Bangka Belitung Island
The Capital City of BangkaBelitung Province is
“Pangkal Pinang”
Belitung
is an Island in South East Asia, a part of Nation archipelago. Belitung is
ruled by Indonesia since 1950 and became a district of South Sumatera province.
On November 21st, 2000, Belitung and Bangka Island has been approved to become
the 31st province of Indonesia separated from South Sumatera. This new province
is called ‘Kepulauan Bangka Belitung’ province. This Island Bangka Belitung
province is located between 104°50' - 109°30' East Longitude and 0°50' - 4°10'
South Latitude, with its total area of 81,724.54 km. North coast of the island
is South China Sea, Java Sea on the South coast, Kari Mata strait on the East
close to Borneo Island and Gaspar strait on the West close to Bangka island.
The land is about 4833 square km, 89 km long (East to West) and 69 km wide
(North to South) with diversified terrain, hilly areas and extensive tracks of
marshland. The climate is tropical, temperature around 27 - 31 C degree during
the day and 23 - 25 C degree during the night. There only 2 season a year,
rainy season (120 mm) from October to April and hot season during April to
October. The highest land is Tajam Mountain, only 500m above the sea. The
others are just a hill likes Burung Mandi, Kubing, Kik Karak, Peramun, Selumar,
Guda, ect. The land surface is originally tropical forest, but since the
development palm oil industry in 1992 more than 40% of the surface are palm oil
plantation.
The length of the diameter from East to West is about 79
km and North to South about 77 km. The total land is 480.060 hectares with 189
small islands surround Belitung. Some of them are quite big with a couple of
villages. They are Mendanau Island, Seliu Island, Nadu Island and Batu Dinding
Island. Most of Belitung population is come of Melayu ethnic and most of them
are Moslem. There are some other ethnics likes Chinese, Javanese, Balinese and
some people from Sumatera like Palembang, Minang and Batak. Belitung regency
consists of 9 districts and 69 villages. The capital of Belitung is
Tanjungpandan, which stay at North West of this Island. The other large towns
are Manggar, Gantung, Kelapa Kampit and Sijuk. The main resources, which also
become the main product of Belitung Island, are tin mining, kaolin, quartz
sands, and granite rock. The plantation are mainly palm oil, pepper, coconut,
coffee, natural rubber, and vegetable.
Supported
by the “Serumpun Sabalai” spirit and abundant natural resources, it has been
expecting a greater role to speed up the island region's development, namely
Bangka regency, Belitung regency and Pangkal Pinang city through cooperation
development. That potency of culture and tourism is also supported by its
strategic location that can connect with other interesting area. The sea
transportation that become the most accessibility in Bangka Belitung Island, is
support its economics activities among the Islands.
The
richness of Bangka Belitung Island of nature and tin mines until its maritime
rich, make Bangka Belitung a magnet for the new comers to get a better life. A
Balinese countryside is found in this Island named Giri Jati village, complete
with all of Bali culture that remembering us to Bali Island. Beside Bali tribe,
we also can found Bugis tribe that adds the various cultures in Bangka Balitung
Island. This Bugis tribe can be found in the fishermen village at Tanjung
Binga. Otherwise, the original tribe, Melayu culture has strong influence in
the traditional ceremony and religious ceremony. One of the ceremonies is Rebo
Kasan Ceremony that done by Air Anyer village people. It is believed that one day
of a year, the God give His 320,000 angels in the world. The people must
together to pray. This ceremony was held in the beach, but now on, it held in
the mosque then continued to the beach. Formerly, this ceremony become the
people party with its star party is ‘Dambus’ art.
Geographically
Population
In 2001,
Babel's population was 920,729 consisted of 462,640 men and 458,089 women. The
biggest population among the regencies was Bangka regency, 583,841 people,
while the most density population was Pangkal Pinang City, with its 1,396
people/km. In 2001, the growth of population reached 1.49 % per annum
averagely. Labor. In 2000, its labor force recorded as many as 100,825 people.
