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Palangkaraya
Palangkaraya is the province capital of Central Kalimantan and
situated in the upstream 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, white water
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 proces 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 favorite 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 lisle 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 Mosque 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 titans, owaowa, bekantan and
other primates. One can visit the Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre
which is supported by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
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