Information
City: SamarindaCountry: Indonesia
Continent: Asia
Samarinda, Indonesia, Asia
Overview
Samarinda, the bustling capital of East Kalimantan province, sits along the wide Mahakam River on the island of Borneo in Indonesia.Perched along the broad Mahakam River, Samarinda thrives as a hub of commerce, culture, and city life in the country’s east.The city blends sleek urban skylines with pockets of green hills and rivers, while its mix of cultures gives residents and visitors alike an experience they won’t find anywhere else.Samarinda sits on the southern bank of the Mahakam River, where the wide, muddy water winds its way toward the Makassar Strait.Samarinda sits in central Kalimantan, about 48 kilometers from the coast, and stretches across roughly 718 square kilometers-an expanse where the air stays warm and heavy with tropical humidity all year.From November to April, rain soaks the city, drumming on tin roofs, while May through October stays mostly dry.Temperatures usually hover between 24°C and 32°C (75°F to 89°F), and in the wet season, rain can fall in thick, warm sheets.Long before Samarinda grew into a city, the land was home to indigenous peoples, among them the Dayak.Samarinda started as a modest riverside settlement along the Mahakam, where boats once drifted past on slow currents, and its prime location spurred steady growth.Under Dutch colonial rule, it became a vital port for trading rubber, timber, and other resources.After Indonesia gained independence in 1945, the city expanded into a busy industrial and commercial hub, driven by oil, natural gas, and coal.Samarinda’s roads, bridges, and utilities expanded quickly in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, and today it’s the most populous city in East Kalimantan, home to about 900,000 people; most are Dayak or Banjar, with sizable Javanese, Bugis, and Makassarese communities adding to the city’s vibrant mix.Smaller groups of Chinese and Malay residents also call the city home.Most people in Samarinda follow Islam, while many others are Christian, and a few practice Hinduism or Buddhism.Some Dayak communities still follow their own indigenous belief systems, and in Samarinda, you can see how this blends with influences from across Indonesia-like hearing Indonesian, Dayak, Banjar, and Javanese spoken in the same bustling market.Bahasa Indonesia is spoken everywhere, especially in the cities.In Samarinda, meals often feature just-caught river prawns or other fresh seafood, a reflection of the city’s riverside home.In Samarinda, you can savor Soto Samarinda, a fragrant soup of beef, chicken, or fish poured over rice and brightened with fresh herbs and spices; bite into smoky Ikan Bakar, grilled fish paired with fiery sambal; enjoy golden Nasi Kuning with fried chicken, eggs, and more sambal; or snack on crisp, sweet Pisang Goreng, the city’s beloved fried bananas.You’ll also find its heritage alive in the rhythms and movements of Dayak dance and music.The city hosts lively cultural festivals like the Borneo Cultural Festival, where you might hear the steady beat of drums and watch indigenous dances unfold, alongside intricate local crafts.Samarinda may not be as famous as bigger Indonesian cities, yet it’s rich in natural beauty, cultural landmarks, and outdoor adventures.The Mahakam River, the city’s lifeline, invites visitors aboard for peaceful cruises and slow boat rides past lush riverbanks.From the river, you can watch sunlight glint off the city’s waterfront and see fishermen hauling in their nets or guiding narrow boats along the current.About 35 kilometers away, Bukit Bangkirai offers a stretch of lush forest that serves both as a protected reserve and a popular ecotourism spot.You can cross a swaying canopy bridge high in the treetops, where the forest stretches out in every direction, and then wander to Lempake Waterfall on Samarinda’s edge for the hush of falling water and cool mist on your face.Samarinda Ulu draws crowds for picnics under shady trees, snapping photos of the view, and hiking its trails, and it’s also celebrated for its traditional Dayak longhouses and deep cultural roots.Visitors can wander through the village, soaking up the stories of East Kalimantan’s indigenous cultures, then step into the Samarinda Central Mosque-the city’s largest-where sunlight spills across its vast prayer halls and intricate arches.In Samarinda, this important religious landmark sits near Pampang Cultural Village, about 20 kilometers from the city, where visitors can watch Dayak dancers in bright beadwork, admire intricate carvings, and browse handmade crafts.The village is famous for its longhouse-style architecture.Nearby, the Mahakam Lampion Garden glows with colorful lanterns strung along the riverbank, perfect for an evening stroll or snapping a photo as the lights shimmer on the water.Makan Kersik Luway, a historic site tied to the Dayak people, offers visitors a glimpse into traditional rituals, beliefs, and customs.Economically, Samarinda drives much of East Kalimantan’s growth, fueled by abundant coal, natural gas, and oil, along with steadily expanding infrastructure.The energy sector powers much of the city’s economy, with Samarinda acting as a key hub for resource extraction and transport-ships heavy with coal and oil leave its docks each day.At the same time, trade and commerce are on the rise, filling the streets with bustling markets, busy shops, and gleaming malls.Samarinda serves as a major trading hub for timber, rubber, palm oil, and a variety of agricultural goods.Farming drives much of the local economy, with fields of cocoa, coconut palms, rice paddies, and fragrant spice crops stretching across the surrounding countryside.Manufacturing has grown steadily, especially in processing natural resources like timber, palm oil, and food products.The city’s easy to reach-Aji Pangeran Tumenggung Pranoto Airport offers flights to Jakarta, Balikpapan, and Surabaya, while a solid road network links Samarinda to places like Balikpapan and Bontang.Though inland, it also maintains sea connections for trade.
Landmarks in samarinda
