:: Pangkalan Bun & Kumai - Central Kalimantan Travel Guides ::
PANGKALAN BUN AND KUMAI
The
word
Kumai comes from the phrase “kembali ke pangkuanku”, in the Bugis
language. It means “return to my lap”. Kumai was once part of the
Kutaringin Monarchy. It was originally lead by Pangeran Bendahara,
who later gave Kumai to Muhammad Cik, Kumai’s village leader. Cik
then gave his position to Amsar, who was chosen to be regent of
Kumai.
There are many historical places in Kumai. This is because it was a
base for Indonesian fighters to attack the Dutch and also Japanese.
The tragedy happened on January 14, 1946. Many warriors were killed
there, but they could maintain their base. To commemorate the
battle, the government has built a monument and a park there. The
name of the park is “Taman Bahagia”. It is located in Sei. On
Tendang and on every January 14, people celebrate in the park to
remember Kumai’s warriors. The Kobar regent always attends.
Kumai
District is the largest district in the West Kotawaringin regency,
and is divided into three subdistricts, namely Kumai, Pangkalan Lada
and Pangkalan Banteng. Those districts are about 4.456 kmē, and have
been mutually agreed upon by the Local House of Representative (DPRD).
The Regent at that time, H Abdul Razak signed the region regulation
about the district forming in plenary meeting forum of council. The
final result was a long process from various solutions with the
first plan. The modification happened either from the name of
district and opinion about Kumai which was intended by government to
divide into four political districts plus one regional political
district of coastal area.
In that plenary meeting, seven factions of council supporters had
agreed and accepted the Raperda (Regional government meeting)
dividing Kumai District into the specified Regions. "By saying ‘Bismillahirahmanirrahim’,
we express to accept the Raperda become the Region regulation about
regional forming of Pangkalan Lada district and Pangkalan Banteng,
while Kumai as main district" said Sumanto, S.E, chief of Army
Fraction of Republic Indonesia police. Regent of West Kotawaringin
at that time, H Abdul Razak after signing the region regulation
explained, the result of formula and agreement between regency
government and DPRD have specified two new districts as a part of
Kumai district. He said "By forming two new districts, we expect
that it can support the public service in governance affairs,
development issue and social affairs."
The
capital
of Pangkalan Lada district is Pandu Senjaya (ex Pangkalan Lada SP
4). The district is initially proposed as a Center for Kumai,
covering seven counties, namely Makarti Jaya, Pangkalan Lada, Pandu
Senjaya, Lada Mandala Jaya, Sumber Agung, Sungai Rangit Jaya and
Purba Sari. Karang Mulya is the capital of Pangkalan Banteng
District (ex Natai Kerbau SP 4). The easternmost initially is
proposed by as East Kumai covering eight counties. These are Desa
Mulya Jadi, Pangkalan Banteng, Karang Mulya, Marga Mulya, Arga Mulya,
Amin Jaya, Sido Mulya and Kebun Agung. At that time, the Regent
hoped, if two new districts could have the larger ones opportunity
in existing exploiting the potency of resources.
Geography
Kumai has total area about 2.921,00 kmē. On the north side,
the Kumi is adjacent to the Arut Utara district. Seruyan regency is
to the East, Java Sea to the South, and Arut Selatan to the West.
Topographics
North: plain and kinds of land/ground which hold up to erosion
Center: raddle, lake and bog. South: bog, alluvial which has many
aqueous/water.
Climate
There are 2 seasons in Kumai, namely dry and rain season. The
temperature is about 20 to 30 degrees Celsius, the mount inclination
is about 0 to 100 m and 0 to 80%.
Demographics
There are 39.086 people living in Kumai. Kumai has 155 RT
(neighborhood administrative unit) and 23 RW (residence
administrative unit).
The capital of Kumai District is Kumai. It is divided into 3 sub
districts and 14 regions. The sub districts are Kumai Hulu, Kumai
Hilir and Candi and the regions are Sei. Cabang, Teluk Pulai, Sei.
Sekonyer, Batu Belaman, Pangkalan Satu, Kubu, Sei. Bakau, Sei.
Bedaun, Teluk Bogam, Keraya, Sebuai, Sei. Kapitan, and Bumiharjo.
Ethnic backgrounds
The majority of the people are Malay and Banjarese. The others are
Maduranese, Javanese, Bugisnese, Sundanese, Dayaknese, Chinese and
some foreign citizens (volunteers, researchers and tourists).
Language
Kumai Language (Coastal Language) is the daily language
of Kumai. It bears similarities to Banjar language, because some of
the residents originated from Banjar. Being a Port city an host to
many immigrants, the languages in Kumai are highly varied.
Points of interest
Tanjung Puting National Park
Tanjung Puting National Park is a conservation area that provides a
protected system of life. It protects a large variety of plants,
animals and their associated ecosystems. It is the largest protected
area of swamp forest in South-East Asia.
Tanjung Puting first received a level of protection in 1935 and was
officially designated as a Wildlife Reserve in 1939. In 1982, it was
declared a National Park.