Administrativelly
Administrativelly,
Bangka Belitung comprises of 2 regencies and 1 city, namely Bangka regency,
Belitung regency and Pangkal Pinang City, of which, the biggest regency's area
is Bangka regency with 11,534.14 km area, and the smallest is Pangkal Pinang
City, with 89.40 km area.
Traditional Costume
Traditional cloth of Bangka Belitung
Province. Traditional wedding clothes of Bangka Belitung province commonly
called the “Paksian“. The bride is usually wearing red braces made from silk
fabric. Head of the bride wore a crown called Paksian. While the groom using a
turban society of Bangka Belitung called Sungkon. Cual cloth is traditional
fabric of the Bangka Belitung. Shape resembles songket fabric and has a
distinctive motif. Cual cloth history brought to Muntok, West Bangka in the
early 17th century by Wan Abdul Hayat, Cantonese Chinese with the original name
Lim Tan Kian. The existence of cual cloth hundreds of years old, it becomes an
evidence of wealth of cultural treasures Bangka particular. To preserve the
existing motif in ancient cual cloth to adopt to a new motif. Or by removing
gold thread on fabric cual hundreds of years old and then sew it back on the
new silk material. Such cual cloth selling price of 20 million rupiah per
share. Cual cloth prices to be expensive, because the materials used are from
Japan and India silk, while the golden thread imported from France, Japan, and
India. Besides the time it takes to weave a cloth cual between 1-3 months.
Climate
There are
two seasons that are suitable for sailing to these islands: February-March and
October-November, when the wind and the waves are low. The heaviest rainfall is
around 2,500 mm per annum with its average temperature between 25°C - 26°C.
The Promontories are
Pemali
open Pit tin Mine
Passing
through the country side, small villages and pepper plantations along the
route, an unusual and splendid view will be observed from the top of a mountain
in the mining area, looking down about 100 M you will see the progress of the
tin mine. People from Siantan and Johor of Malaysia first discovered tin in
Bangka Island in 1710, since then a lot of traders from Asia as well as from
Europe stopped and visited Bangka Island. To operate the tin mines, skilled
labors were imported from Malacca and China. This is the only open pit tin the
excavation and in the future mine in Indonesia will grow much larger and
deeper.
Parai Tenggiri Beach
Penyusuk Beach
Penyusuk Beach is located in Penyusuk village, Belinyu
district. The location is not far from Romodong beach, but it offers different
nuance than Romodong. It is natural and slope beach. It decorated with colorful
of stones. Many stones that compact stand with its bigger waves than Romodong
is fenced Penyusuk Beach. Romodong and Penyusuk have different beautiful, but
both have great charm. This beach is visited by a lot of visitor because of its
beautiful beach and its clear water.
Pemali
Hot Spring
Most of
Indonesian Island, lies in a volcanic belt, however, Bangka Island has no
volcanoes. The Pemali Hot Springs is naturally created pool from the
underground hot springs in the area. The tin workers found it and today a
recreation park exists around the spring's area. Please make sure to bring
along your swimming suit and be ready to jump into the hot water pool or just
relax and enjoy the panoramic view of the recreation park. Pemali Hot Springs
is the main tourism of Sungailiat town. This hot springs come from the active
land and suit for health and avoid the rigidly by stand in the water. This
tourism objects has equipped with some tourism facilities such as; hotels,
shops, etc.
Manggar
Manggar is the 2nd largest
town in Belitung. It's placed in Eastern coast about 90 km from Tanjungpandan.
Manggar is also a district with 37.845 Ha area, 12 villages and 27 small
islands along Manggar district beach. Its population is about 87,049 men. The
regency that border on Karimata strait, is still centered its economics in
mining. Manggar was the center of tin mining activity in Belitung starting from
19th century pioneered by Dutch people. There was western standard residential
area in a hilly beach in Eastern of town. This place calls as Mount Samak.
Mount Samak is still an exclusive place at this time, even more pleasure with
Golf Court facility in the beach close to Mount Samak. Now, Mount Samak has no
longer exist in the middle 1980s when PT. TIMAH ending their tin mining
exploitation in Manggar after up to 100 years in operation. Manggar is not only
about tin, people live as normal and there is always economy activity that
makes the town life. There are many nice places that can be visited like:
Serdang beach, Burung Mandi beach, Malang Lepau beach, Pengepangan beach, Tirta
Surya natural swimming pool, Payak Lake, KwanIn Chinese temple. Hundreds
hectares of sand is spreads in this regency. It has been known for its glass
raw material and its soil as ceramics raw material.
