Pontianak

Pontianak is the capital city of the Indonesian province of West Kalimantan. It is located on the island of Borneo, right on the equator, which is why it is called the Equatorial City. The city sits at the meeting point of the Kapuas River and its tributary, the Landak River, in a area covering 118.21 km².

Originally a small Malay fishing village, Pontianak grew to become an important trading port. It was once the seat of the Pontianak Sultanate and later became part of the Dutch East Indies. After World War II, it was chosen as the capital of West Kalimantan when Indonesia became a republic.

Today, Pontianak is a multicultural city where many different ethnic groups live together, including Dayak, Malay, Bugis, and Chinese people. This mix creates a unique culture found only in Pontianak. The city is connected by air through Supadio International Airport and by road through the Trans Kalimantan Highway, linking it to other cities in Indonesia, East Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam.

Etymology

The city of Pontianak was once the capital of the independent Sultanate of Pontianak. It was founded on October 23, 1771, near an old trading place on the western coast of Borneo. Because the area often flooded, buildings had to be raised on piles.

The name Pontianak comes from stories about ghosts called Pontianak in Malay culture. These ghosts were said to live in the area until a leader named Syarif Abdurrahman Alkadrie and his army fought them off. In memory of this, people still light bamboo cannons on special days like Ramadan.

In Chinese language, the city is called 坤甸, or Kūndiàn in pinyin. Some local Hakka Chinese people call it Khuntîen.

Stories of the Pontianak, a spirit of a woman who died while expecting a baby, are part of old tales from Borneo. These stories were popular long before the city grew large.

History

Early development

The city of Pontianak has a rich history. Dutch historians wrote about its early days in books. In 1773, Dutch people began visiting Pontianak from Batavia. A leader named Syarif Abdurrahman left his home and married into royalty. He became successful in trade and later fought against Dutch rule. He created a settlement on an island in the Kapuas River, which is now Pontianak, and established the Sultanate of Pontianak.

In the 1700s, the sultanate brought in Chinese workers to mine gold and tin. Some Chinese groups formed their own Lanfang Republic to resist Dutch control. They set up their own government and rules but were eventually overcome by the Dutch in 1884.

Colonial rule

In 1778, Dutch forces entered Pontianak and set up a base. They made agreements with local leaders for land to use as their government center. The Dutch first allowed the Lanfang Republic to exist but later fought against them because they wanted more control over Borneo. After many battles, the Dutch took over Lanfang.

During World War II, Japan occupied Pontianak and took control from the Dutch. After Japan surrendered, the Dutch returned but faced pressure to let Indonesia become independent. Pontianak became the capital of West Kalimantan.

Independence

After Japan’s surrender, the Dutch came back to Pontianak but soon had to recognize Indonesia’s independence. Pontianak became the capital of West Kalimantan, one of the states in the new Republic of the United States of Indonesia. Later, Indonesia became a single country, and Pontianak remained the capital of West Kalimantan.

Geography

Pontianak is located right on the equator, making it known as the Equatorial City. The city sits low, just 0.1 to 1.5 meters above sea level, and is split into three parts by the Kapuas Besar river and its tributaries. The land is flat and made from soft, unstable soil that comes from the river’s deposits.

Pontianak has a tropical rainforest climate, with lots of rain all year. The average yearly rainfall is very high, and temperatures stay warm, usually between 23°C and 32°C.

Administrative divisions

Pontianak City has six main areas called districts. These districts are spread out on both sides of the Kapuas River. The first four districts are on the south side of the river, and the last two are on the north side. The city’s buildings and towns continue along the river to a place called Sungai Raya.

Demographics

In 2010, Pontianak had 554,764 people. By 2020, this number grew to 658,685. As of mid-2024, the city's population is estimated to be around 686,019.

Pontianak is home to many different ethnic groups. The Chinese have lived there for centuries, with most coming from Fujian or Guangdong. The two largest Chinese groups are Teochew and Hakka. Teochew people usually live in the city for trade, while Hakka people often live in villages and work in mining or farming.

The second largest group is the Malay people. They have lived in Pontianak for a long time and many work as traders or government workers. Other groups include the Dayak, Bugis, Madurese, and Javanese. Some Dayak people still practice animism, but most follow Christianity. The Bugis, Javanese, and Madurese moved to Pontianak from other parts of Indonesia.

Marriage between different ethnic groups is common in Pontianak.

Indonesian is the official language in Pontianak, but many people also speak Pontianak Malay. This is a special type of Malay that is similar to what people speak in Malaysia, Riau, the Riau Islands, and Singapore. For example, people in Pontianak say kamek instead of kami and kitak instead of kalian.

