Go BackPapar (GPS: 5.73462, 115.93185) is the name of a small town as well as district in the West Coast Division of Sabah. it is located about 38 km south of Kota Kinabalu. The Papar district has a population of 105,000 people (2006 est.) within the Kadazan and Dusun ethnic groups forming the majority. The town is along the banks of Sungai Papar and is close to the South China Sea. The Pan Borneo Highway passes through it linking Papar with the rest of Sabah, as well as Sarawak and Brunei.
The name Papar means flat or open land. This is due to its geography on the coastal area of Sabah. Within Papar are tidal wetlands with mangrove trees and nipah palms.
Papar is one of the stops of the luxurious North Borneo Railway steam train that runs between Tanjung Aru and Tenom.
As with many of the towns in Sabah, Papar has a tamu, or open air farmer's market, every Sunday.
Getting there
You can take the train to Papar, in style or on a budget. The stylish way is to take the North Borneo Railway (tel: 088 263933, www.northborneorailway.com.my) steam engine on Mondays, Wednesdays or Saturdays, at a cost of RM180 per adult. The budget option is to join the locals on the diesel train, at a cost of RM2.40 for the same journey. Check the Tanjung Aru Train Station (tel: 088 254611) for the timetable.Landmarks in Papar
- St Joseph's Catholic Church
- St Joseph's Secondary School
Papar is 
on the Map of Sabah
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