Central Kalimantan

Central Kalimantan is the biggest province on the island, covering 153,800 square kilometers, most of which is jungle. The northern area is mountainous and difficult to reach. The central area is dense tropical forest. more

Palangkaraya. In the local Dayak language, Palangkaraya means ‘holy container’. Palang¬karaya can easily be reached from Jakarta, Banjarmasin, Samarinda, Balikpapan and other points on the island by air. The town has become the center of government, trade and education of the province. The Regional Museum of Palangkaraya contains a collection of historical and cultural interest from all over Central Kalimantan.

Kuala Kapuas
Kuala Kapuas. It is located at Kapuas River, 40 km from Banjarmasin. A well-known tourist attraction is Telo Island, a pleasant fishing village and port. For the adventurer, white-water rafter and nature lovers, there is Gohong Rawai, known for its beatiful and challenging rapids. The gold mines of Teweh and Batu Api, Rungan district, are also interesting sites to be visited. In this region, gold mining is a major source of livelihood for the people, who pan for the valuable metal using the old traditional method.


Tanjung Puting National Park
The Tanjung Puting National Park is a well-known nature and wildlife reserve in lowland and swamp forests, inha¬bited by orang utans, owa-owa, bekantan and other primates. One can visit the Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre which is supported by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Tanjung Isuy
Tanjung Isuy. This litle settlement around Lake Jempang, in the lake-studded East Kalimantan hinterland, has a traditional Da¬yak longhouse which has been turned into lodges for visitors. The grave of a Benuaq Dayak chief lies aside the hamlets’s only only road. Visitors are usually given a traditional Dayak Benuaq welcome. The trip over Tanjung Isuy over the Mahakam River is along but interesting one past floating village and forest scenery. See the magic dance of the “belian” a Dayak tribe‘s doctor. Dressed in skirt of leaves, cures his patients at night by performing the rites prescribed by ancestors to the frenzied accompaniment of gongs and drums. Many Benuaq Dayaks still prefer the old cures to the modern ones at the government public health centers which are nearby.

West Kalimantan

West Kalimantan is easily accessible from Jakarta or Singapore by air. One of its main attractions is the culture of its Dayak ethnic groups.

Most Dayaks live in long houses along rivers which crisscross the land. This province covers an area of 146,807 square km. Its low plains are swampy with more than 100 rivers playing a vital role in communications and the economy.

Scattered across the swamps are several lakes and villages, often linked by bridges. The provincial capital, Pontianak lies exactly on the Equator. It is a fast growing city divided into three parts by the Kapuas and Landak rivers. Pontianak is the main gate to enter this province through Supadio Airport, 18 km from the city.

The Kapuas river, about 1,143 km, is one of the longest river in Indonesia, connecting Pontianak with the Sanggau, Sintang and Kapuas Hulu Regencies. Among the branches of the Kapuas river are the Landak, Kubu, Punggur, Melawi and Sekayam rivers.

The population of West Kalimantan consist of the Dayaks, Malays, Chinese and some other Indonesian ethnic groups.

Dayak dances express respect, heroism, welcome and cure. It is recommended to take a river trip and make overnight stops at villages where dance performances are organized on advance notice.

PLACES OF INTEREST
Pontianak

As the capital of West Kalimantan, there are some interesting places to visit, among others theEquator Monument, Kadariah palace in Kampung Dalam, the State Museum, the Kapuas and Landak Bridges with a river view and floating market. You can also simply relax in the recreational park Tirta Ria. The beach resort of Kijing and Temajoh Island are good places for diving, fishing and sailing.

Betang (Long House)

On the outskirts of Pontianak is a Dayak traditional long house at Saham village, 158 km from Pontianak. The measures of this long house are: 186 m long, 6 m wide, in habited by 269 people. There is no accommodation here.

Pasir Panjang

It lies 17 km from Singkawang in the Sambas regency. There is a beach resort, ideal for swimming. Comfortable cottages are available equipped with a tennis court. In the vicinity of Singkawang, the Gunung Poteng hill resort with its fresh air is a good place for nature lovers.

National Park and Nature Reserve

The Gunung (Mount) Palung National Park located in the Ketapang regency is home to miscellaneous flora and fauna. The Raya Pasi mountain located in the Singkawang regency is also interesting to visit to see the Rafflesia or the Giant Flower.

