HOME > SARAWAK > 2ND DIVISION > DISTRICT SRI AMAN > SRI AMAN > Sri Aman Waterfront

Sri Aman Waterfront
a great location to watch tidal bore (Benak)

The town of Sri Aman is a 3-hour drive from the Kuching, the capital city of Sarawak. To get there, you can catch a bus from Kuching Sentral. Or hiring a car will give you much flexible stops along the way, such as at LaChau bazaar. Or take a Grab eHailing car.

Sri Aman is better known to most Sarawakians as the place where tidal bores occur. The annual “Pesta Benak” attract tens of thousands of people to the banks of Batang Lupar to witness all sorts of water sports.

A tidal bore happens when the tide rises. Seawater gushes into the river so rapidly that it creates a series of waves traveling inland.

Sri Aman Waterfront is a great location to watch tidal bore (Benak)

We often hear of comments that the benak (tidal bore) phenomenon in Sri Aman can only be viewed at certain times of the year. It is not true. In fact, it can be viewed twice a day throughout the year. Just that the tidal bores are bigger and more spectacular during king tide combined with dry season. This is an interesting fact : the Batang Lupar Tidal Bore is ranked in the list of Top 10 Tidal Bores in the world

Whilst tidal bores can be watched at other times of the year, they are not as big. And here is a tip should you want to see what this is all about. Get yourself a copy of the Sarawak Government Almanac and read the ‘Kuching High Water’ column, add another ten minutes to the listed time to determine when to be at the waterfront. Alternatively visit the Sri Aman Resident Office webpage to get the latest. Always allow yourself an extra ten to fifteen minutes to get into position.

Sri Aman has a tidal bore observatory called ‘Taman Panorama Benak’ where it gives you a vantage point to watch the surging waves as they travel up the Batang Lupar river – the third longest river in Sarawak at 200 km in length.
 

Taman Panaroma Benak
Beneath the platform is a ‘Tidal Bore Gallery’.

Sunset at Sri Aman water front
190Km from Kuching City
 

Jalan Kpg. Hilir, Sri Aman and Batang Lupar River

Sri Aman Waterfront
Jalan Main Bazaar is parallel to the Lupar Riverfront

RELATED TOPICS