Bandar Seri Begawan

/bun"deuhr ser"ee beuh gah"weuhn/

a seaport in and the capital of the sultanate of Brunei, on the NW coast of Borneo, in the Malay Archipelago. 36,987.

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formerly Brunei

City (pop., 1991: city, 22,000; 1999 est.: metro. area, 85,000), capital of Brunei.

Lying along the Brunei River near its mouth on Brunei Bay, it is a trade centre and river port. Heavily damaged during World War II, it was largely rebuilt; newer buildings include the largest mosque in eastern Asia.

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▪ Brunei

formerly  (until 1970) Brunei Town 

 capital of Brunei. The city lies along the Brunei River near its mouth on Brunei Bay, an inlet of the South China Sea on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. Bandar Seri Begawan was once predominantly an agricultural trade centre and river port. After suffering extensive damage during World War II, it was largely rebuilt and became the country's administrative and financial centre, with a port at the nearby mouth of the Muara River. Notable buildings include the Istana Nurul Iman (the royal palace), the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, and the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, which is among the largest mosques in Southeast Asia. Located on the main road running southwestward along Borneo's coast to Seria and Kuala Belait, Bandar Seri Begawan is home to Brunei's only international airport. It also has ferry terminals offering service to neighbouring ports. Pop. (2001) city, 27,285; (2004 est.) urban area, 81,500.

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