Indonesian Culture: West Kalimantan

West Kalimantan

West Kalimantan (Indonesian: Kalimantan Barat) is a province of Indonesia. It is one of five Indonesian provinces in Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo. The borders of West Kalimantan roughly trace the mountain ranges surrounding the watershed of the Kapuas River, which drains most of the province. The Province also bordered with Sarawak, Malaysia. The province has an area of 147,307 km². Its capital city is Pontianak.

Tourism Site

Here are some nice places to visit in West Kalimantan : Rumah Panjang,Danau Sebedang, Pantai Pasir Panjang, Keraton Sambas, Monumen Mandor, Keraton Mempawah, Gunung Berangin, Bukit Tukung, Pantai Penimbangan.

Keraton Mempawah

Traditional Dance

Tari Monong / Manang is a traditional dance of West Kalimantan society. This dance is a healing dance. When there are people who are sick but do not heal, usually the family will hold Tari Monong / Manang. The dancer will act as a shaman healer who issued a special spell. Thus, the patient will be motivated to get better.

Traditional House

Istana Kesultanan Kadriah adopt Kadriah palace architecture. Construction of this building almost entirely of iron wood, so that it can last a long time. This building has a vault which is rather high and the main chamber section rectangular and surrounded by porches. The existence of the porch that surrounds the main hall is part of the hallmark of tropical building. Roof of the building consists of two floors and saddle-shaped, but there are also some other parts in the form of a pyramid with four sloping sides.

Traditional Weapon

Mandau is the traditional weapon of Dayak, a kind of machete and long-shaped, made of selection materials taken from the mountain rocks containing iron. This weapon decoration in the form of hornbill feathers or human hair, placed in the beginning of mandau made of horn or wood.

Traditional Costume

Pakaian Adat Perang. This traditional costume made from the bark of West Kalimantan which processed into cloth. For the main materials used as ingredients in traditional clothing traditional West Kalimantan is kapuo’s or ampuro’s bark.