Tanjung Kelayang
Tanjung Kelayang is one of
Belitung’s beautiful beaches. This beach is also offering white sandy beach
with its unique stones that strong stand up in various forms. The name of
Tanjung Kelayang is taken from its unique boulder that looks like a bird. The
word ‘Tanjung’ means ‘Peninsula’ and ‘Kelayang’ means ‘a kind of bird species’.
Tanjung Kelayang is surround by small islands that framed the beautiful sunset.
Stay here to enjoy the moon that shines the seawater. The visitors can spend
their holiday here by diving, swimming, sun bathing, fishing, etc. Walk along
Tanjung Kelayang, the visitors will see the spread of boulders in the beach.
These boulders that almost 5 meters size, are in piles each other uniquely.
There is big stone that stick by three small stones. The positions of these
small stones are unique. It is very attractive if the visitors walk along those
boulders and jump on the top of the boulders. Those boulders are formed rooms
and hole, the tourism object that make the visitor always want to take the
picture in that boulders.
Mount
Menumbung Guest House
Mount
Menumbung (355 meters) a rather high hill in the neighborhood of Mentok (North
West Banka) stands as a memorial to the history of the Indonesian nation. It
was built in 1932 during the DUTCH occupation period by Bangka Tin Winning
Bedrijf (BTW) as a V.I.P. Guest House on the top of Mount Menumbung, is about
500 M above sea level.
Our former
President Soekarno and the Vice President Moh. Hatta stayed in the guesthouse
during their exile in 1949. Foreign missions came there for negotiating with
our former President; the plane from UNCI (United Nations Commission for
Indonesia) flew back and forth from Jakarta to Bangka Island during that
period. This place is also called as Wisma Ranggam. The room, which was used,
by the late President as well as his car is still can be seen in the building.
Many Indonesians still like to visit this place of pilgrimage and see the
well-kept personal belongings of the two former leaders, which are still in the
compound.
Mentok
Tin Smelter
The
Mentok smelting plant was built in March 1963 and completed in February 1967 by
a German Company "Klockner Industrie Anlagen", spending the total
cost of USD 2.6 million. This is the only smelting plant in Indonesia. Here the
famous Bankatin is made. A short visit to the factory will give us an idea of
how the tin one is smelted, which is done at a temperature of about up to 1,350
°C.
Tanjung
Kelian Old lighthouse
The old
lighthouse was built in 1826. It is located about 9 km of Muntok district. In
the surrounding area we still can find wrecks of Dutch and British ships, which
were torpedoed by Japanese warships during the Second World War, on 16 February
1942. Take our time to climb up 199 steps to reach the top of the lighthouse
and enjoy the spectacular view from the height of approximately 60 M above sea
level. We can see the whole beaches in Muntok.
Tanjung Pandan
Like
Bangka, Belitung is also called a tin island. It is the second biggest tin
producer in Indonesia. The capital town of Belitung is Tanjung Pandan. It is
about 45 minutes flights from Jakarta. The topography consists of lowland and
some small areas of swamp while in the middle part there is highland in groups
of 150 - 200 meters above the sea level. Tanjung Pandan is stay at 1070 20’
East longitude and 020 30’ - 030 15 south latitudes. Its wide area is 229.365
Ha and bordered by: North side; South China Sea, East side; East Belitung
Regency, South side; Java Sea, and Wet side; Strait Gaspar.In Tanjung Pandan,
there is a Geology museum, the omission of PT Timah, which save various
historical and cultural collections. Beside that, Tanjung Pandan is also equipped
with zoo and Dayanag Seri Pinai swimming pool. The famous beach in Tanjung
Pandan is Tanjungpendam beach, which always held ‘Buang Jong’ ceremony every
July and August.
