Central Kalimantan is the biggest province of the island. It occupies a surface of 153,800 square kilometers, most of it is jungle (80%), swamps, rivers and agriculture land. The northern area is mountainous and difficult to reach. Transportation facilities are limited much to the rough terrain. The central area is dense and fertile tropical forests, producing valuable commodities such as rattan, resin and the best woods. The southern area is swampy and has many rivers. Central Kalimantan has a humid and hot climate. CENTRAL KALIMANTAN : BRIEF HISTORY The three big Dayak sub-tribes who inhabit this province are the Ngaju, Ot Danum, and Ma'anyan Ot Siang. The Ngaju, like some other sub-tribes, moves from one region to another. They adhere to the old Kaharingan religion, which is a form of ancestor worship, mixed with elements of animism. They have seen progress. Many of them live in the towns, have enjoyed an education and are intelligent. The Ot Danum live in longhouses which sometimes have as many as 50 rooms. The unique longhouse is called betang. With approximately 6,000 people, the Ot Danum is the largest among the three sub-tribes. They are known for their skill in plaiting rattan, palm leaves, and bamboo. Made by the women, such products are sold in cities and towns such as Banjarmasin, Kualakapuas, and Sampit. Like other Dayaks, the men are good hunters, using simple tools. The art of Central Kalimantan clearly bears the marks of the Kaharingan religion, which is the traditional belief of the Dayaks in the hinterland of Central Kalimantan. Building styles, statues, carvings, and other products are related to the cultural elements of the Hindus, Chinese, and Hindu-Javanese. Aside from their aesthetic properties, such products are appreciated for their magic value. CENTRAL KALIMANTAN : PLACES OF INTEREST Palangkaraya Palangkaraya is the province capital of Central Kalimantan and situated in the up-stream region of the Kahayan river. In the local Dayak language, Palangkaraya means a holy container. Palangkaraya can easily be reached from Jakarta, Banjarmasin, Samarinda, Balikpapan and other points of the island by air. Nowadays, 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. The Nature Reserve of Tangkiling lies 34 kilometers north of Palangkaraya. Small rivers flow through the reserve. Kualakapuas Kualakapuas is the capital of the Kapuas regency, south of Palangkaraya, on the Kapuas river 40 kilometers from Banjarmasin. A well-known tourism attraction is Telo Island, a fishing village and port. It is a pleasant site for recreation. For the adventurer, whitewater rafters and nature lovers, there is Gohong Rawai, known for its beautiful 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. Gold mines are found in many places in Central Kalimantan. Sampit Sampit town, on the Sampit river and the capital of Sampit regency, is known as the biggest timber port in Kalimantan as well as in Indonesia. Here can be found many sawmills which process the timber for export. One can find many interesting tourism attractions in Sampit. Pandaran Beach is a park on the seaside at the mouth of the Sampit river. It is quite unique. One sees to one's north the river emptying its water into the sea. To the south is the wide expanse of the Java Sea. The Orchid Park of Pembuangan Hulu is a natural forest in which a number of rare and beautiful orchid varieties grow. Hunters can engage in their favourite pastime at the Serayan river which borders on the hunting park of Kotawaringin Barat. Pangkalanbun Pangkalanbun is the capital of the Kotawaringin Barat regency, in the western part of Central Kalimantan. It is busy little town. In this town, the old Palace of Pangkalanbun, now 200 years old, can still be seen. Made of ulin (iron- wood), it is the only Banjar royal legacy found in Central Kalimantan. The Masque of Kyai Gede is the oldest mosque, being more than 300 years old, found in Kotawaringin district. The Tanjung Puting National Park is a very well-known nature and wildlife reserve for lowland and swamp forests, inhabited by orang utans, owaowa, bekantan and other primates. One can visit the Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre which is supported by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). CENTRAL KALIMANTAN : TOURISM EVENT
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