Bangka Belitung

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.

Bangka-Belitung is one of Indonesia provinces. It includes two large islands, Bangka and Belitung, and several smaller ones, which lie east of Sumatera, northeast of South Sumatera province. Bangka Belitung (BABEL) Islands province is the 31st Province in Indonesia, one of the newest provinces. Bangka Belitung get it’s approved as a new province in 2001 separated with south Sumatera. That acknowledgement is because of the people struggle. The region that was a great tin mines, now already to reach the new phase in its life. It provisioned with the beautiful of nature, and the uniquely of culture, Bangka Belitung step to the better future. 

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

Bangka is an island province together with Belitung Island. Bangka lies just east of Sumatera, separated by the Bangka Strait; to the north lies the South China Sea, to the east, across the Gaspar Strait, is the island of Belitung, and to the south is the Java Sea. The size is about 12,000 km². Most of the geographical faces of the island consists of lower plains, swamps, small hills, beautiful beaches, white pepper fields and tin minings. The largest town is Pangkalpinang which also serves as the capital of Bangka-Belitung province. Sungailiat is the second largest city in Bangka island. Muntok Mentok is the principal port in the west. The other important town are Toboali in the southern region, Koba an important tin mining town, also located on the southern part of the island, and Belinyu a town famous for its seafood products. There are four sea ports in Bangka; Muntok on the far west, Belinyu on the far north, Sadai on the far south, and Pangkal Balam are the closest one to Pangkalpinang. It is intended, that a nuclear power station is going to be built there.

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

The Bagi cape, was located in the Bangka Regency. The Berikat cape, was located in the Bangka Regency. The Genting cape, was located in the Bangka Regency. The Labu cape, was located in the Bangka Regency. The Tadah cape, was located in the Bangka Regency. The Tiung cape, was located in the Bangka Regency. The Sangau cape, was located in the Bangka Regency. The Langkah cape, was located in the Bangka Regency. The Larang Layang-layang cape, was located in the Bangka Regency. The Melako cape, was located in the Bangka Regency. The Merun cape, was located in the Bangka Regency. The Penyusu cape, was located in the Bangka Regency. The Raya cape, was located in the Bangka Regency. The Samak cape, was located in the Bangka Regency. The cape Serang Layang, was located in the Bangka Regency. The Batulintang cape, was located in the Belitung Regency. The Labua cape, was located in the Belitung Regency. The Kelumpang cape, was located in the Belitung Regency.

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

Parai Tenggiri Beach, This beach is one of Bangka Island’s prides. The beach is located in Sungailiat district. The visitors can find various forms of boulders in this beach, which add its beauty. This beach is very ideal for having swimming, sun bathing and relax. Parai Tenggiri beach has the complete facilities in Bangka Island. There are luxurious hotels and water sport facilities. The tourists will enjoy this beach with the local fishermen who always spend their days by looking for fishes in the sea. The calmness and fresh sea wind will greet the visitor when they arrive there. This welcomed course make the tourists feel comfortable to stay here.

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

Belitung Island is surrounded by small islands, such as; Nasik island, Lima island, Lengkuas island, Melindung island, Seliu island, Nadu island, Mendanau island, Batu Dinding island and the other small islands. One of them is Lengkuas Island. Lengkuas Island is a small island, placed in North of Tanjung Binga village. This island is surround by several granite rock islands that can reach by just walking cross the seawater that less than 1,2m depth. Those granites are also various unique forms. The water is totally clean, so we can easily see the bottom of sea as well as fishes swimming inside the water. It is a nice place for playing in the water or snorkeling.

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

Romodong beach is located at Bukit Ketok village, Belinyu district, Bangka regency, 20 kilometer from Kota Belinyu and 80 Kilometer from Kota Sungailiat. This beach is about 77 km of Sungailiat town. In this beach, the tourists can watch the sunset, because this beach is faced to west side. The length of this beach is about 4 km; it is slope, white sandy and soft. Its water is very clear like a crystal. Enjoy the beautiful of Romodong. When it low tide, you can walk in the water until in the middle of clear sea. If we see around, we just find the boulders and white sand that spread in the beach. The winds that make the leaves wobbled greet the tourists who looking for an inspiration.

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

The Matras coast is located in the Bangka Island that is known as the "Island" of "Tin" and the place of the exile of the founders and the Republic of Indonesia proclaimer in the revolutionary period in 1945. The Matras coast is to be one of the aims of the tour and the adventure. This coast began to be developed by the Level Regional Government Ii Bangka. In this development currently has been gotten by several of Shelter for the visitors, the footpath along 1.200 metre. Be suitable for the strong wanderers.

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.