Many people in Pontianak also speak Chinese languages, especially Teochew and Hakka. Teochew is mostly spoken in the central and southern parts of the city, while Hakka is spoken in the north. Other languages spoken in Pontianak include Javanese, Madurese, Buginese, and different Dayak dialects.

Most people in Pontianak are Muslims (63.4%). Other religions include Buddhists (23.2%), Catholics (9.1%), Protestants (3.2%), Confucians (1.3%), Hindus (0.1%), and a few others (0.1%). Many Muslims are Malay, Javanese, or Madurese. Most Buddhists and Confucians are Chinese, while many Chinese also follow Christianity. The Dayak people are mostly Catholic or Protestant but also keep some of their traditional beliefs.

Pontianak has many places of worship. The Jami Mosque of Pontianak is the city's main mosque and one of the oldest buildings. Other important places include the Cathedral of Saint Joseph, Pura Giripati Mulawarman, Vihara Budhisatva Karaniya Metta, and the Pontianak Congregation of West Kalimantan Christian Church. Some of these were built during Dutch times, while others were built by the Indonesian government.

Mujahidin Grand Mosque, the largest mosque in Pontianak

Santo Yosef cathedral

Kwan Im Chinese temple

Economy

Pontianak City's economy is strong, with its gross regional domestic product reaching 20.80 trillion rupiah in 2015. The city’s economy mainly depends on industry, agriculture, and trade. In recent years, trade, hotels, and restaurants have become the biggest parts of the city's economy.

The city has many industries, with large and medium businesses employing thousands of people. Agriculture is also important, with crops like cassava, rice, and vegetables being grown. Trade is growing fast, with modern shopping centers and many retail companies opening up in Pontianak.

Education

Pontianak has many schools for children of all ages. In 2015, there were 111 kindergartens, 161 elementary schools, 76 junior high schools, 44 high schools, and 29 vocational high schools. Most children aged 7 to 12 go to school, and more and more children aged 13 to 15 are also going to school.

There are also colleges and universities in Pontianak. The University of Tanjung Pura is a public university that opened in 1963. Other universities are run by private groups and religious organizations.

Culture

Pontianak has many cultural events each year. The Tionghua/Indonesian Chinese community celebrates Lunar New Year, Cap Go Meh (Lantern Festival), and Cheng Meng (Tomb Sweeping Festival). The Malay people celebrate Idul Fitri, Idul Adha, and Maulidur Rasul. The Dayak People celebrate Gawai Dayak, a harvest festival. These celebrations often include colorful parades in the city.

Pontianak is also famous for its food, which mixes flavors from Tionghua/Indonesian Chinese, Malay, local Dayak, and Javanese traditions. Some popular dishes include Nasi Cap Cai, Otak Otak Ikan Tenggiri, Bakpao, Bubur pedas, Ikan asam pedas, Kaloci, Mooncake, and Lemang, among others.

Transportation

Pontianak is well-connected by road, air, and sea, with many ways to travel in and out of the city.

Air

Main article: Supadio International Airport

Supadio International Airport is the main airport for Pontianak and West Kalimantan. It was built by the Japanese during World War II and later developed by the Indonesian government. The airport is located in Kubu Raya Regency, about 17 km from the city center. It is the second-largest airport in Kalimantan. The airport has a new modern terminal and can handle 3.8 million passengers each year. It offers flights to many cities in Indonesia and some in Malaysia, like Kuala Lumpur and Kuching. You can get to the airport by taxi, private car, or DAMRI buses.

Sea

The Port of Pontianak is on the Kapuas River and is very important for the city's economy. It connects a large area of West Kalimantan. The port helps move goods from plantations, forests, mines, and factories. There is a special area for containers and modern equipment to help with loading and unloading. The Pontianak Crossing Port is where people can take ferries to cities like Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan, and Batam.

Land

Pontianak is on the Trans Kalimantan Highway, which connects it to other cities in Kalimantan such as Palangka Raya, Banjarmasin, and Samarinda. You can also travel to East Malaysia and Brunei using this highway. The trip to Kuching in Malaysia is about 340 km and takes around 6.5 hours, while the trip to Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei is about 1,100 km and takes about 18 hours. All travelers must go through the Entikong border checkpoint. There are plans to build a new highway from Pontianak to Singkawang and the Entikong border checkpoint.

Sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Indonesia

Pontianak has friendly city ties with:

• Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia