Keraton Kadriah in Pontianak City, West Kalimantan Province

Pontianak City always becomes an interesting place to visit during holidays, even for outsiders. The region’s prime tourist allures are Kapuas River and Khatulistiwa Monument. Still, it has other attractive places including Keraton Kadriah, which is located in Pontianak Timur Sub-District. To be exact, it resides in Dalam Bugis Village and has been there since 1778! The location is near to the city center, so it is quite accessible. The main charm is none other than history. That means most visitors are likely to learn things like the construction process, local sultanate, and other related information. Lots of tourists also come for photography and exploration, actually.

The Nuance
The nuance depends on the time of the visit. Keraton Kadriah becomes peaceful and more comfortable to explore during regular days due to a low number of visitors. On the other hands, it becomes crowded and merry during the holidays. In terms of architecture, the design indeed represents an ancient local kingdom. There are many cannons in the yard. The next noticeable feature is a vast tribune in front of the palace, which was used by the king for resting back then. A flag pole and simple park also beautify the exterior of the building.

Exploring Keraton Kadriah
Before entering the palace, tourists can enjoy relaxation and photography in the yard. They can simply sit on the tribune and watch Kapuas River directly. It is because the building faces that majestic river, so everyone can see it clearly. The presence of a grassy landscape makes the yard feels comfier for relaxation, in fact. Moreover, the yard is beautiful enough to enjoy photography! Therefore, don’t forget to take some photos before entering the building.

So, what is inside? Once entering the main hall, tourists may see a beautiful antique mirror, which came from France! The name is a thousand mirrors or Kaca Seribu. When it comes to ambiance, it feels cherish due to the yellow paint (just like the exterior). What about the collections? Aside from the beautiful antique mirror, the building stores other interesting historical items like royal photos, artifacts, antiques, glassware, statues, and much more! Here is the rule. The guests are allowed to take photos of those items, but they should not touch them.

The next interesting thing that tourists can find in Keraton Kadriah is the royal rooms. The good news is that everyone is allowed to enter it. However, some prohibitions apply. Despite the old age, which is more than 300 years old, the palace remains beautiful due to the excellent maintenance. No wonder, visitors won’t feel bored or uncomfortable when exploring the site. The total area is about 30 x 50 meters and it consists of 3 levels. This explains why Kadriah becomes the biggest palace or Keraton in West Kalimantan Province.

Nearby Attractions

• Landak Bridge
• Kapuas River

How to Get There
First, tourists need to get to Pontianak City, which is the capital of West Kalimantan Province. The best way to get there is indeed by airplane, especially for outsiders. The flight would take about 1 hour and 25 minutes from Soekarno – Hatta International Airport (Jakarta City), actually. Once arriving at Supadio Airport, tourists can simply head to Kadriah Palace by taking Tanjung Pura and Tanjung Raya 1 Street. The distance is 4.2 km, so the trip would take about 15 minutes.

Where to Stay

• Orient Hotel
• Flamboyan Hotel
• Garuda Hotel