BRIEF HISTORY

Some 2000 feet up, the site chosen at the slopes of Gunung Matang provided ideal terrain for tea growing and setting of a hill retreat for the Second Rajah of Sarawak. The Rajah then allowed the entry of Indian plantation workers to be employed at the tea plantation. It is estimated that close to 1,000 Indian workers were engaged when the plantation were thriving. British were known to be tea lovers who maintained their social habits in the colonies. The tea plantation were also of particular interest because they helped support an aristocratic British social life and lifestyle on the hill, where Rajah Charles had built a bungalow within the tea estate for him and the Rani named “Vallembrosa”.

One of the buildings at the tea and coffee plantation which has remained more or less intact after more than 90 years was a Hindu temple built by Indian plantation workers and was dedicated to the Goddess Sri Maha Mariamman.

The Hindu Temple Built in 1860 Rediscovered in 1967

History of Mount Matang Sri Maha Mariamman Temple

The Temple built during the era of the Second White Rajah of Sarawak, Sir Charles Brooke in the 1860’s by Tea Plantation workers from South India, is suppose to be the only abode of “Sri Maha Mariamman” in South East Asia, which is made of belian timber(iron wood), located on a 1,000 feet height on a mountain slope with pyramid shaped gopuram. The distant of the Temple is about 3 km from the foot of the mountain and would take an hour to reach. One who visit the Temple would experience the cool and congenial atmosphere at the upper slopes of the mountain, panoramic view of the Matang plains and other landscape below and the 1800 Century Craftsmanship on belian timber which houses the “Sri Maha Mariamman Deity”.

More to come!!!!