Main Bazaar, Kuching

Part of Kuching heritage that facing the waterfront, the Kuching Main Bazaar is made up of a row of two storey shophouses on one of Kuching's oldest streets dating back to 1864.

Gone are the days when traders frequented the street with their trades. Nowadays, the Main Bazar area is considered an 'antique arcade' not only for the row of old shophouses and their old-fashioned facade but also for the variety of handicrafts and antiques can be found here - some are said to be even older than the old-fashioned shop houses.

Main Bazaar is one of Kuching's oldest streets (dating back to 1864

It is a street filled with old shop houses selling different kinds of anything you could want to buy at very reasonable prices.
There are lots of handicraft shops that are stacked floor to ceiling with antiques, antique brassware, ceramics, tribal and ethnic arts and crafts, woodcarvings, traditional masks, blowpipes, shields, including Iban icons, Bidayuh bric-a-brac, and Orang Ulu ornaments.
(We had an Iban tour guide on one of our tours)

Lots of nice wooden articles, but be aware of what you can take back to your own country!
I thought it was cheap, and there is so much to choose from!

LOCATION....A street back from the waterfront

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We wandered through the shops of the main bazaar for an hour or so. There is a variety of local crafts and what looked like antiques, but be careful should you be purchasing an "antique".

Our mask looked as though it was crafted last month, colourful and we are very happy with the purchase.

Like all place in Kuching you will be hot after this visit. You will noticethe Deli Cafe is located along this bazaar strip, the ideal place to recover in airconditioned comfor sipping your coffee.

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Main Bazaar is the oldest street in the city. It is the antithesis of Jalan Carpenter. Although the shophouses look like the old shophouses on Jalan Carpenter and Leboh Cina, they are more tourist oriented and fancy souvenir outlets are the norm.

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If you looking at some local souveniers, head to Main Bazaar. The rows of shop sell anything from Bamboo Mat, carved wood, beaded bangles, local foods, tour operators and many more. Open from 9am and close at 9pm. Most of the peddlers will move across the road to waterfront at nite.

Whenever the female species hit to Main Bazaar area, they will go crazy. They can find hundred and one things to buy here. Overspending is almost a certainty.

My female pals visited here almost everyday, except those days that we visited Damai Beach, Cultural Village & Bako National Park.