Tanjung Tinggi
Belitung is beautiful. One
of its beauties is Tanjung Tinggi beach. This beach is located about 30 km of
Tanjung Pandan, a beach that has many types of granite and become the superior
of Tanjung Tinggi. The visitors can enjoy the beauty of this natural beach by
stand on the top of these granites or from the big stone. This natural beach is
not far from Tanjung Kelayang beach. It is really natural beach that presents
the nature scenery for the tourists who want to visit this beach. Spoiled your
self in this warmed of sun and the blue of sea. You will feel that both of the beaches
are your own. The visitor can do some activities such as; swimming, sun
bathing, surfing, fishing, etc. Beside that, this beach, which is rich of its
granites with their various sizes, also has the natural carpet of white sand.
Lengkuas Island
This is a small island that
unique, because it has a lighthouse and exciting scenery around it that can be
enjoy from the top of the lighthouse. The Dutch builds this lighthouse in 19
century. The beach is totally crystal clear water, which has its white sandy.
There are some granites island that can reach by swimming or walking through
the water, which is less than 1,5 meter. The other islands that interest to
visit is Burung Island, Babi Island, Pengadaran Island, Lutung Island, Kera
Island dan Jenang Island.
Tanjung Binga
Tanjung Binga village is in
Sijuk district. If the visitors come to the right season, they will find
delicious Durian (kind of fruit). In the side of Tanjung Binga village, you can
find Bukit Berahu Cottages that equipped with swimming pool a nine holes golf
field. There are about eight uninhabited small islands that become part of
Tanjung Binga village and it’s famous with its nature beautiful. This tourism
object is also famous with its beautiful beach, and fascinated granites. This
island is called Burung Island (Pulau Burung). It is about 12 hectares; has
coconut garden, and small hill. The visitors can visit those islands by the
fishermen’s canoe.
Tanjung Binga is a fishery
village, where the tourists can found many kinds of fishes. Just a few meters
of Tanjung Binga, the visitor can see the bevy of fishes that spread around,
which most of them is kind of Haring fish family. See those fishes is the
interesting moment that we can’t found in other places. Beside that, the
visitor can also enjoy the fresh fishes in the restaurants around that offer
their special seafood menu.
To continue the journey,
the visitor can go to Tanjung Tinggi and Tanjung Kelayang, because their
location is not far from Tanjung Binga. Do your wonderful journey in Belitung
Island by visiting Tanjung Binga and enjoy the natural beach that will give you
unforgettable experience.
Punai Beach
Actually, Punai beach has
not known yet as tourism object. This beach is kind of natural beach with its
white sandy and few of granites. This beach is located about 93 km of Tanjung
Pandan or 18 km of Dendang District. It is about 11/2 hour of Tanjung Pandan.
Punai Beach is stay at end south side of Belitung Island. This beach is also
the place of the fishermen to looking for fresh fish. So, the visitors can
enjoy fresh fish from the fishermen. This beautiful beach is suitable for
having sport activities, such as swimming, fishing and also snorkeling. Because
it’s natural beach, Punai beach can fresh your mind and make you feel comfort
in spend your trip here. It is also suitable for the adventurer to get their
different adventurous.
The Slogan
and Culture
Sepintu Se-Dulang is the
Bangka tradition community's that is
inherited by the ancestors, reflected a social life be based
on "carried together / Gotong
Royong" that apparently still remained. The
slogan is very exact, because actually from each of
each door to the house was spent with the sincere feeling, in fact was
accompanied with the proud feeling, a food tray and the drink that in brought
to the Prayer House or to the Mosque, or to the Meeting Hall to be enjoyed together.
Several typical Bangka dances among them the Se- Pintu Se-Dulang Dance, Campak Dance, Kedidi Dance, Taber Dance, Cual Dance, Mutik Sahang Dance, Abuk
Wangka Dance, Zapin Dance,
Melimbang Timah Dance, Gajah Menunggang Dance, Gambus Tunggal and the Gambus Pasangan Dance.
Romodong Beach
Mount Menumbing
The Menumbing
mountain by one pesanggrahan that is the
place of the exile of the R.I fighters for them in Bangka, including
former R.I first President
and his representative. This place often in made the place relreasi and the
family's guest-house because of beauty of the panorama and nature peace and this climate that were cool.
