Get to know more about Sarawak’s Tasik Biru festival!

In the previous article, we mentioned the beautiful diving destinations Sarawak has to offer. Everyone knows there are many water sports activities in Sarawak, and that various water sports competitions are held annually- among them  the Tasik Biru Festival.

The Tasik Biru Festival

The Tasik Biru Festival is held at Bau’s giant man-made lake-Tasik Biru. The surrounding here is full of greenery, and the reflection of the mountain in the lake adds to its  tranquility and beauty. This has become the ideal location to hold the traditional watersports event.

The beautiful view of Tasik Biru Image source: packist

There will be many entertaining water activities such as Regatta boat racing, kayaking, bamboo rafting, etc. During this time, all contestants and audience get to experience the unity of the competition. It’s a fun, healthy and engaging event.

Bamboo raft race

An exciting event not to be missed is the local bamboo raft race where participants board a bamboo raft and sail along the water. It is a unique race of contestants passionately rowing in the churning waves.

Vast and mighty in the waves. (Image source: Sarawak government official website )

Kayaking

Kayaking is a watersport that requires a lot of self motivation, endurance and team work. Although it is a fierce competition, athletes use their skills to express the beauty of the sport and rhythm. At the Tasik Biru Festival, the kayaking competition will be carried out on this lake. The audience is encouraged to motivate the contestants by cheering to the flow and rhythm of their rowing during the competition.

The thrilling kayaking competition (Image source: Sarawak government official website)

Miniature sailboat racing

The miniature sailboat race is a competition that uses local traditional handmade boats. The boat design is an imitation of the sailing boats built by the Chinese gold miners who migrated from China to Sarawak. The sight of hundreds of  colorful miniature sail boats floating on the green lake is eye-catching.

The unique miniature sail boat race (Image source: Sarawak government official website)

More events

This festival has other interesting activities such as street soccer, mass aerobics exercise, motorcyclists gathering, live bands, folk games, cultural performances and you’ll also get to check out all the interesting exhibition booths.

An abundance of remarkable activities (Image source: Facebook @Pesta Tasik Biru Bau 2019)

History of Bau/ The Gold Town of Sarawak

Do you have a mine nearby your house? As a matter of fact, an actual mine existed in the ancient town of Bau, Kuching, Sarawak. It used to be a famous location for gold mining,  established by the Hakka Chinese miners in the 1800s. Bau was the oldest and richest town then. The location of the gold mine was said to at Tasik Biru. It was a  mining field in the early 1800s. When the mining stopped, the pit was filled by rainwater and became a lake. That was how Tasik Biru came about to become a visitor attraction.

“Tasik Biru” street nameplate

Tasik Biru looks extremely blue and inviting under the blue sky but visitors are advised not to fish, swim, bath or drink  from this man-made lake due to its arsenic content. This calm and wide lake is very suitable instead for watersports.

Calm blue lake (Image source: Nurjamalina J.)

Event Location:​

Bau, Kuching​

Hold and press to identify the QR code and know the latest event date​

More events nearby​

Serikin weekend market

The Serikin weekend market,about 20km from Bau, is one of the hidden treasures of Sarawak. What’s special about it is that vendors from Kalimantan cross the mountain to sell fruits, electronics, handicrafts and rattan furniture. You can also find traditional local products and household goods in this sprawling market. Not only is the price very cheap, this market also sells the best local handicrafts and souvenirs. ​

A dazzling array of special products​ (Image source: Sarawak Tourism Bureau official website​)

Siniawan Night Market

Everyone is welcomed to Siniawan night market, which is about 10 to 15 minutes drive from Bau Town. 

Enjoy the decorative light display and feel the lively ambience in this century-old street, and try the local delicacies such as pork rice, grilled fish, kolo mee, and many other scrumptious dishes.

Lively night market

Other exciting festivals

Pesta Benak (Tidal Bore Festival)

You  have heard of surfing in the seawaves , but does surfing in the river surprises you? You wonder where the waves are.

Pesta Benak is a contest held on the Batang Lupar River, about 200km from Bau town. It is one of Sarawak’s iconic events.

Surfing on the river. (Image source: Sarawak Tourism Bureau official website)

This event centers around the occurrence of a rare natural phenomenon on the river. Maybe you have seen this tidal wonder in Qiantang River in China when the tide rises and falls. As the tides rush out to the sea, they impact the riverbeds with a surging wave.  At this part  of  the river, these waves rise up to as high as 3 meters. 

A spectacular surge (Image source: Sarawak Tourism Bureau official website)

Viewers can enjoy the sights of participants surfing in the majestic waves from afar. The higher the waves get, the better is the view. It is truly spectacular: the sight of surfers riding against the tide and the   sound of the tossing waves like bamboos breaking. To see them riding against the wind and cleaving the wave is truly enjoyable.

Image source: Sarawak Tourism Bureau official website

Event Location:

Batang Lupar River, Sri Aman, Sarawak

Hold and press to identify the QR code and know the latest event date.

September is coming to an end, but the wonders of October doesn’t stop here. Keep an eye on Sarawak Tourism Board for more fun local activities arranged just for you.