Singkawang is also a nature reserve. The forest of Sanggau is worth a visit where hot springs, lakes and caves can be found. The other nature reserves are the forests of Baning and Kelam Hill in the Sintang Regency. While in Kapuas Hulu, there is the Bentuang

ACCOMMODATION

West Kalimantan has recently been developed for tourist traffic, however, Pontianak has two three-star hotels, each with modern amenities and also facilities for conventions.

Two and one-star hotels have air-conditioned rooms with attached bathrooms, telephones, TV and restaurants. Several moderate accommodation, such as lodges and inns are common in every regency.

East Kalimantan

East Kalimantan (Indonesian: Kalimantan Timur abbrv. Kaltim) is the second largest Indonesian province, located on the Kalimantan region on the east of Borneo island.

The resource-rich province has two major cities, Samarinda (the capital and a center for timber product) and Balikpapan (a petroleum center with oil refinery). Ever since Indonesia opened its mineral and natural resources for foreign investment in 1970s, East Kalimantan province has experienced major boost of timber, petroleum and other exotic forest products. The state-owned petroleum company Pertamina has been operating in the area since it took control oil refinery from the Royal Dutch Shell company in 1965.

The population is a mixture of people from the Indonesian archipelago with Dayaks and Kutai as indigenous ethnic groups living in rural areas. Other prominent migrant ethnic groups include Javanese, Chinese, Banjarese, Bugis and Malays, who mostly live in coastal areas.

This province is the location of the oldest Hindu kingdom in Indonesia, Kutai, the existence of which is attested to by a stone manuscript, or Prasasti, which is now kept in the National Museum in Jakarta. The manuscript is written in the Pallava alphabet and the Sanskrit language. The replica of this manuscript can be seen in the Governor's Office in Samarinda.

Inscriptions on seven stone pillars (yupa posts) erected in the fifth century BCE on the command of a local ruler, King Mulavarman, records his victories, his generosity to brahmins, his princely genealogy.[3]

East Kalimantan is divided into 10 regencies and 4 cities.
The regencies are:

Pasir Regency (Tanah Grogot)
Penajam Paser Utara Regency (Penajam)
Kutai Kartanegara Regency (Tenggarong)
West Kutai Regency (Sendawar)
East Kutai Regency (Sangatta)
Bulungan Regency (Tanjung Selor)
Berau Regency (Tanjung Redeb)
Malinau Regency (Malinau)
Nunukan Regency (Nunukan)
Tana Tidung Regency
The cities are:

Balikpapan
Samarinda
Bontang
Tarakan

PLACES OF INTEREST
Samarinda

Samarinda is known for its fine sarong cloth. The city shows some signs of being the capital of a prosperous province. New government offices and public buildings are rising everywhere. Samarinda has a number of modest but comfortable hotels.

Balikpapan

Balikpapan, the center of Kalimantan's oil industry is also the gateway to East Kalimantan with air and sea connections to Jakarta and other major points in Indonesia. Even the trip to Samarinda, begins in Balikpapan. Living up to its importance, Balikpapan has a number of good hotels, including one of international standard, as well as recreation facilities. It has the second busiest airport in the nation after Jakarta, due to its strategic position.

Berau and Marine Tourism on Derawan island

Found here are the remains of a king called the Keraton Gunung Tambur and The Keraton Sambaliung. Historic objects can be seen here. Derawan island is about 3 hours by a long boat from Tanjung Redep (The Capital of Berau Regency) or via Tarakan.

There are many rare animals such as the green turtle, the scarlet turtle, star fruit turtle and sea cow.

Other things are rare species of marine plants, coral reefs, iguanas, sea birds, crab and the location for pearl diving.

It is also good for scuba diving, fishing, swimming, and other water sports.

Bontang

Located in the regency of Kutai with an area of about 200,000 ha, Bontang has a rare flora and fauna. The Kutai National Park near Bontang is worth visiting to see sceneries especially those at Beras Basah.

Bulungan

It is one place for the adventure-seeking visitors. Things of historic value and ancient remains, art collections and traditional ceremonies, with a background of beautiful panoramas of the jungle and mountains are to be found here.

Tanah Merah Indah - Lempake

This is a recreational park called Tanah Merah Indah-Lempake with a waterfall, located about 16 km from downtown Samarinda. It can be reached by car or public transportation

Tenggarong

Tenggarong, up the Mahakam river from Samarinda, is the capital of the Kutai regency and was once the seat of the Kutai sultanate. The Sultan's palace on the riverside is now a museum where the old royal paraphernalia are kept, as well as an excellent collection of antique Chinese ceramics. Dayak statues can be admired in the yard. A curious thing about the royal paraphernalia is that they display a strong resemblance with Java's court traditions.

