Kuching Buddhist Society Village
(KBS Buddhist Village)
古晋佛教居士林佛教新村

9 storey pagoda and name in chinese

You don't have to be Buddhist to enjoy a trip to Kuching Buddhist Society Village with its impressive pagoda, monumental standing Buddha statue and peaceful landscaped gardens, all within an hour's drive from Kuching.

map showing the various features of KBS Buddhist Village

I have been to Kuching Buddhist Society Village, or KBS Buddhist Village as it is also known, a couple of times. The first thing I noticed on my last visit was a concrete supply company located right next to the pagoda which wasn't there on my earlier visit. This is a pity as the noise and unsightliness is a blemish on the otherwise serene surroundings but I suppose Buddhist practitioners would not allow such things to disturb their equanimity.

close up of the 9 storey pagoda

The first attraction that greets the visitor is the ornate and imposing 9 storey Lotus Sutra Pagoda which is 120 feet tall. You can go inside and either take the lift or walk up. I took the lift up and walked down. It is worth stopping at every floor because each one is packed with one-metre high statues of Arhats in various poses (500 statues in total). Of course there are excellent views from the windows and balconies.

thousand hands guanyin statue

On the top floor of the pagoda is a statue of the Thousand Hands Guanyin with celestial characters above.

large white stone standing Bamiyan Buddha statue

Another unmissable attraction is this massive white stone standing Buddha, described on KBS Village's visitor map as a 'Bamiyan Buddha'. Presumably this is named after those UNESCO World Heritage Buddhas located in Bamiyan, Afghanistan which were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001.

newly planted grass and pretty landscaping

Construction of KBS Village commenced in 2002 and it is still a work in progress. New facilities have been added over recent years and landscaping work still ongoing.

3 storey gazebo with traditional chinese design

Pictured above is the Vajra Bell Tower, a traditional three storey gazebo with a 2.2 metre wide engraved bronze bell.

Tibetan style stupa

This Tibetan style building is the Vajrayana Stupa.

statue of a Buddha disciple with a begging bowl.

One of  Buddha's ten senior disciples begging for alms.

eight white stupas with golden tops

Eight Auspicious Buddha Stupas.

statue of guanyin on an island in a lake

A zigzag bridge over a pond leads to a statue of Guan Yin.

Other features here (not pictured) include:

  • Laughing Buddha Statue
  • Maitreya & Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva
  • Drum Tower
  • Buddha's Head statue
  • Buddha's Hand & Foot statue + 12 zodiac symbols
  • Mandala of Medicine Buddha
  • Twelve Divine Generals Statue
  • Nirvana Stupa (Thervada) contains a reclining Buddha statue.

Funeral Hall  

All the above attractions are designed to attract visitors and devotees and to invite donations but in addition KBS Buddhist Village performs an important function by providing simple and economical funeral services according to Buddhist practices. Various packages are available. Accommodation and meals for family members can be arranged. See KBS Official website for details.

Restaurant

A vegetarian restaurant called Gandhalaya Vihara serving simple inexpensive meals is available for visitors (but it was closed on my last visit).

Opening Hours & Admission Charges

Kuching Buddhist Society Village is Open Daily from 8am - 4.30pm.

There is not much shade when viewing the gardens so avoid the sunniest parts of the day.

Entrance is Free. There is no charge to visit any of the facilities here.

Donations from the public are welcome and greatly appreciated. Those looking to gain particular merit can even sponsor the creation of new statues for a donation of RM10,000 upwards.

How To Get to Kuching Buddhist Society Village

By Bus

Pink Bus Q08M from Saujana Bus Terminal in Kuching. It takes about an hour.

By Car

The exact location is marked on this map:

Address

KBS Buddhist Village 古晋佛教居士林佛教新村
Lot 271, Jalan Kopit, Kampong Tanjung Durian, Batu Kitang, 94000, 94000 Kuching, Sarawak

Contact

Tel 082-699 816

Parking

There is plenty of free parking.


If you want to see other temples in Sarawak or elsewhere in Malaysia you can find a list of temples which have caught my eye here.

Nearby

Share this page:

Like this website? Head over to my Facebook page and leave a like or comment:

You can also contact me via the link at the bottom of this page.