The Paku Rock Maze Garden highlights its natural limestone labyrinth, hailed as a significant geological and cultural landmark of Bau District.
KUCHING (April 26): Once overlooked, the Paku Rock Maze Garden in Bau District near here is now one of the emerging tourism attractions in Sarawak.
Much of the credit may be attributed to local community leader Kapitan Pui Shak Sin, who has been leading the development works on the site over the past four years.
“In the past, many just dismissed it; they saw it as an ordinary rocky landscape.
“On my side, the initial stages of development were not easy.
“However, I saw its uniqueness and potential as a cultural and tourism space.
“We don’t want people to come here just to see the scenery, but to also understand our culture and our history.
“When they walk through this place, listen to its stories, and experience it, it helps build a sense of belonging, especially for our younger generation to reconnect with their hometown,” he told the participants of a ‘gotong-royong’ (work party) carried out by the Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) Malaysia recently.
The initiative, which gathered the local residents, volunteers and youth leaders, marked the lead-up to ‘Revisiting Paku Rock Maze Garden: Green & Gold Experience’ – a heritage event scheduled to run from April 30 to May 3.
The clean-up involved the participants working together to collect rubbish and clear the overgrown pathways within this natural limestone labyrinth, hailed as a significant geological and cultural landmark of Bau District.
Additionally, they were also guided through the site by a coordinator, allowing them to immerse themselves in the heritage of Paku.
The session concluded with a sharing-session by Pui, who gave insights into the stories behind the site, transforming the volunteer-oriented activity into a more meaningful and enriching experience.
Adding on, the local community leader expressed hope for the site to continue growing as a tourism attraction.
“If we take care of this place together, it can grow into something that can benefit the entire community.”
In her remarks, HWPL Malaysia president Ning Bong acknowledged Paku as a site with strong cultural heritage value and in this respect, she expressed hope of continuing to engage with the local community through more meaningful activities in the future.
“As we work towards building peace, it is important for communities to understand and appreciate each other’s history.
“Places like Paku create opportunities for people to connect through shared stories and experiences, which helps foster greater unity,” said Bong.
In a statement, HWPL Malaysia hailed ‘Revisiting Paku Rock Maze Garden: Green & Gold Experience’ as a launchpad to position Paku as a growing cultural and eco-tourism destination.
“The event will offer an immersive programme where visitors can explore the ‘Forest Breeze Market’ featuring local artisanal crafts and traditional snacks, as well as take part in cultural performances, workshops, contests, and also awareness and sustainability talks that highlight the unique identity of the Paku community.
“We invite all to the Paku Rock Maze Garden this April 30-May 3 to experience this unique intersection of nature, history, and community,” it said.
The HWPL is a non-governmental organisation committed to community-building, youth empowerment, and fostering a culture of peace through volunteerism and international cooperation.
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