Palangka Raya

Palangka Raya (or Palangkaraya) is the capital of the province of Central Kalimantan in Indonesia.

Palangka Raya is a tourist-friendly city with lots of attractions, lodging, and dining. Places like Batu Banama Hill and the Sebangau National Park offer some unique natural entertainment and perspective on the island of Borneo. And traditional foods like Sayur Kelakai, Tempuyak, Kandas (Vegetables) are available.

For orientation purposes, the city of Palangkaraya consists of five sub-districts, namely Pahandut Sub-district, Sabangau Sub-District, Jekan Raya Sub-District, Bukit Batu Sub-District, and Rakumpit Sub-District.

Get in

By plane

• 1 Tjilik Riwut Airport (PKY  ^IATA) (is about 9 km from the city centre). There are frequent flights from Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, and also direct domestic flights from Surabaya, Balikpapan, Pontianak, and smaller airports across Kalimantan.  

By bus/car

There are buses from Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan, the trip takes about 3-5 hours. There are also buses travelling west to Pangkalan Bun. Buses arrive at 2 Palangka Raya bus terminal at the southern part of the city.

Get around

By bus

There is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system, the Trans Palangkaraya. As of 2019, the bus served 5 routes and consist of 26 bus stops. However, bus schedules are infrequent.

By ride-hailing service

Ride-hailing taxi services are provided by Gojek and Grab and provides an easy way to get around the city. Cars and ojek (motorcycle taxis) can be ordered via their respective apps.

By angkot

Angkot (share taxis) used to be common before the arrival of ride-hailing services. As of 2020, 80% of angkot operators have stopped operating because of the competition.

See

Kahayan Bridge

• 1 Batu Banama (Batu Tabala, Buhis Hill, Karmel Hill). Boulders and rock domes offering incredible views of surrounding area. Site of legend where a person named Kiling was cursed and turned to stone for marrying his mom (Bawi Kuwu). There are also Pura or Hindu shrines Pasah Patahu (areas where donations to gods can be left) and yellow flags left by Dayaknese to symbolize the spiritual nature of the place. 
• 2 Sei Gohong (about 38 km northwest of Palangka Raya). 08:00-18:00 daily. Basically a swimming hole with black-tea colored tannic water and lots of local people splashing around. ~ IDR7500. 
• 3 Kahayan Bridge (Jembatan Kahayan). One of the icon of Palangka Raya. The bridge connects to Palangka Raya and the other regencies in Central Kalimantan. 
• 4 Tahai Lake (Danau Tahai). 06:00-16:00 daily. Boardwalk over an oxbox-type lake and mangrove area (wear long clothes if you don't want to become a mosquito feast). 
• 5 Kum-Kum. 08:00-17:00 daily. Tourist village along the Kahayan River with restaurants and rather sad caged animals like monkeys and crocodiles along a boardwalk. Can try some grilled fish here. Rp 2000. 
• 6 Balanga Museum, Jl. Tjilik Riwut. 08:00-15:00 M-F, closed Sa-Su. The place where we can look around the ancient goods from Central Kalimantan, such as traditional weapons, traditional musical instruments, urns in which enemy heads were placed, and so forth. 
• 7 Tangkiling Hill (Look for Bukit Tangkiling turnoff/signage about 34 km northwest of Palangka Raya on Jl. Tjilik Riwut/Jl. Trans Kalimantan). A 30 minute hiking trail providing a scenic overlook of the Kahayan River and Palangka Raya City from the summit, which is also a sacred place for the Dayaknese. Unfortunately besides seeing deer, you're almost guaranteed to encounter mosquitoes and rubbish. Rp 10000. 
• 8 Sandung Ngabe Sukah. Memorial where the tomb of the Ngabe Soekah, the first tribal chief in the village, is located. (updated Sep 2020)
• 9 Pasuk Kameluh Park. open 24 hours. Riverside park along the Kahayan River and bridge with food vendors and masjid and monument to Soekarno on southern edge. (updated Sep 2020)
• 10 Bundaran Besar Palangkaraya. Iconic roundabout of Palangka Raya with lots of ornamentation and statuary and state government offices in background. Photo-op. (updated Sep 2020)
• 11 Taman Pemuda (Taman Kota). Independence monument depicting a valiant youth with Bundaran Kecil Palangka Raya roundabout leading up to the site and government buildings in the background. Lots of monuments. (updated Sep 2020)
• 12 Dermaga Kereng Bangkirai (Bangkirai Stilt Village or Wharf). 08:00-18:00 daily. Place to walk around over black water, take boat (kelotok) rides to Sebangau National Park, where peat swamps and rassau trees are found, or just explore the docks and eat and buy things. Rp 5000. (updated Sep 2020)

