Pekan Nabalu
Town and mukim of Kota Belud, Sabah
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pekan Nabalu (transl. Nabalu Town in Malay) is a town and mukim (township) of the Kota Belud District of Sabah, Malaysia. It is located near the foothills of Mount Kinabalu and is a frequent stop for hikers en route to Kinabalu Park. It lies at the tripoint border of the districts of Kota Belud, Tuaran, and Ranau, and serves as a market hub for both locals and tourists.
Pekan Nabalu | |
|---|---|
Town and mukim | |
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 Location of Pekan Nabalu in Kota Belud District | |
  Pekan Nabalu | |
| Coordinates: 6°1′40″N 116°27′47″E | |
| Country |  Malaysia |
| State |  Sabah |
| Division | West Coast Division |
| District | Kota Belud |
| Elevation | 761 m (2,497 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 1,442 m (4,731 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (MST) |
Geography
Pekan Nabalu is situated by the foothills of Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in Malaysia and Borneo. Located 12 kilometres from Kinabalu Park, Pekan Nabalu is a popular resting point for tourists making their way to the national park.[1]
Administratively, Pekan Nabalu is a mukim (township) of Kota Belud District in Sabah, located along Kota Belud District's tripoint border with the other districts of Tuaran and Ranau.[2][3][4]
History
The origin of the name "Nabalu" for this town is taken from the name of the Nabalu flower which grows in the forests and hills surrounding this town.[5]
Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, the 16th queen consort of Malaysia, visited the town on 5 September 2023 as part of the 2,154-kilometre royal tour "Travel to Discover Borneo".[6]
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 168 | — |
| 2000 | 280 | +66.7% |
| 2010 | 776 | +177.1% |
| 2020 | 8,188 | +955.2% |
| 2025 | 8,290 | +1.2% |
 | ||
| Source: [7] | ||
According to the last census in 2020, the population of Pekan Nabalu is estimated to have a population of around 8,188 with the majority of the population being Kadazan-Dusun who are Christian with a percentage of 90% and a minority of Kadazan-Dusun who are Muslim with a percentage of 10% of the population.[8]
Economy
Agriculture, handicrafts, and textiles are the main sources of income for the residents of the town.[1][9] Tourism is another important source of income; the Nabalu Weekly Market is visited by locals and tourists alike for food and drink before the trek to Mount Kinabalu. There are also several restaurants in Pekan Nabalu with a view of Mount Kinabalu.[10][11] In 2023, Joniston Bangkuai, Sabah's assistant tourism, culture and environment minister, proposed starting a pineapple and fruits festival in Pekan Nabalu to promote the area's local producers and agrotourism.[12]
Education & Sports
The primary school SK Dalas, Kota Belud is located near Pekan Nabalu and is the main educational facility serving the residents of Pekan Nabalu locally.[13]