Sightseeing in Kalimantan Island - what to see. Complete travel guide

Kalimantan is the part of Borneo Island owned by Indonesia. These unique places attract thousands of travelers. This exotic island is especially popular among fans of beach recreation and eco-tourism. Each city of Kalimantan is a storehouse of interesting attractions and cultural centers, so fans of excursions won’t be bored during their vacations.

Pontianak would be a very interesting place for sightseeing. It’s situated almost at the equator, and there is an appropriate memorial sign reminding about that. The main historical value of the city is beautiful mosque Mesjid Abdurrakhman built in the 18th century. The mosque was created following the best national traditions; a century later it has managed to retain its original features. Equally important architectural monument is Istana Kadriyah, the palace that once belonged to a rich sultan. These days the palace has turned into a museum, where priceless items are housed. The main cultural center of Pontianak is the Museum Negeri Pontianak; its rich collection is incredibly interesting. Its spacious rooms are decorated with antique ceramics and porcelain, and there are lots of other interesting exhibits associated with the culture and traditions of the indigenous population.

The picturesque city of Banjarmasin would be perfect for hikers; Mesjid Sabilal Muhtadin has being the main symbol of the place for many years. Towering minarets of the mosque are seen from virtually any area of the city; the mosque is the tallest building all around. Other important symbols of the city are numerous channels, as well as its amazing floating markets, Pasar Lokbaintan and Pasar Kuin . Bandjarmasin also deserves attention of curious tourists. It can boast a large-scale ethnographic museum with incredibly rich exhibition. There are Dutch guns reminiscent of colonization era, and artefacts of the indigenous population, as well as a lot of interesting religious items and cultural objects. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

One of the most unusual tourist areas is Diamond Mine located close to the village of Champak. Tourists have an opportunity to watch the hard work of miners who come here every day hoping to find gems. One of the main attractions is Dayaks village, whose lifestyle hasn’t changed for ages. Like many hundreds of years ago, today they continue to obey the laws of jungle, carefully preserving their culture and centuries-old traditions. It’s worth noting that Dayak tribes are very friendly to tourists, so excursions to ancient villages are regularly arranged for foreigners.

Priceless natural sights of Kalimantan can’t go unnoticed. Walk along the Kanibalu National Park will be an unforgettable adventure. There you can see not only hundreds of rare species of animals and plants, but also the world's largest flower, Rafflesia. A real decoration of the park is Kipungo Waterfall, whose height is more than 10 meters. There are also healing hot springs equipped with comfortable swimming pools for visitors. Kalimantan is ready to offer its guests excellent conditions for various activities.

Kalimantan is a true paradise for fans of active recreation. For this group of travelers, Bukit Raya Mountain is one of the main landmarks of the region. For local people, the mountain has been a sacred object for thousands of years. The height of this mountain is more than 2,000 meters. According to ancient legends, an army of spirits lives on the top of the mountain. There are many interesting hiking trails on the slopes of Bukit Raya. Some of them are simple and do not require any special training. The holy mountain never ceases to attract alpinists, but some of its slopes impress even experienced sportsmen.

Unique flora and fauna are among the main peculiarities of the mountain region. It is a fantastic place to admire tropical flowers and plants, and, of course, watch exotic birds. If you are not in a mood for walking on a hot day, it is the right time to enjoy some canoeing. There are many small canoes with motors riding on rivers of the region. For a small fee, the boats take travelers to the most picturesque and interesting areas on Kalimantan. As a rule, these water routes are surrounded by mangrove woods that have become home to rare species of monkeys and birds.