Kundasang

Kundasang
Hill Station cum Sub-district of Ranau
Rows of shoplots in Kundasang town.
Seal
Location of Kundasang Town in Ranau District
Kundasang
Coordinates: 5°59′N116°34′E / 5.983°N 116.567°E / 5.983; 116.567
Country	Malaysia
State	Sabah
Division	West Coast
District	Ranau
Subdistrict	Kundasang 1. Nalapak 2. Paginatan 3. Kundasang 4. Liwagu 5. Lipasu 6. Tagudon 7. Karanaan 8. Lohan 9. Bongkud 10. Timbua 11. Malinsau 12. Kaingaran 13. Randagong
Government
•  DUN	Joachim Gunsalam (GRS-PBS) (Kundasang) Masidi Manjun (GRS-Gagasan) (Karanaan)
Elevation	1,900 m (6,200 ft)
Highest elevation	4,095 m (13,435 ft)
Population  (2023)
• Total	~10,000
Time zone	GMT +08:00
Weekly Market	Friday

Kundasang is a hill station and town in the district of Ranau in Sabah, Malaysia that lies along the bank of Kundasang Valley within the Crocker Range, which neighbours Pekan Nabalu in nearby Kota Belud district. It is located about 6 kilometres away from Kinabalu National Park, 15.6 kilometres from Ranau town centre proper and is renowned for its vegetable market which is open seven days a week. It is the closest town to Mount Kinabalu and has a panoramic view of the mountain. It is populated mainly by the native Ranau Dusuns who are mostly Muslims since the colonial rule with a large significant Christian minority (especially in the Bundu Tuhan village where its native Dusun populace are mostly Roman Catholics owing to Christianisation of the tribe during colonial rule from animism by the Mill Hill Missionaries in today's Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu although the vast majority of Christian Dusuns in Ranau are from the Sidang Injil Borneo church) and a small population of Chinese people (mostly Hakkas including those of Sino-Native descent). Notably, almost all the shops are operated by locals.

At an elevation of almost 1,900 m (6,200 ft), it is the highest settlement in Malaysia. Kundasang is also famously known as the New Zealand of Borneo for its unique mountainous geographical terrain almost similar to New Zealand. ^[1] The Desa Cattle Dairy Farm is located within Kundasang. ^[2]

Mountain in Kundasang.

Attractions

Kundasang War Memorial and Gardens

Main article: Kundasang War Memorial

A memorial for the Australian Army during the Death Marches in Kundasang War Memorial.

Kundasang War Memorial commemorates the 2,428 Australian and British prisoners who died during World War II at the Sandakan POW Camp, and the casualties of the three infamous forced death marches from Sandakan to Ranau. ^[3] It also serves as a tribute to the many local people who risked their lives while aiding the prisoners of war. ^{[4] [5]} It has four gardens representing the homelands of those who died. ANZAC Memorial Services and private Memorial Services are welcomed with prior arrangements. ^[3] The Memorial is open to visitors with minimal entrance fees charged. ^[6] An access road with ramp allows easy access for wheelchair users.

Vegetable wholesale stalls

Fruits such as rambutan, salak, oranges and lemons can also be found at the vegetable stalls in Kundasang.

Beside the main road vegetables wholesalers can be found in a long row of wooden stalls (Malay: gerai). Bulk buyers come from all over the state of Sabah, Sarawak and even Brunei for the fresh harvest. Pick up trucks are seen laden fully with harvest from the farms nearby the valley and delivered to the stalls. Passing tourists and travellers also stop by the road for shopping at a good bargain with the stalls are open seven days a week. ^[7]

Golf course

Mount Kinabalu Golf Club is located near the border of Kinabalu National Park at an altitude of approximately 2,000 metres above sea level. ^[8]

The golf club in Kundasang.

Villages

There are several small villages in Kundasang.

No	Village names
1	Kundasang Town (Main hub)
2	Kampung Lembah Permai
3	Kampung Cinta Mata
4	Kampung Kauluan
5	Kampung Mesilou
6	Kampung Mentoki
7	Kampung Bambangan
8	Kampung Desa Aman
9	Kampung Kinasaraban
10	Kampung Bundu Tuhan
11	Kampung Dumpiring
12	Kampung Desa Sunyi (Kundasang Lama)
13	Kampung Mohimboyon
14	Kampung Nosorob
15	Kampung Pinousok
16	Kampung Giman
17	Kampung Sinisian
18	Kampung Ratau
19	Kampung Karanaan
20	Kampung Kituntul
21	Kampung Lapai
22	Kampung Sinar
23	Kampung Liwagu
24	Kampung Muhibah
25	Kampung Kinandusan
26	Kampung Kiwawoi
27	Kampung Waang
28	Kampung Semuruh
29	Kampung Sosondoton
30	Kampung Tudan
31	Kampung Tinatasan

Education

There are 13 primary schools and 2 secondary schools in Kundasang.

No	School Names	Types of School
1	SK Kundasang	Elementary
2	SK Mesilou
3	SK Don Bosco
4	SK Bundu Tuhan
5	SK Kinasaraban
7	SK Kauluan
8	SK Lipasu
9	SK Mohimboyon
10	SK Waang
11	SK Pahu Himbaan
12	SK Tagudon Lama
13	SK Pinausuk
14	SMK Kundasang	Secondary
15	SMK Bundu Tuhan

See also

• Nabalu (town)
• Kinabalu Park

References

1. Miwil, Olivia (27 December 2020). "'Little New Zealand' a hit". New Straits Times. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
2. Chin, Mary (23 April 2016). "Sabah's own little New Zealand". Daily Express. Archived from the original on 2 May 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
3. "Kundasang War Memorial". Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia). Retrieved 30 January 2025.
4. "Kundasang War Memorial". Sabah Tourism. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
5. "Friends Of Kundasang War Memorial". Lynette Ramsay Silver. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
6. Joyce Guri, Catohrinner. "Kundasang War Memorial". Asian Itinerary. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
7. "FRESH MARKET OF KUNDASANG". e-tawau. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
8. "Mount Kinabalu Golf Club". Sabah Tourism. Retrieved 30 January 2025.

External links

• Kundasang travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Kundasang Town
• War Memorial Gardens
• Places of Interest (Chinese)