Kota Marudu

Kota Marudu is a tiny district of Kudat Division, Malaysia with approximately 19.17 square kilometres of land and a population in 2000 of more than 58,841 people, made up mainly by Dusun (Kimaragang, Tobilung & etc,Momogun Rungus,Bajau,Bugis,Orang Brunei, Orang Sungai and Orang Suluk (Hakka and Hokkien).

Located in the northern region of Sabah, bordered by the districts of Kudat, Kota Belud, Pitas and Beluran. It takes roughly 2 hours journey drive from the city of Kota Kinabalu over a distance of 130 km. You can also make an excursion to Kudat from Kota Marudu, which takes about 1 1/2 hours by road. Kota Belud is merely an hour away.

Kota Marudu was formerly known as 'Bandau', which derives from the Kadazandusun world 'Mondou'. According to the local folklore, mondou is believed to be a buffalo-like creature feared by the local residents. The district was eventually re-named 'Kota Marudu', after a famous fort built by the famous local warrior Shariff Osman on Marudu Bay to protect the area from British colonization.

Among the places of interest in Kota Marudu include the famous Sorinsim Waterfall, located 40 km from the main town and Taman Sagabon, an agriculture research station at the Buyut lake. You can find South East Asia's biggest solar power station in Kota Marudu.

Come and enjoy the merriment as the district celebrates the annual Maize Festival in honour of the agricultural product's contribution to the socio-economic development of Kota Marudu. The line-up activities includes a variety of exhibitions, competitions, traditional sports and the crowning of Maize Fashion Queen!