Every 24th of September, the former palace becomes a stage of dance and music performances given to celebrate the town's anniversary.

Tanjung Isuy

This little settlement around Lake Jempang in the lake-studded East Kalimantan hinterland, has a traditional Dayak long-house which has been turned into lodges for visitors. The grave of a Benuaq Dayak chief lies aside the hamlet's only road. Visitors are usually given a traditional Benuaq Dayak welcome. The trip to Tanjung Isuy over the Mahakam river is a long but interesting one past floating villages and forest scenery. If you are lucky, you can watch a belian, or witch doctor, dressed in his skirt of leaves, cures his patients at night by performing the rites prescribed by ancestors to the frenzied accompaniment of gongs and drums. Many Benuaq Dayaks still prefer the old cures to the modern ones at government public health centers which are nearby.

Melak - Kersik Luway

Melak is a little village further upstream on the Mahakam river in the heart of the land of Tanjung Dayak. Not far from the village is the Kersik Luway nature reserve, where the "Black Orchid grows."

Muara Ancalong - Muara Wahau

Dances of the Kenyah Dayak are often performed here for visitors at a traditional long-house. Also various handicrafts can be seen and purchased.

South Kalimantan

South Kalimantan Province is located in Kalimantan Island.

South Kalimantan is a province of Indonesia. It is one of four Indonesian provinces in Kalimantan - the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo. The provincial capital is Banjarmasin. The province has a population of 2.97 million (2000 census).

There are 11 regencies in South Kalimantan:
Banjar
Tanah Bumbu
Kotabaru
Tanah Laut
Barito Kuala
Tapin
Hulu Sungai Selatan
Hulu Sungai Tengah
Hulu Sungai Utara
Balangan
Tabalong

This province has an administrative city, Banjarbaru.

Banjarmasin city is the capital of South Kalimantan have face in five dimensions that is; Government Town, Port Town, Commerce Town, Industrial Town and Tourism town. This town is located in tip of south as the gateway of South Kalimantan, occupy lowland which swamps, and stay between 3150 - 3220 south latitudes and between 114 320 - 114 380 east longitudes.

Riparian life is initial individuality from the growth of this town with it river transportation, beside its land transportation that starting rapidly grow.
The existence of Flora and Fauna in swamps lowland along the length of the river flowing downstream to go upstream and ridge life is a journey corridor of tourism preoccupying.
Floating Market, which is the only one in Indonesia and other world, is unique culture value.

Banjarmasin city, as Tourism town, has big enough potency. National tourism is pledge sector in the economic activity, to enlarge foreign exchange, to extend and smooth down opportunity to try and employment, push development of area, introduce nature and cultural and to have fatherland love.

PLACES OF INTEREST
Banjarmasin and its surroundings

Banjarmasin, the capital city, is the center of trade and tourism. It lies at the delta of the Barito river. The city is intertwined by numerous rivers of various sizes and lengths. The major rivers are Martapura and Nagara. The numerous rivers made the city get its nickname River City local people build traditional floating houses along the rivers and these houses are called "lanting", facing the rivers, which are made of wood or bamboo. Rivers have been very important for business and economic activities. This is one reason why there are floating markets everywhere.

Making trips along the mighty Barito and Martapura rivers by "klotok boat or river bus", will give a unique experience. For longer trips one can hire speedboat.

Banjarmasin has developed into an industrial and touristic city. There are star hotels and 20 lesser hotels. For entertainment there are 21 movie theaters, karaoke centers, cultural theaters and restaurants serving local as well as international foods.

Kembang Island

This island is right in the Barito river, not far from a floating market. It is a conservation forest of about 60 hectares, inhabited by tame monkeys of Kalimantan species only. One of the species is called "bekantan" (nasalis larvatus).

It is mostly visited by Chinese Indonesians, as there is a small offering temple where they feed the monkeys.

It is believed that feeding the monkeys will bring good luck an fortune.

Kaget Island

Like Kembang island, Kaget island is also in the Barito river. From downtown it takes 1 1/2 hours by klotok boat or 1 hour by speedboat to get there.

This island is another forest conservation and is also inhabited by the "bekantan" monkeys and the Lutung (prebitis orisate), as well as many sorts of birds.

Diamond Digging at Cempaka & Martapura

Cempaka is a small village 10 km from Banjarbaru, and 45 minutes from Banjarmasin. It is an old site of traditional diamond digging using very simple equipment.

The digging is a collective work by a group, usually consisting of one family and its close relatives.