The Tanjung Kalian Beach
The Tanjung Kalian
coast was near the Mentok City that is the
West tip of the Bangka Island and is
gotten the old lighthouse that was built during 1862. From on top of the height
of this lighthouse could in saw the Bangka Strait and very vague the Sumateran
mainland as well as the West shoreline of the Bangka Island.
The Matras Coast
Bangka can best be reached by air from
Jakarta by scheduled flight in just about an hour by jet. However, boat service
from Palembang to either Muntok or Pangkal Pinang is adequate and should not
take more than an overnight voyage. This island lies right at the mouth of the
Musi River in the South China Sea and is one of world's major producers of
tin.A beach of exceptional measurements, 300 - 400 m wide and 6 1/2 km long,
called Matras Beach is located 44 km north of Pangkal Pinang, the island's
capital. Fine, white and clean sands make this beach area most attractive to sun
and beach lovers, whereas at this time the Parai Beach Hotel with 35 rooms
already exists right on the beach.
On the other side of the island at
Muntok you can find the Ranggam House built in 1921 on the hill overlooking the
sea. It is like a big lodging house where at one time the first Indonesian
president was held captive along with some of his close followers during the
nation's physical revolution. The President's car at the time has still been
kept intact and can be seen by the public at the House's opening hours. Closer
to the capital is the Pasir Padi Beach, just 7 km from Pangkal Pinang and is
merely a place to rest or swim and sunbathe. There is no accommodation as
tourists normally come to this beach from the city and villages around this
place, 4 km long and about 20 to 60 m wide with endless coconut trees to give
it a genuine tropical setting.
The Tanjung Pesona Beach
The Tanjung Pesona
coast be at a distance 9 Kilometre from Sungailiat is one of the coastal regions that had the combination
that is complete from the rocky coast to the
gradient coast to swim and playing. In the coast is
gotten the hotel that had swimming pool facilities, billiard including the
restaurant.
Teluk Uber Beach Resort
The Teluk Uber
region around 8 Kilometre from Sungailiat is the
tour region that is calm at the edge of the stone from the Uber
coast of the Gulf gradient. In this coast also was gotten the hotel with bar
facilities and restaurant.
Rebo Beach & Tikus Beach
The coast on Wednesday and the Tikus Coast is gotten in
the East region of Pantai Pulau Bangka is not far from the paved road and it’s
easy in reached out by the vehicle.
The Goddess Kuan Yin Buddhist Monastery
The Goddess Kuan Yin Buddhist
Monastery is a Buddha Confucius`s worship place which is the heritage of
the first Buddhist dwelling Bangka Island. Entering the building, you
will experience the religious nuance of the location as many Buddhist
worship equipments there, but it will be a tourism nuance, as you will find
some tourism spots, which are proposed to encourage the comforts of the
Buddhist worship and its visitors. The physical appearance of the Goddess Kuan
Yin Buddhist Monastery is a resemblance to a ready to sail ship. Its
location, in the riverbank and the slope of the hill is another
distinctive feature of the destination.
Based on the information of
Chinese people living in Bangka Island, the water of the river contains
the efficacies for healing diseases, staying young and acceding the hopes
of its visitors. Therefore, when you visit the location, you will not
only experience its religious atmosphere, but you may also drink the
fresh and clean water of the well within the building that is believed
full of efficacies. The Goddess Kuan Yin
Buddhist Monastery lies in Jelitik village, Sungailiat sub-district, in
the district of Bangka. It is around 10 km away from Sungailiat
sub-district. Nsporta Daily flights,
buses, trains and ferries link South Sumatera and Palembang with Jakarta.
Palembang itself has a profusion of public means of transportation to serve the
city. Buses and minibuses serve the land routes from Palembang inti the
countryside. Ferries run services to and from Bangka Island across the strait.
Handicraft
Results of variety of Diligencestyle of is
produced here including making the Resam Cap, Akar Bakar Handicraft, Anyaman Handicraft made by the Mat, Inserted Breaker Dulang, Tudung Saji, Gong,
Basket, Tampah, Souvenir from Tin (in the form of the miniature) et cetera.
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