West Kalimantan: Dayak Culture, Coast and Kapuas

At the Tugu Khatulistiwa in Pontianak, a special celestial phenomenon can be observed: twice a year, between March 21 and 23 and between September 21 and 23, the sun reaches its zenith there. At that time, upright objects cast no visible shadows. The educational and tourism complex also includes a mini-museum and an educational gallery. Here, the natural phenomenon and the learning destination are located at the same named site.

West Kalimantan between the coast, river and rainforest

Pantai Temajuk is located in Temajuk village, in Paloh District and Sambas Regency in Kalimantan Barat. Sambas borders Malaysia directly. On the northern tip of Kalimantan Barat, the coast combines white sand and surf with views of the sunset. This makes it possible to describe Pantai Temajuk both in terms of its precise administrative location and its coastal landscape.

Gunung Palung National Park is characterized by a different landscape. It spans the regencies of Ketapang and Kayong Utara and includes tropical rainforest, mangrove forest and peat swamp forest. These habitats provide space for various endemic plant and animal species. The park is considered one of Indonesia’s important nature reserves. Activities available there include hiking and wildlife watching.

At Sungai Kapuas, visitors can rent a klotok boat and travel slowly along the river, observing tropical forests and local life along the way. Boats, including small boats and klotok boats, are also the main means of transport for inland communities. The river is therefore both a way to experience the landscape from the water and part of these communities’ everyday transport.

In Singkawang, Danau Biru was formed in a former mining excavation. The lake is used for photography and relaxation. Pantai Pasir Panjang is about 17 kilometers from Singkawang city center. Beach outings, boat rentals, pedal boats, go-karts, souvenir shops and food stalls are among the tourist offerings there.

Culture, history and regional cuisine

Pekan Gawai Dayak is intangible cultural heritage of Kalimantan Barat and was recognized as national cultural heritage in 2016. The festival takes place every year. It preserves Dayak customs as a cultural identity and develops arts and culture that can be experienced by the entire population of Kalimantan Barat. Dates and program details may vary; if you are planning your trip around the festival, check them in advance.

Singkawang also offers a tangible cultural reference point: Chinese New Year celebrations there reach their peak at Cap Go Meh, the fifteenth day of the festivities. Kelenteng Tri Dharma Bumi Raya in Singkawang was built in 1878 and is dedicated to Tua Peh Kong, the god of the forest. The annual festival tradition and the temple’s history offer different ways to explore the city’s cultural life.

In Kota Pontianak, the UPT Museum Provinsi Kalimantan Barat collects, preserves and displays artifacts and historical objects that reflect the culture, nature and life of Kalimantan Barat. The collections have historical, cultural and natural value for the people of Kalimantan Barat and Indonesia. Museum Daerah Kabupaten Sambas offers a different historical focus: its collections cover the history of the kingdom, political struggles, customs and colonial influence in the region.

The present-day building of Museum Daerah Kabupaten Sambas was built in 1881 and formerly served as the office of the Dutch deputy resident. In Pontianak, Istana Kadriah Kesultanan Pontianak preserves the historical heritage of the Sultanate of Pontianak. The palace was built in the 18th century; visitors can explore it and look out over Sungai Kapuas. Both places connect architectural history with different chapters of the region’s past.

The architecture of the Rumah Betang is also part of the region’s cultural heritage. Rumah Betang Sungai Uluk Palin in Kalimantan Barat has been preserved and, at 204 meters long, is one of the tallest and longest examples of this type of house. When visiting a Rumah Betang, you can walk along a long wooden floor, see family rooms and interact with local residents.

Bubur Pedas, a traditional dish of the Malay people of Kalimantan Barat, is part of the regional cuisine. It is made with pounded rice, toasted coconut, black pepper and various vegetables. These ingredients give the dish a distinct culinary connection to the region.

When planning your itinerary, it makes a difference whether you focus on an annual festival, Cap Go Meh on the fifteenth day of the festivities, or the sun’s zenith, which occurs during two date windows. Dates and program details for Pekan Gawai Dayak may vary; check them if the festival is the reason for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Pontianak, Ketapang, Singkawang, Pangkalanbuun, Ledo, Central Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, Gorontalo.

For the main travel overview: Indonesia.