Kalimantan Utara

Kalimantan Utara
(North Kalimantan)

Capital City

Tanjung Selor

picture: wikimedia commons

North Kalimantan is a province in Kalimantan with 4 regencies and 1 city. The capital city of North Kalimantan, Tanjung Selor, is located in the Bulungan Regency. According to the Population census from the Central Statistics Agency of North Kalimantan Province, there are 701,814 residents based on September 2020 data.

Before the expanses of 4 more provinces in Indonesia (Papua Pegunungan, Papua Selatan, Papua Tengah, Papua Barat Daya), North Kalimantan was the youngest provinces in Indonesia inaugurated in 25th October 2012.

Although North Kalimantan has never been considered as a tourist destination, there are some destinations you can explore, foods you can try when you have the opportunity to visit North Kalimantan.

Tarakan is an island and it is the only city in North Kalimantan, it also has the largest population. This city is mainly known for its seafood, especially the crabs and the shrimp. Geographically, Tarakan is separated from the mainland of Kalimantan with an area of 250.98 km2.

Two of the most famous destinations you can visit in Tarakan are Amal Beach and Mangrove and Proboscis Monkey Conservation.

Tarakan

picture: indonesia tourism

It is a must to visit Amal Beach during your stay in Tarakan. While enjoying the view and chit-chats, you should try some of the local snacks, such as fried plantains, fried cassava, boiled Kapah (a type of clams), and clench your thirst with fresh coconut water.
While Amal Beach might not be the best or the cleanest beach you will ever see, however, the memory will be unforgettable!

Amal Beach

It is another must-visit destination of Tarakan. With Rp 5,000 you are able to see the mangrove forest and the proboscis monkey that lives in the conservation area.
Proboscis monkey itself is a decreasing endangered animal that originated from the jungles of Borneo. This conservation area is specially built to preserve the species to avoid extinction.

In the conservation area, you are able to see Proboscis Monkey up close as they freely in the area. There won't be any separation between you and the monkey, so make sure to be careful with your belongings! 

Mangrove and Proboscis Monkey Conservation

If you happen to visit Tarakan in October, you might want to check the annual festival held by the Tidung people of Tarakan. This festival is called Iraw Tengkayu; “Iraw” means celebration in Tidung language, and “Tengkayu” means a small island surrounded by the sea–Tarakan.

The Iraw Tengkayu Festival is held with a series of activities such as various competitions, boat parades, and throwing offerings into the sea. The highlight of the festival is the traditional ritual of the Padaw Tuju Dulung Parade, which is a decorated boat paraded around the city and then floated out to sea. Padaw Tuju Dulung will be carried by young men around the city using several bamboo slats that are installed at the bottom of the boat.

The Iraw Tengkayu Festival is not just an annual event, but it has a deep cultural meaning to it. For the Tidung tribe, this festival is a time to celebrate the harvest, strengthen community ties, and maintain traditions that have been passed down by the ancestors. Which makes this festival special and meaningful for the people.

Iraw Tengkayu Festival

picture: ministry of tourism and creative economy of indonesia

While visiting North Kalimantan, you can not miss out these dishes: 

Seafood

As mentioned previously, Tarakan’s seafood–especially the crabs and shrimps– are famous around Indonesia. This is due to its strategic location surrounded by two rich marine ecosystems, namely the Sulawesi Sea and the Sulung Sea. Marine animals can grow well here, producing high quality seafood.

Ayam Lalap

Tarakan is known for its seafood, however, there is 1 special dish from the city.
Ayam lalap, fried chicken seasoned with special spices from North Kalimantan along with some boiled vegetables and Kalimantan’s special chilli shrimp paste. Even though this dish is not famous around Indonesia, it is still worth trying food from Tarakan.