Rajahs.
Three floors of interesting exhibits,photos and descriptions, and a great view of the city from the top of the Fort. Only 20MR each for over overseas visitors
From the Hilton hotel, the Fort is straight over the river. Got to be a short walk.
From the hotel, along the riverbank and over the new footbridge. Then past the Sarawak Assembly building: dead simple. Except the Assembly building is fenced off. It’s more than a mile to walk to the Fort Margherita. And it’s always hot in Kuching.
So, river taxi back. Got to be easy, surely? Nope, another hour to walk to the Encik Omar Jetty. Oh, and that’s along a dual carriageway without a footpath.
However, it does look like as part of the development/upgrade of Fort Margherita that simple access to the river walk/boardwalk is being made. If so, it will hugely improve access from the main town side of the river in Kuching.
Definitely make Fort Margherita part of your visit to Kuching.
Written October 31, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Phil_Dr
Thank you for taking the time to submit your feedback on your recent visit to Fort Margherita and for sharing your positive experience! It is much appreciated.
We are delighted that you found your experience interesting, and thank you for suggesting other ways our visitors can make the most of their journey.
We look forward to welcoming you again to the Brooke Gallery in the future.
Kind regards,
Written November 8, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Richard M
Builth Wells, UK265 contributions
Aug 2019
We spent a couple of hours enjoying the museum and the fort. if you want to learn about Sarawak and the various tribes and the influence of the European settlers this is well worth the visit
Written October 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Richard M,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback and experience on your recent visit to Fort Margherita as well as the Brooke Gallery.
We are glad that you had enjoyed your time spent here. It is our main aim to share with visitors the unique history and heritage Sarawak has. And hopefully, our visitors will share it with their family and friends back at home.
We look forward to welcome you again to any of our museums in the future.
Thank you.
Kind regards,
Adams
Written October 28, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jonathan W
Singapore, Singapore149 contributions
Dec 2019
This is a well-presented museum, which provides some balanced history of Sarawak, Kuching and the Brookes.
It is not accessible, however, and there is a tight stair-case to transit between floors, which may not be easy to scale for those without full mobility.
It is not accessible, however, and there is a tight stair-case to transit between floors, which may not be easy to scale for those without full mobility.
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Jonathan W,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback and experience on your recent visit to Fort Margherita as well as the Brooke Gallery.
We are glad that you had enjoyed your time spent here. It is our main aim to share with visitors the unique history and heritage Sarawak has. Mobility issues is something that has been a concern for us and we are figuring out ways on how to offer the same experience to more visitors.
We look forward to welcome you again to any of our museums in the future.
Thank you.
Kind regards,
Adams
Written January 4, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kelly C
69 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
We mistakenly crossed the Hana bridge by foot and realised that there is no direct walking path to the fort. Had we then took a river boat and walk up to the fort. Fort Magherita is a small museum depicting the history of Sarawak. From it, we learned that the Brookes family administered Sarawak for three generations not by European superiority but through mutual trust. The spiral staircase within it is quite unique.
After the visit, we took the river boat to cross the river to go back to the city center. Only RM1 for the boat ride but have to wait till sizeable passenger load.
After the visit, we took the river boat to cross the river to go back to the city center. Only RM1 for the boat ride but have to wait till sizeable passenger load.
Written December 12, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear kellycX8888RA,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback on your recent visit to the Brooke gallery as well as the Fort Margherita.
We are glad that you had enjoyed your visit here. At the current moment, a new path way is still under construction to link the fort grounds to an existing jetty on the riverbank. Once it is completed, it will significantly cut short the time and effort needed for visitors to get to the fort.
We hope to welcome you again at our Museums in the future.
Thank you.
Kind regards,
Adams
Written December 14, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sketchguypdx
18 contributions
Aug 2019
To understand the founding of modern Sarawak and its ruling "white rajahs" a visit it the fort and its Brooke Gallery is essential. Climb the steep, narrow, winding stair case (at your own risk) to stand atop and look out over the ramparts to view the countryside for miles around. In a highly defensible position, it's apparent why the fort was located here. If you go, pay for a taxi right to itand avoid all that sweaty hiking and the uncertainty of finding it, after the fun of a river taxi.
Written August 25, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Sketchguypdx,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback on your recent visit to the Brooke gallery as well as the Fort Margherita. We are glad that you felt that it is essential for visitors to come here to understand the unique history of Sarawak.
At the current moment, a new path way is being constructed to link the fort grounds to an existing jetty on the riverbank. It will significantly cut short the time and effort needed for visitors to get to the fort.
We hope that you enjoyed your trip to Sarawak and we look forward to welcome you again at our Museums in the future.
Thank you.
Kind regards,
Adams
Written August 26, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Explorin-the-world
Saint Louis, MO27 contributions
Jul 2019 • Family
We visited Fort Margherita thinking we would get a nice view of the city (which we did), but the museum was much better than expected. It told the entire story of the Brooks arrival and uniting of the people in Sarawak and eventually most of Borneo Malaysia. The Fort itself is also interesting and fun to walk around - especially for children. They are building a new path from the river boardwalk, and this will make it easier and more enjoyable to visit the Fort. As it is now, you need to wind your way up some back roads and stairs from the boat taxi jetty, pass a couple of abandoned building and then follow a path along the newly constructed trellis garden. It is not very far, but with Google maps assuring us that we were going to right direction, we might have turned back. Glad we didn't!
Written July 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear DP_StL,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback on your recent visit to the Brooke gallery as well as the Fort Margherita. We are glad that you had enjoyed the little adventure you had in reaching the Fort.
We hope that you could share with your friends and families back home on the history and heritage of Sarawak that you had discovered here. We look forward to welcome you again at our Museums in the future.
Thank you.
Kind regards,
Adams
Written July 30, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Are you metal images taken from the Heroes monument? Most didn't seem to be there on the museum grounds. And Esca, he is a Brooke too?
Written August 1, 2017
Thunder B,
I have only taken pictures from inside the building and rooftop.
Esca is a Brooke too, son of Charles Brooke.
There is quite a bit of history brought together in this museum.
cheers
Henry
Written February 14, 2018
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