On the Indonesian island of Kalimantan in the delta of the Capua River is Pontianak, a city with high tourist potential. Since the middle of the XVIII century it was the capital of the Sultanate of the same name and since then it is considered an unspoken cultural center of the island .
Geography and administrative division of Pontianaka
This Indonesian city is notable for being located right on the equator. A reminder of this is the monument Equator Monument . Across the entire territory of Pontianak with an area of about 108 square meters. km, there are three rivers:
- Capuas Besar;
- Capuas Kecil;
- The Landau.
They divide it into the Central, Eastern, Northern, Southern, South-Western and Western regions. As of 2010, about 555 thousand people live in all these regions. Most of the population of Pontianak, like other cities in Indonesia, are Chinese or representatives of the Austronesian nationalities.
Climate of Pontianaka
In connection with the geographical location of the city is under the influence of the equatorial climate. In this case, despite the proximity to the equator, in Pontianak often rains. The average annual precipitation is 3210 mm. The smallest amount of precipitation falls in August (200 mm).
The air temperature in the city is constant: the average high is + 30 ° C, and the average low + 23 ° C.
Infrastructure Pontianaka
In former times this city was famous for its gold mines. Now Pontianak is one of the largest shipbuilding, agricultural and trade centers in Indonesia . In addition, palm oil, sugar, tobacco, rice, pepper and rubber are extracted and processed there. Most of these products are sold throughout the country and go to the Malaysian city of Kuching .
In Pontianak there are many educational institutions, funded by the state, private and religious organizations. The largest of these is the Tanjung Pura University, founded in 1963.
Attractions and Entertainment of Pontianaca
Most of the tourists come to this city first of all in order to see the equator monument (Equator Monument). It is set to the north of the city center just in the place where the equator line runs.
In addition, in Pontiac you can see the following attractions:
- Masjid Raya Mujahidin Mosque, considered the largest in Western Kalimantan;
- palace Istana Kadriah, built at the Sultan Serif Abdurrahman Alcadri;
- Park Taman Alun-alun Kapuas, decorated with a garden, fountains and a copy of the monument of the Equator;
- Museum of Western Kalimantan, in which they tell about the history and culture of the region.
Resting in this multinational city, you can visit many different festivals and festivals . So, the ethnic Chinese here magnificently celebrate the Lunar New Year and the Festival of Lanterns Cap-Go-Meh, and the Malays - the harvest festival Dayak, Idul Fitri and Idul Adha. During these holidays, extravagant and colorful parades take place in Pontianak.
Hotels in Pontianac
Due to the fact that the city is the capital of Western Kalimantan and one of the largest economic centers of the country, here there are no problems with the choice of places for living. In Pontianak a huge number of hotels of different price category. The most famous of them are:
- Mercure Pontianak;
- Transera Hotel;
- Aston Pontianak Hotel;
- Kapuas Palace Hotel;
- Golden Tulip.
To rent a room in a comfortable hotel with service, free parking and Wi-Fi, you only need to pay $ 15-37 (per night).
Restaurants of Pontianaka
Pontianak cuisine surprisingly combines the culinary traditions of Indonesia and Malaysia, which is why the city is often called a gastronomic paradise. To get acquainted with all the masterpieces of local chefs, you need to visit one of the following restaurants in Pontianak:
- Chinese Dynasty;
- Abang Kepiting;
- Ou Kie Bakmi Kepiting;
- Pondok Kakap;
- Kwecap Veteran.
The most famous local dish is the Bubura Pedal (oilseed porridge), Asam Pedas (sour or spicy fish dish), Kaloki (rice pie), lemang (a dish based on glutinous rice and coconut milk).
Shopping in Pontianak
One of the most promising and rapidly growing areas of the city's activity is trade. In Pontianak it began to develop in 2001, when the Mal Sun Apartments was opened here. Now you can buy souvenirs, products and other goods in such shopping centers as Mall Pontianak and Ayani Mega Mall.
Transport in Pontianak
Most locals and tourists prefer to travel around the city on motorcycles. In Pontianak, as in other cities in Indonesia, minivans and sikecs (three-wheeled cycle bikes) are popular. There are also several city buses serving only certain routes. On the buses of the company Jalan Trans-Kalimantan you can even go to Malaysia or Brunei.
Approximately 20 km from Pontianak, Suapadio International Airport is located, through which it connects with Jakarta , Kuching, Semarang, Batam and other cities.
How to get to Pontianak?
In order to get acquainted with the city, which encompasses many secrets and legends, you need to go to Kalimantan. The territory of Pontianak extends to the coast of the Java Sea, on the other side of which the capital of the country is located. From the capital, it is the fastest way to get here by air. Several times a day from the capital airport fly planes Lion Air, Garuda Indonesia and Sriwijaya Air, which after 1.5 hours land at the international airport Supadio. From here, the city is 30 minutes away by road Jl. Arteri Supadio.
From the capital of Indonesia in Pontianak can be reached by car, but a significant part of the way will have to be overcome by ferry. It should also be borne in mind that on the route there are private and toll roads, as well as roads with limited traffic.