South Kalimantan

South Kalimantan (Kalimantan Selatan, often abbreviated Kalsel) is on the Indonesian side of the island of Borneo.

Cities

Banjarmasin - is the capital of South Kalimantan
Amuntai
Banjarbaru
Barabai
Kandangan
Kotabaru -an island city in the south eastern of Kalimantan selatan which has many small islands, pristine beaches, and good spots for fishing, snorkling and diving.
Loksado – the gateway to Meratus mountainous range
Martapura - the diamond city
Nagara – the wetland town

More Destinations

South Kalimantan Halal Travel Guide

By land area South Kalimantan is the smallest province in Kalimantan but the capital province (Banjarmasin) is the largest city in a whole Kalimantan. There is no active volcanoes in South Kalimantan . Its highest peak is Gunung Besar with 1,892 metres. The biggest outlying island is Pulau Laut (Sea Island) located in Kotabaru Regency. The major ethnic is Banjarese, with some small ethnic of Dayak and Bugis. South Kalimantan is the origin of Austronesian peoples who arrived in Madagascar between the 3rd and 10th century, and are most closely related to Dayaks living near the Barito River although local residents mostly don't know about it.

Administratively, South Kalimantan divided into 11 regencies and 2 cities:

Banjarmasin City - Without a doubt the heart of South Kalimantan province.
Banjarbaru City
Banjar Regency - Many travelers come here because its diamond and gemstones industry.
Tapin Regency
Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency - Home to some Dayak Bukit people and gateway to Loksado and Nagara.
Hulu Sungai Tengah Regency
Hulu Sungai Utara Regency - by land area, it's the smallest regency in South Kalimantan .
Tabalong Regency
Tanah Bumbu Regency
Tanah Laut Regency
Kotabaru Regency
Balangan|Balangan Regency
Barito Kuala Regency

Local Language in South Kalimantan

Bahasa Banjar is the native's language in South Kalimantan although Bahasa Indonesia is widely spoken. English is not commonly used.

Travel to South Kalimantan

Buy a Flight ticket to and from South Kalimantan

Syamsudin Noor Airport, (IATA Code: BDJ) is the biggest airport in South Kalimantan . Airline services are available from major cities in Indonesia (Jakarta (Soekarno-Hatta), Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Denpasar (Bali), Makassar, Balikpapan. For major cities, Syamsudin Noor Airport served by Garuda Indonesia, Batavia Air, Lion/Wings Air, Sriwijaya Air and Merpati Nusantara Airlines, and for small cities/town especially in Kalimantan served by Kal Star Aviation and Susi Air.

The airport terminal has basic requirements such as ATM facilities, restaurant, cafe, and souvenir shops.

The airport has a fixed fare Airport Taxi service. You will need to buy a taxi coupon at the stand just outside the arrivals hall. A taxi ride to Banjarmasin is about 45 minutes, to Banjarbaru about 15 minutes. Another alternative is to prearranged an airport pickup with your hotel.

Travel on a Bus in South Kalimantan

There are buses providing connections from Samarinda and Balikpapan in East Kalimantan, and from Palangkaraya, Sampit and Pangkalanbun in Central Kalimantan to Banjarmasin.

The main bus/minivan terminus in Banjarmasin is located 6 kilometers from downtown, hence the name of the terminus is Kilometre 6 Terminus, local residents just call it "Terminal Pal Enam".

How to get around in South Kalimantan

"Taksi" (taxi) in South Kalimantan can be confusing for some people since local residents call almost all the public transportation taksi except for buses. There several types of taksi:

Taksi argo, usually sedan type taxi which is metered
Taksi kota/angkot/bamikro, is a name for minivan
Taksi antarkota, is a name for inter-cities minivan (usually using Mitsubishi Colt L300)

All public transportation are using yellow registration plate.

By taksi argo

Taksi argo only available in Banjarmasin and Banjarbaru but if you are lucky you also can find it in Martapura. You can find taxi easily near by established hotels (such as Swiss Belhotel, Hotel Arum).

By taksi kota/angkot/bamikro

Taksi kota usually only serve routes within the city. Banjarmasin, Banjarbaru and Martapura all have taksi kota. You can hail and stop it anywhere along the routes. The fare is based on how far you travel. To hail and to stop a taksi kota, just raise your hand and they will stop. When you're inside and want to stop, just say kiri (key-ree) or simply 'stop' out loud. You need to know the place you want to go. Make sure you have exact money to pay the taksi kota, handout to the driver when you get to your destination. Usually taksi kota drivers don't speak English.

By taksi antarkota

Taksi antarkota with orange color serve route Banjarmasin-Martapura via Banjarbaru, and vice versa. Taksi antarkota with colors other than orange serve other routes (such as Banjarmasin-Kandangan,Banjarmasin-Barabai). You can hail and stop it anywhere along the routes. The fare is based on how far you travel. To hail and to stop a taksi antarkota, just raise your hand and they will stop. When you're inside and want to stop, just say kiri (key-ree) or simply 'stop' out loud. You need to know the place you want to go. Make sure you have exact money to pay the taksi antarkota, handout to the driver when you get to your destination. Usually taksi antarkota drivers don't speak English.

By becak

Becak (rickshaw or pedicab). You have to be good negotiator if you want to ride on becak, fare depends on the destination (near or far). It's a good choice for a short ride. Usually becak drivers don't speak English, but a map and lots of pointing will get you to the right place. You need to know the place you want to go.

By ojeg

Ojeg is transportation by motorbike. You can find ojeg almost everywhere in South Kalimantan . Choose ojeg with spare helm for you, make sure they know the place you want to go and negotiate the fare before riding. Handout the money to the ojeg rider when you get to your destination. Usually ojeg riders don't speak English.

What to see in South Kalimantan

Floating markets
Museums in Banjarmasin and Banjarbaru.
Visiting some old masjids

Best things to do in South Kalimantan

Exploring wetland area with Jukung/sampan at Nagara
Visiting Dayak traditional house at remote village at Meratus mountainous area
Bamboo rafting at Amandit river
Hiking around Meratus mountainous range
Canal tour at Banjarmasin

Halal Restaurants in South Kalimantan

Soto Banjar is Banjarese Chicken soup served with rise or rise noodle.
Ketupat Kandangan
"lupis"
"masak habang"
Bingka kentang
Kasturi
Lamang
Apam Barabai
Fruit juices are plentiful, varied and delicious.
Coconuts.
Teh manis is tea with sugar.
Apam Barabai

Medical Issues in South Kalimantan

Bottled water is recommended, but if you can't find one, you should boil your own water.
Mosquitoes can be abundant in some areas and cities, especially during the rainy season. Buy/bring some insect repellent.
Consult your travel doctor about precautions against malaria. Get vaccinated and take preventive and curative medication with you before you go.
Bring some maskers as peat and forest fires can be a problem, and will drastically reduced air quality, caused mainly by slash and burn techniques adopted by farmers as the cheapest and easiest means to clear the lands for traditional agriculture.

Stay Safe

South Kalimantan is a fairly safe province. However, you must do some precautions:

Be vigilant of your personal property and be aware of your surroundings.
Be on your guard in crowded places such as markets, because pickpockets often steal wallets and cellular phones. Keep a close eye on your valuables and choose your transportation options carefully, especially at night.
Be careful when crossing the street. Keep an eye on the local residents and cross with them.

News & References South Kalimantan

Explore more Halal friendly Destinations from South Kalimantan

Bali - by far is the most famous destination in Indonesia
Jakarta - the capital and the largest city of Indonesia
Surabaya - city of heroes
Makassar - the gateway to Sulawesi
Balikpapan