Banjarmasin and
its surroundings
Banjarmasin, which is nicknamed "river City",
is the capital, and is the centre of trade and tourism. It lies at the delta
of the Barito River. A number of rivers various sizes and lengths wind their
way through and around the city. The major rivers are Martapura and Nagara.
Local people build traditional floating houses called "lanting", along the
rivers. The lanting face the rivers, and 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 provide you with a
unique experience. A speedboat can be hired for longer trips.
Hotel Istana Barito - Banjarmasin
Swiss-BellHotel Borneo - Banjarmasin
Pontianak
- As the capital
of West Kalimantan, there are some interesting places to visit, among others
the Equator 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.
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 centre 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
Hotel Dusit Borneo - Balikpapan
Hotel Adhika Bahtera
Balikpapan
Hotel Mesra International
Samarinda
Palangkaraya
After Indonesia proclaimed its independence in 1945, the carrying out of the
Government in Central Kalimantan was still controlled from Banjarmasin, but
gradually there came the inspiration and ideas of the people to establish a
separate province as an autonomous Region. The inspiration and ideas were
based on the fact that most of the economy and trade development in this
region was supported by crops and natural resources of the region which were
primarily transported using the rivers.
After some great effort and
hard lobbying, Central Kalimantan was officially declared by the first
President of Republic of Indonesia, Prof. Ir. Soekarno, on 23 May, 1957, to
be an autonomous province in Indonesia with 'Pahandut' at the confluence of
the Rungon and Kahayan Rivers, as the capital city. The name 'Pahandut' was
later changed to 'Palangkaraya' which means 'Sacred Place', Honorable and
Great; with Tjilik Riwut as the first-governor
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