In 1985 a large raw diamond of 116.7 carats was found in a hole of 15 meters deep.

Martapura is the center of diamond and precious stones polishing; it is also the center of diamond marketing. The town is 40 km from Banjarmasin.

The polishing work uses traditional as well as modern equipment.

Martapura Plaza is the center of diamond and jewelry marketing. Stone-craft of various origins and forms are easily found in the markets of Martapura.

Pieces of jewelry having with a large price range, start from as little as Rp.500,- up to millions of rupiahs.

Takisung Beach

About 10 km West of Pleihari is Tasikung beach. Folk entertainment is available. There is a hotel and a play ground for children.

Hulu Sungai Tourist Resort

Hulu Sungai is a vast region in the northern part of the province. Most areas here are swamps, but the eastern part is mountainous.

Loksado

Loksado is at the South Hulu Sungai district whose capital is Kandangan. The town is about 3 hours by car from Banjarmasin. The road is good. However, from Kandangan to Loksado, the road goes as far as Halunuk, a small village. Then the trip continues by motor cycle which takes a single passenger over a narrow foot-path.

The natural surroundings of the hilly region provides attractive sights for those who enjoy hiking and mountaineering. On the way, meet the local people with their original ways and cross the river over a suspended bridge.

Adventure River Rafting

The Amandit River which originates at Meratus runs through Loksado and meets the mighty Barito river further down.

Visitors usually use the river to get back after visiting Loksado. Those who enjoy rafting may venture the trip through numerous rocky rapids by traditional rafts made of bamboo or by rubber boats. The river trip starts at Loksado, 45 kilometers from Kandangan. When a motorcycle ride is preferred, it takes about 4 hours. Those who enjoy trekking through the forests of the hill, the trip takes 8-10 hours.

When a river trip is taken, start from Loksado to Batu Laki which is 56 km away. The trip can be made in two stretches. The first is from Loksado to Muara Hatip. The second is from Muara Hatip to Batu Laki.

The first stretch is not very challenging because the rapids are not very strong and ranks as grade 1 to 2 1/2. On the second one, the level of difficulty increases, while the rapids are higher and stronger at grade 3, such as Hawangan and Kandihin at the mouth of the river Muara Haring. The panorama along the river is fascinating.

Kalimantan (Borneo)

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Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located at the centre of Maritime Southeast Asia. Administratively, this island is divided between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Indonesians refer to the island as "Kalimantan." However, for people outside of Indonesia, "Kalimantan" refers to the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo. Malaysia's region of Borneo is called East Malaysia or Malaysian Borneo. The independent nation of Brunei occupies the remainder of the island. Brunei is the wealthiest nation on the island of Borneo.
Borneo is surrounded by the South China Sea to the north and northwest, the Sulu Sea to the northeast, the Celebes Sea and the Makassar Strait to the east, and the Java Sea and Karimata Strait to the south. It has an area of 743,330 km² (287,000 square miles).

To the west of Borneo are the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra. To the south is Java. To the east is the island of Sulawesi (Celebes). To the northeast is the Philippines.

Borneo's highest point is Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia, with an elevation of 4,095 m (13,435 ft) above sea level. This makes it the world's third highest island.

The largest river systems are the Kapuas River, with approximately 1,143 km (710 mi) the longest river in Indonesia, the Rajang River in Sarawak with some 562.5 km (349.5 mi) the longest river in Malaysia, the Barito River about 880 km (550 mi) long and the Mahakam River about 980 km (610 mi) long.

Borneo is also known for its extensive cave systems. Clearwater Cave has one of the world's longest underwater rivers. Deer Cave, thought to be the largest cave passage in the world, is home to over three million bats and guano accumulated to over 100 metres (330 ft) high.

According to ancient Chinese, Indian and Javanese manuscripts, western coastal cities of Borneo have become trading ports, part of their trade routes, since the first millennium. In Chinese manuscripts, gold, camphor, tortoise shells, hornbill ivory, rhinoceros horn, crane crest, beeswax, lakawood (a scented heartwood and root wood of a thick liana, Dalbergia parviflora), dragon's blood, rattan, edible bird's nests and various spices were among the most valuable items from Borneo.The Indians named Borneo as Suvarnabhumi (the land of gold) and also Karpuradvipa (the Camphor Island), which includes the western part of the island shared with Sumatra island. The Javanese named Borneo as Puradvipa, or the Diamond Island. Archaeological findings in the delta river of Sarawak reveal that the area was once a thriving trade center between India and China from the sixth century until about 1300 AD.In the fourteenth century, part of Borneo were under the control of Majapahit kingdom as is written in Javanese Nagarakretagama document (circa 1365 AD). The name of a trading port city in Borneo is Tanjungpura in Nagarakretagama; the same name written in another Javanese Paraton document (circa 1355 AD).

