Overlooking a breathtaking view of the Sarawak River is Fort Margherita that was built in 1879. The fort was built to safeguard the Kuching capital from the invasion of pirates. It was Rajah Charles Brooke who built this fort and named it after his wife Ranne Margaret. The design of the building is based on an English Renaissance era of castles.

The fort has a 3 storied tower that was used to keep watch for any invaders maneuvering down the river. Two of the rooms lower down in the tower was used as control rooms. A courtyard is surrounded by a high wall which is inlaid with glass shards to protect it from intruders scaling the walls. Inbuilt in to the high walls are wooden windows from which cannons were fired. Up until the Japanese occupation executions were carried out in the courtyard of convicted felons.

Today Fort Margherita houses a Police Museum that was first opened to the public in 1971 with artifacts and rare pieces of weaponry, cloths, cooking utensils and furniture from Rajah Charles Brooke occupation to weapons taken during the communist insurgency. In the Police Museum are also the famous "laughing skulls" that many claim to say emits an eerie sound of laughter.

Kuching is one of the lesser traveled tourist destinations in Malaysia, which gives the city a relaxed anel.d easy going fe Feel at home in a Kuching serviced apartment when you are looking for that perfect holiday accommodation or business trip. Somerset Gateway is a Kuching serviced accommodation that blends modern amenities without losing the old world charm of the city.