# Sintang Regency

Sintang Regency is a regency of West Kalimantan province of Indonesia. It covers an area of 21,638.2 km$^2$, and had a population of 364,759 at the 2010 Census and 421,306 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 438,022 (comprising 226,018 males and 212,004 females).
Sintang Regency is one of the few Indonesian regencies having a land border with another country (in this case, with Malaysia). It is also the third largest regency in the province by land area after Kapuas Hulu Regency and Ketapang Regency. The regency was formerly the site of the Sintang Kingdom, a Hindu kingdom that later converted to Islam and which was a regional power in the interior of Borneo Island. The regency seat is located at the large town of Sintang, which is among the biggest settlements in Borneo's interior alongside Putussibau and Puruk Cahu.

## The natural beauty of Sintang

Sintang Regency boasts breathtaking natural panoramas, making it one of the top tourist destinations in West Kalimantan. Here are some of the must-visit natural attractions in Sintang:

### Bukit Kelam (Kelam Hill)

One of the largest monoliths in the world, Bukit Kelam is an iconic tourist attraction in Sintang Regency. It offers spectacular views for hikers and nature enthusiasts. From its peak, visitors can enjoy a stunning vista of lush green forests and the beautiful Kapuas River.

### Kapuas Beach

Although not a seaside beach, Kapuas Beach, located along the Kapuas River, provides a serene atmosphere with expansive views of the river. This spot is a favorite destination for relaxation while enjoying the view of Bukit Kelam in the distance.

### Nanga Melawi

This area, where the Melawi and Kapuas Rivers meet, offers mesmerizing scenery. It is a popular spot for photography or simply enjoying the tranquil natural surroundings.

## Local culture and traditions

Sintang is home to rich traditions and cultures passed down by the Dayak and Malay communities. Some unique traditions worth highlighting include:

### Ngamik Bini

In Dayak culture, "Ngamik Bini" is a tradition of welcoming the bride by the groom's family. This meaningful ceremony involves a series of traditional processes that symbolize respect and acceptance.

### Gawai Dayak

This is a harvest festival celebrated by the Dayak community. The event features various traditional arts such as traditional dances and music played with the Sape, a distinctive Dayak musical instrument.

### Handwoven crafts

Dayak artisans produce beautiful handwoven items such as mats, bags, and hats made from natural materials like rattan. These crafts not only have high aesthetic value but also hold significant economic potential.
Sintang is a perfect blend of natural beauty and cultural richness, offering visitors a chance to immerse themselves in its scenic landscapes and vibrant traditions.

## History

Somewhere between 45,000 and 39,000 B.C. the Sintang area was first inhabited by humans. The area changed hands several times from the Majapahit to the Bruneian Sultanate, but when the Dutch arrived at Borneo in 1776 the area was quickly occupied by the Dutch
The area was occupied by the Empire of Japan in 1941 as a result of WW2, and then was liberated in 1945. This was followed by Indonesian Independence.

## Geography
### Climate

Sintang, the seat of the regency has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with heavy to very heavy rainfall year-round.
Climate data for Sintang (Susilo Airport) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1999–2023) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 35.4 (95.7) | 36.1 (97.0) | 35.8 (96.4) | 36.3 (97.3) | 36.2 (97.2) | 36.2 (97.2) | 36.8 (98.2) | 36.2 (97.2) | 38.8 (101.8) | 35.8 (96.4) | 35.0 (95.0) | 37.4 (99.3) | 38.8 (101.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 31.7 (89.1) | 32.1 (89.8) | 32.6 (90.7) | 32.9 (91.2) | 32.9 (91.2) | 32.9 (91.2) | 32.6 (90.7) | 32.8 (91.0) | 32.4 (90.3) | 32.2 (90.0) | 32.3 (90.1) | 32.1 (89.8) | 32.5 (90.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 26.6 (79.9) | 26.8 (80.2) | 27.0 (80.6) | 27.3 (81.1) | 27.5 (81.5) | 27.3 (81.1) | 27.0 (80.6) | 27.3 (81.1) | 27.2 (81.0) | 27.0 (80.6) | 26.9 (80.4) | 26.7 (80.1) | 27.1 (80.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 23.2 (73.8) | 23.1 (73.6) | 23.3 (73.9) | 23.5 (74.3) | 23.8 (74.8) | 23.5 (74.3) | 23.0 (73.4) | 23.1 (73.6) | 23.2 (73.8) | 23.3 (73.9) | 23.3 (73.9) | 23.2 (73.8) | 23.3 (73.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 20.0 (68.0) | 19.0 (66.2) | 21.4 (70.5) | 21.0 (69.8) | 21.0 (69.8) | 21.0 (69.8) | 18.7 (65.7) | 20.0 (68.0) | 18.1 (64.6) | 21.2 (70.2) | 21.0 (69.8) | 21.0 (69.8) | 18.1 (64.6) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 282.0 (11.10) | 236.9 (9.33) | 268.0 (10.55) | 269.4 (10.61) | 223.1 (8.78) | 195.5 (7.70) | 189.5 (7.46) | 168.4 (6.63) | 209.0 (8.23) | 255.6 (10.06) | 307.6 (12.11) | 302.8 (11.92) | 2,907.8 (114.48) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 17.8 | 14.6 | 16.0 | 16.7 | 13.9 | 11.8 | 10.7 | 10.1 | 11.7 | 16.6 | 19.2 | 19.0 | 178.1 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 115.8 | 128.3 | 149.1 | 164.9 | 170.9 | 175.7 | 179.7 | 196.9 | 136.2 | 154.6 | 135.4 | 108.5 | 1,816 |
| Source 1: Starlings Roost Weather ||||||||||||||
| Source 2: World Meteorological Organization ||||||||||||||

