Kota Belud - Places of Interest

Kota Belud is a town located in the West Coast Division of the state of Sabah, Malaysia. It is located roughly at the midpoint of the federal highway connecting the state capital, Kota Kinabalu, and Kudat, near the northern tip of Sabah.

The town is considered the unofficial capital and gateway to the heartland of the Bajau people. It is also noted for its open air market, or tamu, which is held every Sunday. Once a year, the tamu is held on a much larger scale. During this time, it is known as the Tamu Besar or Grand Market.

This town makes for a useful stopover if you're en route to Mantanani, Kota Marudu or Kudat. Other than the gold mosque on the hill, and the presence of cows wandering the streets, the town's Sunday tamu (market) – a congested, colourful melee of vendors, hagglers and hawkers – is definitely worth your camera's time.

Once a year in October, Kota Belud hosts the famous Tamu Besar – the biggest tamu organised in Sabah. Organised annually in Kota Belud, the Tamu Besar is a plethora of smells,sights and sounds as vendors proudly set up their stalls to sell a variety of goods, ranging from fresh produce to traditional handicraft.

The main highlights of this event include a buffalo race, the crowning of the Ratu Sarempak (Sarempak Queen) and a colourful parade of horses and Bajau horsemen, known as the Cowboys of the East. This is one tamu not to be missed.