Luxury Hotels in Menggatal, Kota Kinabalu

Manggatal is a Malaysian town and sub-district on the west coast of Sabah. It is an outskirt of the state capital, Kota Kinabalu, and is under the jurisdiction of Kota Kinabalu City Hall. It is located along Jalan Tuaran, which is the main road leading north from Kota Kinabalu city centre.The town is notable for being one of few towns in Sabah where wooden pre-World War II era shophouses still stand. The name "Manggatal" derives from the Malay words "mangga" (mango) gatal, which means 'itch mango'. Since 2014, there have been proposal to change the name spelling into "Manggatal" which also the original name of the town which before this being called Menggatal.

In 2015, the proposal was accepted by the authorities although there were complaints from the town residents it was changed without their knowledge or consultation. During the World War II, Manggatal is also the base where the Kinabalu Guerillas led by Albert Kwok actively operating to fight the Japanese. Manggatal was originally populated sparsely by native Dusuns. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this native population was supplemented by Chinese migrants, most of whom were Hakkas. The Chinese community of Manggatal, which is still dominated by Hakkas, plays an important role in the town's economy as its members own most of the shops in the town.

How to Get There

By Plane

If you are traveling by air, nearest airport is the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (IATA: BKI, ICAO: WBKK), an international airport, which located in the city of Kota Kinabalu, the state capital of Sabah. The airport is in Kota Kinabalu, about 30 minutes from the Menggatal.

Tourist Attractions

Kokol Hills

Kokol Hills in Menggatal offers a very nice view of Kota Kinabalu, the coasts and the sea from about 30 km away. The hills are pretty undeveloped but the road is good and new. As of January 2012, there is only one resort and restaurant called Kasih Sayang Resort. Kokol is also fast becoming a hotspot for paragliding.

Kota Kinabalu Town

Kota Kinabalu is the capital of the state of Sabah located on the island of Borneo. This Malaysian city is a growing resort destination due to its proximity to tropical islands, lush rainforests and Mount Kinabalu. Generally referred to as KK, it is located on the west coast of Sabah within the West Coast Division. Kota Kinabalu is the largest city in the state in Sabah and is the main gateway into the island of Borneo. KK lies by the coast overlooking South China Sea on a narrow flatland and occasional hills bordered by Crocker Range which hosts Mount Kinabalu. The urban sprawl is concentrated along the coast towards the north and south of the city. Kota Kinabalu is a fast growing tourism destination. Many packaged tours to attractions in Sabah depart from here.

Lok Kawi Wildlife Park

Lok Kawi Wildlife Park is located near the small town of Lok Kawi a short distance south of Kota Kinabalu. It features Orang-Utans, Proboscis Monkeys, Gibbons, a Sumatran Rhinoceros, some tigers, local deer, birds in a large aviary, elephants, and other animals. A reptile section will be opened soon. A good alternative to visiting the nature reserves around Sabah for those on a tight schedule, as well as giving you the chance to see the animals much more up close than you would in the jungle. Entrance fee: RM20 for adults, RM10 for children, half-price for Malaysians. It is a little difficult to get to as there is no public transportation that goes right to the park, and it is about 10 min drive outside of Lok Kawi (and about half an hour outside of Kota Kinabalu).