Shangri-La Rasa Ria has done a number of high-profile Indian weddings
Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort in Kota Kinabalu is ranked as one of the top destination wedding venues for good reason. Set amid lush greenery against the backdrop of the azure Pantai Dalit Sea on one side and Mount Kinabalu on the other, the sprawling resort is naturally among our top picks for wedding venues in the city.
An aerial shot of Shangri-La Rasa Ria
It is a tranquil space that comes alive with the chirping of birds, the soothing sound of the ocean and sweeping views of the sea and nature reserve. Even though it is located just 40 minutes away from the international airport and a half hour’s drive away from the city centre, the resort instantly makes wedding couples and their guests feel like they are on a tropical getaway.
Rasa Ria in Malay literally means ‘Taste of Happiness’ and this is well reflected in the resort’s food and beverage offerings at its beachfront bars and restaurants. Naan — Flavours of India serves authentic North Indian cuisine while Kozan is renowned for its teppanyaki. We also love Tepi Laut Makan Street, a row of open-front restaurants in the resort that captures the nostalgia of Malaysia’s street food culture. So the sky is really the limit when it comes to F&B options for weddings, as the resort offers sit-down dinners, food stations for all sorts of cuisines including Indian, Japanese, Italian and Malay, as well as lavish buffets.
A gorgeous table set-up in a cabana at Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort
Wedding venues are aplenty at Shangri-La Rasa Ria. In addition to the option of utilising several outdoor set-ups, the resort has three ballrooms that can hold as many as 310-800 guests and smaller venues for pre-wedding events.
A Garden Wing Deluxe Sea View Room at the resort
The low-rise resort has 416 gorgeous rooms and suites in the Garden Wing and Ocean Wing. We love that premier rooms in the Ocean Wing come attached with private outdoor bathtubs and sweeping views of the sea or garden. You can read more about these rooms in our exclusive story on honeymoons in Kota Kinabalu.
The sprawling Dalit Bay Golf and Country Club
While your guests can enjoy some leisurely time at the on-site Dalit Bay Golf and Country Club, the kids will love the Cool Zone Kids Club.
Lush greenery at Shangri-La Rasa Ria
Interestingly, Sabah’s wildlife Department works in tandem with Shangri-La Rasa Ria on the 64-acre Nature Reserve located at one end of the resort. Besides rehabilitating young orang-utans, it serves as an education centre for schools and organisations. One can view the young simians and their antics in the reserve that is also home to deer, monkeys, porcupines and other fauna, as well as the rare Borneo orchid and pitcher plant.
Besides being well equipped to host both intimate and large-scale weddings, there’s so much to see and do within the resort itself. This is what makes Rasa Ria the perfect venue for Indians looking to host their destination weddings in Kota Kinabalu.
Image credits: Image 1, 2, 3, 4, 5: Courtesy Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort |Image 6: Beverly Pereira
Beverly Pereira is a luxury and lifestyle writer