In the 15th century, the Majapahit rule exerted its influence in Borneo. Princess Junjung Buih, the queen of the Hindu kingdom of Negara Dipa (situated in Candi Agung area of Amuntai) married a Javanese prince, Prince Suryanata, and together they ruled the kingdom which is a tributary to the Majapahit Empire (1365). In this way, it became a part of Nusantara. Along the way, the power of Negara Dipa weakened and was replaced by the new court of Negara Daha. When Prince Samudra (Prince Suriansyah) of Negara Daha converted to Islam and formed the Islamic kingdom of Banjar, it inherited some of the areas previously ruled by the Hindu kingdom of Negara Daha.

The Brunei Sultanate during its golden age from the 15th to 17th centuries ruled a large part of northern Borneo. In 1703 (other sources say 1658), the Sultanate of Sulu received North Borneo from the Sultan of Brunei, after Sulu sent aid against a rebellion in Brunei.

During the 1450s, Shari'ful Hashem Syed Abu Bakr, an Arab born in Johor, arrived in Sulu from Malacca. In 1457, he founded the Sultanate of Sulu; he then renamed himself "Paduka Maulana Mahasari Sharif Sultan Hashem Abu Bakr".


Subsequently HM Sultan Jamalul Ahlam Kiram (1863-1881) the 29th reigning Sultan of Sulu leased North Borneo in 1878 to Gustavus Baron de Overbeck & Alfred Dent representing the British North Borneo Company in what is now Sabah part of Malaysia. The company also exerted control on inland territories that were inhabited by numerous tribes.

In the 19th Century coastal areas ruled by the Brunei Sultanate in the west of the island were gradually taken by the Brooke dynasty.

By the 18th century, the area from Sambas to Berau were tributaries to the Banjar Kingdom, but this eventually shrunk to the size of what is now South Kalimantan as a result of agreements with the Dutch. In the Karang Intan Agreement during the reign of Prince Nata Dilaga (Susuhunan Nata Alam) (1808-1825), the Banjar Kingdom gave up its territories to the Dutch Indies which included Bulungan, Kutai, Pasir, Pagatan and Kotawaringin. Other territories given up to the Dutch Indies were Landak, Sambas, Sintang and Sukadana.

In the early 19th century, British and Dutch governments signed the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 to exchange trading ports under their controls and assert spheres of influences, in which indirectly set apart the two parts of Borneo into British and Dutch controlled areas. China has had historical trading links with the inhabitants of the island. Some of the Chinese beads and wares found their way deep into the interior of Borneo.

Moreover in the 19th century, the Dutch admitted the founding of district kingdoms with native leaders who were under the power of the Dutch (Indirect Bestuur). The Dutch assign a resident to head their rule over Kalimantan. List of the residents and governors of Kalimantan:

1. C.A. Kroesen (1898), resident
2. C.J. Van Kempen (1924), resident
3. J. De Haan (1924-1929), resident
4. R. Koppenel (1929-1931), resident
5. W.G. Morggeustrom (1933-1937), resident
6. Dr. A. Haga (1938-1942), governor
7. Pangeran Musa Ardi Kesuma (1942-1945), Ridzie
8. Ir. Pangeran Muhammad Noor (1945), governor

Since 1938, Dutch-Borneo (Kalimantan) was one administrative territory under a governor (Governor Haga) whose seat was in Banjarmasin.

In 1957 following the independence of Indonesia, Kalimantan was divided into 3 provinces which is :

1. South Kalimantan
2. East Kalimantan
3. West Kalimantan
4. Central Kalimantan

During the Second World War, Japanese forces gained control of Borneo (1941–45). They decimated many local populations and Malay intellectuals, including the elimination of the Malay Sultanate of Sambas in Kalimantan .

Borneo was the main site of the confrontation between Indonesia and Malaysia between 1962 and 1966, as well as the communist revolts to gain control of the whole area. Before the formation of Malaysian Federation, the Philippines claimed that the Malaysian state of Sabah in north Borneo is within their territorial rights based on historical facts of the Sultanate of Sulu's leasing agreement with the North Borneo Company, is presently an unresolved claim against Malaysia. Several other territorial claims such as Sipadan were resolved at The Hague international courts.