ID · West Kalimantan · 0.02°S 109.34°E

pontianak

Stand on the equator, then eat your way along the Kapuas River.

Best time
Hot and wet all year, with rain possible in any month. Around the March and September equinoxes, the sun passes directly overhead and crowds gather at the Equator Monument to watch shadows vanish at noon.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Most Malaysians fly to Kuching and take a cross-border bus through the Tebedu–Entikong crossing, about 8–9 hours. By air, connect through Jakarta, about 1.5 hours' flight from Pontianak.
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ID · West Kalimantanpontianak0.02°S 109.34°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Stand on the equator, then eat your way along the Kapuas River.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingPontianakID, West Kalimantan
KLpontianak
≈ 920 km from KL, as the crow flies
Tugu Khatulistiwa, Jl. Khatulistiwa, Kel. Batu Layang, Kec. Pontianak Utara

Photo: baka_neko_baka · CC BY 2.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

West Kalimantan's capital sits right on the equator, in the delta of the Kapuas, Indonesia's longest river. It's a busy, low-key city with big Malay and Chinese communities, a sultan's palace and a strong coffee-shop culture. A good add-on for anyone in Sarawak who fancies a trip across the border.

Makan

  1. KopiPontianak loves its coffee. The old coffee shops around Jalan Gajah Mada are always busy.Map ↗
  2. Kwetiau gorengPontianak-style fried flat rice noodles, often with beef.Map ↗
  3. Chai kueSteamed dumplings filled with jicama, chives or bamboo shoot, a Teochew and Hakka favourite.Map ↗
  4. Bubur pedasA Malay rice porridge loaded with greens and spices, from Sambas up the coast.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Equator MonumentStand with a foot in each hemisphere at the Tugu Khatulistiwa, just north of the city centre.Map ↗
  2. Kapuas RiverTake an evening boat ride or walk the riverside promenade as the lights come on.Map ↗
  3. Kadriah PalaceThe wooden palace of the old Pontianak Sultanate, across the river from the city centre.Map ↗
  4. Sultan Syarif Abdurrahman MosqueThe city's oldest mosque, a wooden building near the palace.Map ↗
  5. SingkawangA Chinese-majority town about 3–4 hours north, known for its temples and huge Cap Go Meh parade.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Bring your passport, and check the border's opening hours if you're crossing by road from Sarawak.
  • Haze from land fires can drift in during dry spells. Check air quality before you go.
  • Many Chinese eateries serve pork. Look for halal signs if you need them.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.