## Administrative districts

Following the separation of the former southern part (eleven districts) to form the separate Melawi Regency on 18 December 2003, the residual Sintang Regency consists of fourteen districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census and 2020 Census, together with their official estimates as at mid 2023. The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages in each district (totalling 390 rural desa and 16 urban kelurahan - the latter all in Sintang District), and its post code.
| Kode Wilayah | Name of District (kecamatan) | Area in km$^2$ | Pop'n 2010 Census | Pop'n 2020 Census | Pop'n mid 2023 Estimate | Admin centre | No. of villages | Post code |
| 61.05.14 | Serawai | 2,261.37 | 21,922 | 22,771 | 22,935 | Nanga Serawai | 38 | 78683 |
| 61.05.15 | Ambalau | 5,991.97 | 12,867 | 13,259 | 13,324 | Nanga Kemangai | 33 | 78684 |
| 61.05.09 | Kayan Hulu | 1,790.01 | 21,854 | 22,758 | 22,939 | Nanga Tebidah | 31 | 78694 |
| 61.05.03 | Sepauk | 1,502.71 | 46,407 | 53,251 | 55,208 | Nanga Sepauk | 39 | 78662 |
| 61.05.02 | Tempunak | 873.89 | 26,860 | 30,163 | 31,076 | Nanga Tempunak | 26 | 78661 |
| 61.05.20 | Sungai Tebelian | 597.64 | 29,144 | 34,679 | 36,334 | Sungai Ukoi | 26 | 78655 |
| 61.05.01 | Sintang | 355.65 | 59,410 | 77,319 | 83,144 | Sintang (town) | 29 $^{(a)}$ | 78611 - 78619 |
| 61.05.07 | Dedai | 599.53 | 27,573 | 30,127 | 30,793 | Penyak Lalang (Nanga Dedai) | 31 | 78691 |
| 61.05.08 | Kayan Hilir | 1,050.46 | 24,423 | 27,562 | 28,437 | Nanga Mau | 43 | 78693 |
| 61.05.19 | Kelam Permai | 642.11 | 15,276 | 18,433 | 19,391 | Kebong | 17 | 78656 |
| 61.05.21 | Binjai Hulu | 377.48 | 11,332 | 13,910 | 14,706 | Binjai Hulu | 11 | 78663 |
| 61.05.04 | Ketungau Hilir | 1,630.88 | 20,567 | 24,100 | 25,138 | Nanga Ketungau | 24 | 78652 |
| 61.05.05 | Katungau Tengah (Central Ketungau) | 1,970.41 | 27,421 | 30,413 | 31,221 | Nanga Merakai | 29 | 78653 |
| 61.05.06 | Ketungau Hulu | 1,993.89 | 19,703 | 22,561 | 23,376 | Senaning | 29 | 78654 |
| | Totals | 21,638.20 | 364,759 | 421,306 | 438,022 | Sintang | 406 | |
Note: (a) comprising 16 urban kelurahan (Akcaya, Alai, Batu Lalau, Kapuas Kanan Hilir, Kapuas Kanan Hulu, Kapuas Kiri Hilir, Kapuas Kiri Hulu, Kedabang, Ladang, Mekar Jaya, Mengkurai, Menyumbung Tengah, Rawa Mambok, Sengkuang, Tanjung Puri and Ulak Jaya) and 13 desa.

## Education

There are 193 kindergartens, 456 elementary schools, 142 junior high schools, and 44 senior high schools. In addition, there are 18 vocational high schools. The regency has a total of 10 universities and higher education institutions as of 2020, most of which are located in the town of Sintang. One of the most notable in the regency is Kapuas Sintang University, located in Sintang district. The university is private and located close to the Kapuas River. It was previously known as Panca Bhakti Teaching and Education College before becoming a university. Muhammadiyah University in Pontianak also has a campus branch in Sintang, which is also private. Other colleges in the regency include Christian theological schools such as Sintang Khatulistiwa Theological College, Injili Setia Sintang Theological College, Kapuas Raya Christian College, and Immanuel Sintang Kalbar Theological College. In addition, there is a public academy owned by the West Kalimantan provincial government and one private Islamic college, Ma'arif Sintang Islamic College.
The regency government also runs a regional library, located in the town of Sintang.