Banjarmasin

Banjarmasin is the largest city in Indonesia's South Kalimantan province and its historic commercial heart, built around the confluence of the Barito and Martapura rivers. Often called the City of a Thousand Rivers, it is defined by waterways, canals, stilt houses and a daily life that still moves along the river.

The city has a long history as a Banjarese sultanate port and trading centre, and that heritage remains visible in the 16th-century Sultan Suriansyah Mosque, the Wasaka Museum and workshops producing traditional Sasirangan textiles. Although provincial administration moved to nearby Banjarbaru in 2022, Banjarmasin remains the region's main urban and economic hub.

Key landmarks include the Sabilal Muhtadin Grand Mosque, the Martapura River waterfront known as Siring, and the Menara Pandang observation tower. The Kuin floating market and the nearby Lok Baintan floating market show how trade is still conducted from wooden boats, while Pulau Kembang offers a chance to see proboscis monkeys in their riverside habitat.

Banjarmasin's five districts stretch along the rivers, from the historic Kuin riverside to the busy Sudimampir market area and the hotel and dining clusters around the central district. Each area offers a different view of a city where river transport and street-level commerce sit side by side.

For both leisure and business travellers, Banjarmasin combines a distinctive river culture with a working port economy tied to South Kalimantan's trade. Syamsudin Noor International Airport connects the city to Jakarta and other routes, while local dishes such as Soto Banjar, ketupat Kandangan, grilled river fish and wadai cakes give visitors a strong sense of place.