[vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”682,683,678,679″ img_size=”medium”][vc_column_text]Baruk Kopial is an iconic round house of the Bidayuh tribe in Borneo named after the most famous ancient Bisingai warrior named Kopial.

Legend has it that Kopial was so invincible during the head hunting era in Sarawak about 300 years ago that none of his enemies can kill him as he can appear and disappear at will to fight and kill his enemies.

Baruk, the round house in the olden days, was used only by the warriors between their head hunting days and also used to do rituals to prepare themselves before venturing out for head hunting. Baruk was also used to hang all the skulls that they captured as their trophies.

The wall and railings/windows are open outward to make it difficult for the enemies to climb up into the Baruk. However, those that managed to climb up, upon reaching the upper edge of the railings, their head will be chopped and fall into the Baruk and the body will dropped off to the ground! Quite an ingenuity of this tribal people that also create the typical Baruk design.

The original Baruk has 4 poles supporting the centre of the Baruk hall for open fire place with firewood stored above the fire place which was used by the warriors to cook and BBQ their food as well as to warm themselves during the cold night.

However, this BTV Baruk Kopial has no wall and windows and the fire place as it is modified to meet modern uses and only a symbolic heritage with the whole structure made of Belian (iron wood of Borneo) and the ceiling made of Bamboo Slates intricately designed making this Baruk Kopial most unique and one of a kind.

The Kidau Tribal Hall is the event hall at BTV. It is connected to the Baruk Kopial to allow a panoramic view from the Baruk Kopial down to the whole indoor of the performance and activities at the hall.

It is designed cascading down the slope to make a natural stadium seating setting that can accommodate about 800 to 1000 people theatre style and about 50 dining tables of 10 people each.

Light and sound control room occupy one corner of this hall such that the controller of the light and sound equipment has a panoramic view of the whole hall and instrument cables are attached to the roof beams to avoid cables laying on the floor like in some event halls.

This event hall is named after the second most famous warrior after Kopial in the Bisingai tribe legend, to keep his name known and remembered by the Bisingai Bidayuh subtribe of Bau District.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row]