Al-Karomah Mosque, Martapura · 2024
Destinations · South Kalimantan

Martapura

Martapura brings gemstone shops, Banjar food and a deeply rooted religious life into a compact town visit. Slow down around Cahaya Bumi Selamat, the Al-Karomah mosque and its public squares, with time to understand the living traditions behind the landmarks.

Martapura · Photography & credits
Location
South Kalimantan
Population · 2024
121,949
Airport
Syamsudin Noor · BDJ (Banjarbaru)
River setting
Martapura
Suggested stay
2–3 nights

121,949 residents (2024): subtotal of 22 BPS urban-classified desa/kelurahan in Kecamatan Martapura; administrative units, not an exact built-up city boundary.

Why visit Martapura?

Read the city guide

Top things to do

See all activities

Where to stay

El Safa Inn Syariah
Martapura

El Safa Inn Syariah

El Safa Inn offers a simple syariah stay in Martapura. It is also distributed under the name Penginapan Martapura Syariah, so it appears only once in this selection.

Affiliate linkBekijk beschikbaarheid op Agoda
Penginapan Syariah Hesti Husni
Sekumpul, Martapura

Penginapan Syariah Hesti Husni

A syariah lodging in the Sekumpul neighbourhood of Martapura. Consider it for a stay focused on the local religious quarter and confirm the guest policy.

Affiliate linkBekijk beschikbaarheid op Agoda
More places to stay 9 places to stay
Homestay Saadah
Sungai Paring, Martapura

Homestay Saadah

A homestay in the Saadah neighbourhood of Sungai Paring, Martapura. This selection counts the property once despite alternative spellings on booking sites.

Affiliate linkBekijk beschikbaarheid op Agoda
Wisma Intan Syariah
Jl. Menteri Empat No. 8D, Martapura

Wisma Intan Syariah

A simple syariah guesthouse on Jalan Menteri Empat in Martapura. The official Agoda photograph shows a shared interior space rather than a room.

Affiliate linkBekijk beschikbaarheid op Agoda
Gazeyn Homestay
Cindai Alus, Martapura

Gazeyn Homestay

A small homestay in Cindai Alus, part of Martapura. Confirm your arrival arrangements and the detailed address with the property before travelling.

Affiliate linkBekijk beschikbaarheid op Agoda

The stories behind the scenery

Cahaya Bumi Selamat · 2025
Martapura · History & city life

A trading tradition, not a guarantee

Martapura’s gemstone reputation is a reason to look closely, not a reason to buy blindly. Around Cahaya Bumi Selamat, settings, polishing and finished pieces offer a window into a trading culture. Ask what material you are seeing and how it has been treated. A stone sold here is not automatically mined nearby, and an independent assessment matters when value depends on a specialist claim. Enjoy the workmanship even if the visit ends with no purchase.

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Makam Guru Sekumpul · 2023
Martapura · River and neighbourhoods

A town shaped by religious life

Al-Karomah and Sekumpul belong to active religious life. Their significance is not limited to architecture or a photograph: worship, study, remembrance and visiting families shape how the places are used. Follow the welcome and access arrangements rather than assuming every space is open to sightseeing. During large gatherings, the experience of the town changes, including traffic, accommodation demand and the room available for ordinary visits.

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Local flavours

A taste of Martapura

Local dishes and everyday food traditions.

Also read: Petah: a savoury Banjar cake →

Plan your trip

Getting there

Fly to Syamsudin Noor Airport in neighbouring Banjarbaru, then continue by road to Martapura. Confirm the exact address of your stay; the airport is not in Martapura itself.

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Getting around

Explore the central market area in short walking stages and arrange a separate transfer for Sekumpul. Religious gatherings can change pickup points and road access.

When to visit

Choose between an ordinary town visit and travel around a confirmed religious event. Keep outdoor stops flexible around rain and heat; never assume the annual haul follows a fixed Gregorian date.

Practical information

Dress respectfully at religious sites and ask before photographing worshippers. At gem shops, request clear written information and avoid treating a seller’s claim as independent certification.

Location

Borneo · your bearingsBORNEOSabahSarawakKALIMANTANIndonesiaSouth KalimantanMartapuraNJava Sea
Orientation map · Natural Earth
BORNEO · Indonesia

MartapuraSouth Kalimantan

Martapura is the administrative centre of Banjar Regency, next to Banjarbaru in South Kalimantan. The town is distinct from Banjarmasin downstream on the river of the same name. This guide concentrates on central Martapura and nearby urban Sekumpul, with Syamsudin Noor as the arrival airport in Banjarbaru.

Syamsudin Noor · BDJ (Banjarbaru)Martapura
Continue your journeyBanjarmasinBanjarbaru
Explore the local map

A suggested itinerary

  1. 1
    Day 1

    Day 1 · Gems and the town centre

    Begin around Cahaya Bumi Selamat, compare the craft on display and pause over local food. Spend time at Alun-alun Ratu Zalecha when access and weather allow, without rushing into a purchase.