The
Park
was established primarily for the protection of the Bornean
Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), and its formation was instigated and
aided by the efforts of Dr. Birute Galdikas and Orangutan Foundation
International. When this area become a national park, Tanjung
Harapan moved to the other side of the Sekonyer river (across the
original area). The original width of the park was 3,000.4 kmē. In
its new location, it increased to 4,150.4 kmē.
The Park receives aid from Orangutan International Canada and it is
recognized as a World Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations.
Tanjung Puting occupies most of the peninsula between Teluk Kumai
and the Seruyan River and consists of varied habitats including peat
and freshwater swamp forests, lowland tropical rainforests and heath
forests. The Park is drained by several black water rivers emanating
from the northern and eastern parts.
Tanjung Puting National Park is famous primarily because of two
primates: the Orangutan and the Proboscis Monkey (endemic to
Borneo). At Camp Leakey, research is conducted on Orangutans,
Gibbons, other animals and ecological processes. Orangutans are also
rehabilitated and returned to the wild from this Camp. Since 1971
over 200 Orangutans have been returned to the wild as part of Dr.
Birute Galdika's Orangutan Research and Conservation Project.
The park is divided into 4 areas, each highlighting a different set
of natural resources. They are:
1. TANJUNG HARAPAN. This area was developed for the
ecotourism and hosts the inform
ation
center, guest house, watcher tower and camping ground. By travelling
along the edge of the river, you will see the nipah formation, screw
pine and bog forest, and then you can do tracking and bird watching.
We can enter to the center of TNTP information to get the
information from the officer. We can stay in guest house. There are
3 rooms for 6 people and home stay are divided into 4 houses in
Sekonyer countryside by 8 rooms for 16 people with reasonable
ticket. You can buy the souvenir from TNTP that are typical souvenir
like T-shirt, key hanger, sticker, painting of orangutan and
orangutan statue.
2. PONDOK TANGGUI. This is a special place which representing
the existence of pre-wild and adolescent Orangutan. It is host to
various kinds of animals like deer, pig, rangkong bird (Rhinoceros),
Raja Udang bird and Sesep Madu bird. During journeys from Tanjung
Harapan to Pondok Tanggui, you pass through the habitats of the
Bekantan Monkey and the Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus dan
Tomistoma schlegelli) along the journey.
3. CAMP LEAKEY. This area is devoted to the research and
rehabilitation of adult Orangutan. It is suitable for visiting the
place to see the Orangutan rehabilitation both for pre-wild or wild.
Beside that, you can enjoy the Owa-owa, Bald Eagle, Sesep Madu bird,
and Hornbill (Enggang) or Rangkong.
4. PANTAI SUNGAI CABANG. This area is located alongside a
white sand beach. The working and maintenance huts are located here,
along with guest houses, an information center, shelter, watch
tower, camp ground, dock and is the location of various other
tourist activities.
Bugam Raya
(Kubu Beach, Bay of Bogam, Keraya and Sungai Umbang which
residing in one band). This countryside is one of Kumai district
administratively, sub-province of West Kotawaringin, is very easy to
reach. From Pangkalan Bun, we can walk in the land pass. The road is
covered by asphalt, which has width about 122 kmē. The distance is
about 28 km or 1 hour travelling by vehicle.
The scenery during the journey from Pangkalan Bun to Kubu is
miserable. The situation is very desolated and hot, particularly the
view in the left and in the right side are predominated by the
grassland (Imperatacy Lindrica, called alang-alang in Indonesia).
Likely it can represent the condition of Kalimantan now. Kubu
Countryside is located in coastal area, as a result, majority of
resident of this countryside have living as fisherman.
Bay of Bogam
It is a beautiful and a fascinated bay. The distance from
Pangkalan Bun to the Bay of Bogam is about 50 km or about 2 hours
traveling by using vehicle.
Keraya
It is a coast which has many people visit it, because it is very
beautiful. It is located in Keraya countryside about ą 57 km from
Pangkalan Bun or about 2,5 hours travelling by vehicle.
Sungai Umbang
It is a coast which has many mangrove trees. it is very
beautiful and many people visit it.
Patih Mambang Waterfall
It is a waterfall from hilly land and field, and the
water emitting a stream of into the sea. It is located in
countryside Keraya. Besides the waterfall, in this countryside we
could also for noted a coast which is used to diving and as well as
surfing and also for fishing.
White Sand Beach (Sei. Cabang)
It is a coast, which has clean white sand. It is located in Sei.
Cabang countryside. It is used as a place for green turtle
conservation. It was built by FNPF (Friends of Nation Park
Foundation) that is a foundation which focused in conservation.
Based on the data that we could found, in
this area (Sei. Rengas), there are hidden treasures in the ground.
We do not know anything about what kind of treasures are hidden
there, because there is no authentic data.
Cannon colonization in Kubu
There are some historic omission, that is war cannon
which used for colonization epoch of Dutch colonial at that time.
George A. Winke’s mauseloum (Sei. Kapitan)
It is a mausoleum of Dutch soldier who was in a kapiten (captain)
position, he was dead and buried in that countryside. So, that
countryside is referred to Kapitan countryside.
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