Do

• See traditional Dayak dancing.
• Traditional celebrate Dayak culture such as "Upacara Batiwah".
• Fishing in some kolam pancing (fishing pond)
• Climbing Tangkiling Hill

Learn

• 13 State Islamic Institute Palangka Raya, Jl. Yos Sudarso, info@iain-palangkaraya.ac.id. The famous and established campus in Palangka Raya. It is located on Jalan G. Obos Komplek Islamic Centre. It is about 5 km from the central of Palangka Raya city. English Department is the favorite Department at IAIN Palangka Raya. IAIN Palangka Raya is near the largest Mosque in Central Kalimantan.  

Buy

• 1 Palangkaraya Mall, Jl. Thamrin Palangka Raya. features: KFC, Roberta, Book City, Batik Bahalap Boutique.  
• 2 Jalan Batam (Batam Street). At Batam Street there are souvenir shops selling products such as lawung, a headband used as the Dayak people's traditional clothing. (updated Feb 2022)
• 3 Mega Town Square, Jl. Yos Sudarso. (updated Feb 2022)

Eat

Some of the local dishes include Wadi (Fermented fish), Juhu Baasem, Juhu Singkah, and Kandas Sarai.

• 1 Kampung Lauk Restaurant, Jl. Bukit Rawi Km No.2, Pahandut Seberang, Kec. Pahandut, Palangka Raya, ☏ +62 851 01322800. Riverside seafood restaurant along the Kahayan river and minutes from the Kahayan Bridge, an icon of the city of Palangka Raya. (updated Feb 2022)
• 2 Tjilik Riwut Gallery and Resto, Jl. Jend. Sudirman No.1, Palangka, Kec. Jekan Raya, Palangka Raya, ☏ +62 536 3225430. The place where we can see the belongings of Tjilik Riwut, a hero from Central Kalimantan. We also can eat traditional food from Central Kalimantan there. (updated Feb 2022)
• 3 Rumah Makan Borobudur, Jl. Rajawali, Palangka, Kec. Jekan Raya, Palangka Raya (near SMPN 3 Palangka Raya), ☏ +62 852 49432919. Customers can enjoy "ayam kremes (fried chicken)" with "sambal tomat (chili sauce)" and "lalapan (fresh vegetables)". (updated Feb 2022)

Sleep

• 1 Acquarius Boutique Hotel, Jl. Imam Bonjol No.5, Menteng, Jekan Raya (near the center of town), ☏ +62 536 3242121. 4 star hotel. 
• Hotel Dandang Tingang, ☏ +62 536 21805. One star hotel in center 
• 2 Rungan Sari Meeting Center & Resort, Jl. Tjilik Riwut Km 36, Sei Gohong (located just outside Palangka Raya), ☏ +62 819 5201 1011, +62 819 536 333 3878, +62 811 520 8801, reservation@rungansariresort.com. 3 star hotel, 24 rooms. (updated Nov 2022)
• Hotel Mahkota, Jl. Nias. No.2. Pahandut. Kota Palangkaraya, ☏ +62 536 3221672. 
• 3 Swiss Bell Hotel, ☏ +62 536 3232777. Just a real doll of a place with a meandering pool in the center courtyard and haute-cuisine dining experience. (updated Sep 2020)

Go next

• Banjarmasin - the river city
• Pontianak - the capital of West Kalimantan