Martapura
Traditional Diamond Mining
Martapura
is the capital of the Banjar regency, 36 kilometers southeast of
Banjarmasin.Martapura, particularly the Cempaka district, is a well
known producer of diamonds.Several mining villages exist, such as
Lukaas and Sungai Tiung, lying five kilometers from Martapura.
People can be seen panning for diamonds
at villages in the Cempaka district, eight kilometers from Martapura.
Panners usually work in
groups. Each group consists of the 16 to 18 people. The oldest person is usually named the head of the
group. Before starting to work, they ask for guidance from "the expert
one" the spirit of the village - so they will
be led to the richest mining grounds.
First, the panners
have to come to an agreement with the owner of the land, who has the right to 10 percent
of the diamonds found. Then, several people are
chosen to dig a hole, while others remove the soil or
remove any water from the hole with buckets or with a pump. The holes
are usually six to 10 meters deep. The sides are
propped up with logs to prevent them from collapsing. As
long as no diamonds are found,
the digging continues in a horizontal direction so that tunnels are
formed.
They work without
schedule. It can start in the morning and continue until midnight,
under the light of lanterns. Deposits are usually found at depths of 10
to 15 meters, in rocky earth layers. The dirt is
taken out and washed. If diamonds are found, the head of the group
must immediately be notified. The right to offer the diamond for sale belongs the group leader only.
In the past, it was strictly prohibited to talk
to the person washing the gored. According to the local belief the diamonds become
frightened and hide among the grains of sand. Women are strictly forbidden to step
over the pits. The rough diamonds are
referred to as "virgins".
South Kalimantan
diamonds are classified into four types: petrous diamonds (yellow and
of low quality), black diamonds (black and believed to posses mystical powers), white
diamonds and pink diamonds (the best sparkling with the colors of a
rainbow).
The Trisakti diamond
was the most expensive diamond ever found in this region. It weighed
160 carats and belonged to the pink diamond category.
Diamonds
are cut
and polished in the Diamond Market of Martapura. Such
places are always better known
than the sites where the diamonds are found. That is why Martapura is also known as Diamond
Town.
There are several well known experts in diamond
processing in Martapura.
Tour
Destination : Martapura & Cempaka, South Kalimantan,
Indonesia
Main Interest & Things
to do :
Martapura Cempaka traditional Diamond Digging and Market
recommended visit time is 1 day
Traditional digging is done in the area of Cempaka and Martapura
including a local markt of stones and diamonds, as one of the famoest
in Indonesia.
Rainforest and traditional farming with Coconut, Pepper and rubber
plantations can be found along the way
Sight seeing city tour at Banjarmasin
Jungle Trek can be done between villages
Culture : Banjarnese
and Dayak Ngaju
Flora & Fauna
: Rainforest & excotic tropical wild life
Tour Starting Point :
Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Indonesia
Tour
Transport
Possibilities :
by Public Bus from Banjarmasin
to Cempaka & Martapura, about 40 km from Banjarmasin city..
Estimated travel time to reach Cempaka from entry point Banjarmasin is
one hour.
Ending Point :
Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Indonesia
Travel
Distance to enry
point : 40 Km to from Banjarmasin Airport, South Kalimantan,
Indonesia
Tour Duration : Short
Get Through Visit 1 Day
Accommodation
& Hotels : Simple Hotels
Grade : Usual
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Banjarmasin town lies at the estuary of Barito and Martapura
rivers, and inhabited by about half a million people. Business
and commerce blossomed,reflected in the floating market on the
Barito river, where agricultural products are sold. The town has always lived in
the shadow of the jungle, and most of the daily activities take place
along the river only....read
more
....................................................................................
Barabai is the capital of the Hulu sungai Tengah regency, located about
30 kilometers from Kandangan. The town is surrounded by green hills and
forests....read more
....................................................................................
Marabahan along The Barito River is the longest
river in South Kalimantan with it's length is 600 kilometers. at
several places near the estuary, the river is three kilometers....read more
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Kandangan several tourist spots can be
found, such as Pantai Harapan, hot water springs, and the
Pagat Batu Recreation Forest.Haratai
Waterfall is a recreation spot
....read
more
....................................................................................
Loksado is an attractive place for nature tourism on a plateau in the
Meratus mountains, visitor
can enjoy nature at its best in Loksado. The forest offer available
trails....read more
Mangkiling, is an area covered by jungle far in the
hinterland. It is cool place, shaded by big trees, at the side of a
fast-flowing river. Many people who travel through....read more
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Amunati, 193 kilometers from Banjarmasin, is the capital of the Hulu
Sungai Utara regency. Amuntai is surrounded by green forests and
wondering rivers....read more
....................................................................................
Hiking through secondary forest & Dayak land farms with rubber
and pepper plantations in South Kalimantan Province in to the Meratus
Mountains Jungle with Longhouses, continue the
trip passing hills, valleys, and crossing hanging
bridges in the dense jungle which it’s beautiful flora
& fauna and continue, to Loksado
and the Amandit
River bamboo bridges and
passing isolated villages along the way.Visit
Muara Hatip
village and enjoy the
flora & fauna. Once Back to civilisation at Banjarmasin we
will visit the floating market and do a cannel
tour.
.....full itinerary
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