West Kalimantan, or Kalimantan Barat – Kalbar – is a huge province consisting chiefly of the Kapuas River Basin and lying directly on the equator. West Kalimantan covers an area of over 146,807 sq km, rich in a variety of minerals and precious stones, and remains largely unexplored. The Kapuas River (1,143 km long), Kalbar’s geographical landmark, is the longest river in Indonesia. The region, having received almost no tourist promotion, is largely unknown.

Hinduism reached West Kalimantan by about the year 400 and evidence of both early Hindu and Buddhist civilizations in the region have been discovered. Stone carvings and ceramics can be traced as far back as the 5th century, but it is the influence of Islam that has had the most impact on this region.

Today, West Kalimantan holds one of the highest concentrations of ethnic Chinese in all of Indonesia. Chinese-Indonesians here make up approximately 11% of the province’s population. These numbers include descendants of Chinese-Dayak marriages.

Serving as the main gateway into the Province of West Kalimantan is the provincial capital of Pontianak, that is graced by busy docks where Bugis schooners tie up, a regional museum, the Jamie Mosque, and the old Sultan’s palace. Founded in 1771 by Syarif Abdul Rahman AI- Kadri of Saudi Arabia, the city is now a bustling economic hub as well as home to a sizeable university and a giant indoor sports stadium. The coastal area to the north of Pontianak also has some beautiful beaches that are worth visiting.

The landscape of West Kalimantan is dotted with high, steep-sided rock formations, which offer a great challenge to the rock climbing activities and the a rare view over the jungle canopy from their heights. The most dramatic of these peak, Mount Kelam, rises from the forest quite close to Sintang. However, coastal areas are mainly swamp lands with more than 100 rivers sculpting the flat plains. In the mountainous eastern parts of the province, away from the city and plains, there are many Dayak villages.

The Dayaks have ancient traditions and beliefs which are expressed in various forms; earlobes elongated by heavy earrings, tattoos, intricate paintings, designs and carvings and wonderful dances of respect, heroism, welcome and cure. A large Chinese population, Malays and other Indonesian ethnic groups account for the rest of the inhabitants of the province.

West Kalimantan is easily accessible from Jakarta or Singapore by air and boat and overland journeys provide a rare opportunity to see the interior of one of the world’s largest and richest islands