Closer to West Kalimantan

West Kalimantan is a province of Indonesia. It is one of four Indonesian provinces in Kalimantan, the part of Indonesian on the Borneo Island. Pontianak is the capital city is located right on the Equator line. The province has an area of 146,807 km² with the population of about 4,076,334 people (as of 2000 census). Pontianak is a multicultural city. Major ethnic groups make up about 90% of the total population; include the Dayak, Malay, and Chinese. The rest are Javenese, Bugis, Madurese and other ethnicities.

Pontianak, the major city in West Kalimantan, it occupies an area of 107.82km² in the delta of the Kapuas River, at approximately 1143 km, the longest river in Indonesia. Another attraction in Pontianak is Equator Monument which marks the equatorial line, the division between northern and southern hemispheres, and located 3 km from city centre of Pontianak. First monument was built by Netherlands Geographer in 1928. In 1990, the monument was renovated with making a dome to protect original monument and also making of duplicate of monument five times bigger than its original monument. The special events and amazing is when the sun culmination is happening around Equator Monument, on that moment, all the shadows were disappear. Sun culmination is happened twice a year, which is 21-23 March and 21-23 September. This natural event will attract more tourists.

Pontianak is renowned for its food and regional produce. The main industries are shipbuilding and the production of rubber, palm oil, sugar, pepper, rice and tobacco.  Pontianak is also recognised for being a trade hub between overseas cities and other cities in West Kalimantan province. It has also strong trade link with the city of Kuching, Malaysia. 

The second major city in West Kalimantan is Singkawang, located about 145 km north of Pontianak, and is surrounded by the Pasi, Poteng and Sakok Mountain. Singkawang is derived from Hakka, San kew jong which refers to a town in hills nearby a sea and estuary. Singkawang is also well-known as the city of A Thousand Temples as well as Indonesian Chinatowns, nearly every god and goddess in Chinese Mythology are worshiped here. In any ceremony or official events, from weddings to the funeral ceremonies are closest to the original tradition of Chinese people. The most happening event in Singkawang is Chinese New Year, usually the city will be decorated with lanterns, and also there is dragon festival on Cap Goh Meh, 15th days after Chinese New Year.

So, let’s visit West Kalimantan, and you will feel the different traditions from a multicultural city.