Rumah Terbalik Borneo – The Upside Down House

Normal is boring! If you believe this and if you are a diehard fan of bizarre architectural wonders, Malaysia has one for you! Rumah Terbalik is an upside down house in Borneo. It is a brand new unusual and creative piece of architecture. The interiors were let open to public, both locals and tourists from 1st Feb 2012.

A traditional Sabah kampung house with a fully equipped kitchen, bedrooms, toilet, and living room – all presented in a different perspective, i.e. inverse to normal. It has a slight tilt, the household items are screwed to the ceiling; it takes a while to get mentally accustomed to the sight. There is a car too, parked upside down in the garage.

Rumah Terbalik - The Upside Down House in Borneo

Rumah Terbalik – The Upside Down House in Borneo (Picture Courtesy Beehive Communications)

Several other countries in world too have similar creations. When compared to other similar buildings in the world this inverted house may not be a huge one, (the entire scene is limited in an 1500 sq. ft. area) nevertheless it is the first of its kind in Malaysia.

Rumah Terbalik is mentioned in the Malaysia book of records as the First Upside Down House in Malaysia. It is turning in to major tourist attraction.

What touched me most when I read about this building is the noble intention with which this was built. The owner has built this to serve as reminder of: “how our world will turn upside down if we do not protect our environment.” It focuses on educating the public about the importance of protecting our biodiversity, ecosystem and natural resources. If you are touring Sabah, include Rumah Terbalik in your itinerary.

Things to do in Rumah Terbalik Borneo

  • Enjoy a meal at the Rumah Terbalik Café
  • Pick up a souvenir at the Gift Shop
  • Visit 3D Wonders Museum
  • Take guided tours

Location of Rumah Terbalik  (Upside Down House)

Kampung Telibong, Batu 21, Jalan Telibong, Tamparuli, district of Tuaran. Definitely a fun experience, add it as a “must see attraction” on your Sabah itinerary.

How to reach Rumah Terbalik

  • By Public Transport – You can take the public bus (Direction to Tamparuli) from the Bus Station at Bandaran Berjaya. Fees are approximately RM5.00 per way.
  • By Private Taxi – Hire a taxi or self-drive or take an e-hailing car service.

Tickets and Timings

For local people – RM 10.60, For foreigner – RM 19.10 ($5.50), for children RM5.30 ($1.50)
Open daily 8.00 AM to 10.00PM. Time required to tour – 30 to 45 minutes.

If you are in Borneo try these:

Pitcher Plant Rice
Mount Kinabalu Botanical Garden

Update: Rumah Terbalik – The Upside Down House in Borneo is wheel chair friendly.

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