WHERE TO GO IN COTABATO CITY?

There are a lot of good places that you can visit in Cotabato City. One of the famous places to go to is the Grand Mosque. Tara! Let's explore Cotabato.

Sultan Kudarat Monument, Tantawan Park, PC Hill

Photo Credits to JUAN-ted

PEDRO COLINA (PC Hill)

A stone fort towering over the city with a height of 90 feet, now houses the Cotabato city Internal Defense Command. This is Cotabato City's famous landmark, this historic hill served as a watch tower for the natives in their defense drive to detect and repel assaults by enemies. From this hill, one can have a panoramic view of the city, its surrounding areas, and the Rio Grande de Mindanao.

Old City Hall. Photo Credits to Out of Town Blog

OLD COTABATO CITY HALL



A vintage Malay inspired architectural design structure showcasing a blend of ethnic culture.

New City Hall. Photo Credits to Out of Town Blog

NEW CITY HALL

A majestic structure located at Malagapas, Barangay Rosary Heights 10, combining ethno-modern architectural with Muslim-inspired roof symbolizing its royalty. The entire bureaucracy of the Executive Department are now housed under one roof.

Tamontaka Church. Photo Credits to Ferd Decena

TAMONTAKA CHURCH

The oldest church, of Spanish architecture and design, was built by the Jesuits. This is where the old settlement was built in 1872. During the 1976 earthquake, a portion of the church collapsed but the Oblate Fathers restored the ruin parts following the original design.

Takumi Butai Memorial Shrine.
Photo from Cotabato City website

TAKUMI BUTAI MEMORIAL SHRINE

The shrine was named after Col. Takumi Butai, the Provincial Commander of the Japanese Imperial Army in the then empire Province of Cotabato during the Second World War. Upon Takumi's request, part of his ashes was enshrined in Cotabato City, a place he considered his second home. The month of August is recognized by the Japanese as All Souls Month. It ushers a sentimental journey of relatives, friends and compatriots back to the city to pay homage to a fallen hero.

Timako Hill. Photo from Cotabato City website

TIMAKO HILL

Overlooking the Illana Bay, it is protected by Bongo Island. The place is a good resort with bluegreen waters, sandy white beach, lake and cave, wooded park and a river, is ideal for camping, skin diving, snorkeling, boating, fishing and other water sports. It likewise offer nature lovers and ideal place for trekking, bird and white monkey watching and other lesure activities. The cultural village which will be set at the foot of the hill is a typical Maguindanao village where people practice the traditional crafts such as brassmaking, malong weaving, mat and basket weaving, boat building and bamboo crafts. It is also a sanctuary for oral and written traditions of the people including lores, legends, dances, songs, rituals and other metaphysical culture of the tribe.

ARMM Regional Office.
Photo from Bureau of Public Information- ARMM.

REGIONAL OFFICE OF THE ARMM

It houses almost all regional offices of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and has a unique blend of modern and muslim architecture. Within the complex, a guest can visit the regional library, museum and on season can witness cultural spectacles at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Center.

Photo not mine. During the Shariff Kabunsuan Festival
Fluvial Float Parade. 

MASLA PULANGI OR RIO GRANDE DE MINDANAO

Reputedly the second longest river in the country, it is estimated to be 182 kilometers and 96 meters wide. It is not only of aesthetic value but also of economic importance. Water sport and boat racing are the popular attractions of the river, usually held to coincide with the feast of Hariraya Puasa, Hariraya Hadj, Maulidin Nabi, Araw ng Kutabato, Our Lady of Peñafrancia Fiesta and Shariff Kabunsuan Festival.

Photo not mine. Inside the Kutawato Cave.

KUTAWATO CAVE

Located at the foot of the hill, it is the only cave in the entire country located in the heart of the city. It has four major entrances offering various natural attractions like rock formations, salt water ponds, underground river and an army of fruit bats. It is also rich in historical and cultural legacy, and ideal for guided tour and spelunking.

Grand Mosque. Photo Credit to Out of Town Blog Owner

GRAND MOSQUE

The Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Masjid, also known as the Grand Mosque of Cotabato, is the largest mosque in the Philippines. The mosque is located in Barangay Kalanganan in Cotabato City, and was funded by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam at a reported cost of US$48 million.

Here are some of the most famous landmarks and tourist destinations in the City. Most of the information are from the Cotabato City Official Website.

Thank you for reading. Hope you will visit my beloved town. 

Love, 

Cotabateña Wanderer