  2. 2
    Day 2

    Day 2 · Faith and local flavours

    Ask about visitor access at Al-Karomah and arrange a respectful visit to Sekumpul. Leave space for worshippers and local instructions, then try a wadai or ketupat stop rather than adding a distant excursion.

Martapura

Discover · Plan · Book

From a first idea to your own Borneo journey.

Read the full city guide

History, culture and the practical details that make a visit richer. Open a chapter to read the complete guide.

Mahligai Sultan Adam · 2011
Your city guide

History & city life

+

Martapura brings gemstone shops, Banjar food and a deeply rooted religious life into a compact town visit. Slow down around Cahaya Bumi Selamat, the Al-Karomah mosque and its public squares, with time to understand the living traditions behind the landmarks.

History & city life

Martapura’s gemstone reputation is a reason to look closely, not a reason to buy blindly. Around Cahaya Bumi Selamat, settings, polishing and finished pieces offer a window into a trading culture. Ask what material you are seeing and how it has been treated. A stone sold here is not automatically mined nearby, and an independent assessment matters when value depends on a specialist claim. Enjoy the workmanship even if the visit ends with no purchase.

The market makes more sense when seen as part of a working town. Shops, food pauses, the public square and nearby places of worship share the centre rather than forming an isolated tourist compound. Begin by looking at several displays, ask what work is carried out locally and avoid assuming a demonstration has been arranged. If a craftsperson is willing to explain their work, give them time and ask before photographs. Buying nothing is a legitimate outcome. The existing CBS park and the wider shopping area should not be presented as unrelated distant attractions merely to lengthen the itinerary.

Cahaya Bumi Selamat · 2025
Your city guide

Rivers & nature

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River, nature & surroundings

Alun-alun Ratu Zalecha is a useful open-air counterpoint to the shops and religious buildings. The official tourism listing places this public green square in Murung Keraton, in the town centre. It is used for recreation and civic gatherings, so expect conditions to depend on the day rather than a permanent visitor programme. Walk at a comfortable pace, find a place to rest and follow barriers when part of the space is occupied.

The name Martapura also belongs to the river running through the wider region, which often causes confusion in travel descriptions. Banjarmasin’s famous siring, Menara Pandang and riverfront images should not be used as if they show this town. Nor does the river name establish a scheduled local sightseeing boat service. This visit stays with the urban places that can be identified precisely. A longer river or reservoir journey belongs in a separately researched trip, with its own transport, access and safety information.

Masjid Syi’arus Shalihin, Sekumpul · 2024
Your city guide

Culture & local flavours

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Culture & local flavours

Food offers a welcoming pause between visits. Petah is a savoury green rice-flour cake associated with Martapura’s wadai tradition, commonly served with rich coconut sauce; the tourism authority describes pandan and suji in its preparation. Ask what is freshly made rather than assuming every seller stocks the same selection. Ketupat dishes and Soto Banjar provide other ways into the local table, with recipes and accompaniments varying by kitchen. A dish enjoyed here can belong to a wider Banjar tradition without being exclusive to Martapura.

Do not confuse a photograph of one ketupat preparation with another: ketupat mie and ketupat batumis are distinct menu descriptions. At small food stops, check ingredients, price and payment before ordering. Coconut, egg, fish or meat can appear in dishes whose names do not make every ingredient obvious. A considerate visit leaves time for eating and conversation while keeping the different expectations of a food stall and a place of pilgrimage separate.

Alun-alun Ratu Zalecha · 2025
Your city guide

The practical guide

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Practical guide

Use CBS and the nearby civic centre for a compact walking visit, taking breaks in the heat. Arrange a separate road transfer for Sekumpul and confirm the exact return meeting point. Ask your accommodation or a local driver about current access; app availability alone does not guarantee a pickup inside a crowded religious area. For buses, verify the present stop and route rather than assuming direct service to every landmark. During a haul or other large gathering, follow official diversions and allow for permitted walking sections.

At Al-Karomah and Sekumpul, ask where visitors may enter, follow clothing and footwear instructions and keep worship spaces clear. Do not photograph people at prayer without permission. At gem shops, request a written description of material, treatment, price and return terms when considering a significant purchase. A decorative souvenir and a certified gemstone are different purchases. Carry small cash for snacks, ask about coconut, eggs, fish and other ingredients, and save your accommodation address offline before joining busy streets.

Related discoveries

Explore the local map+
Martapura

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Google MapsMartapura

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Your current destination.

Syamsudin Noor International Airport (BDJ) · Banjarbaru

Plan route — Syamsudin Noor International Airport (BDJ) · Banjarbaru

Masjid Al-Karomah

Plan route — Masjid Al-Karomah

Cahaya Bumi Selamat

Plan route — Cahaya Bumi Selamat

Google Maps uses your location if available, or asks you to enter a starting point.

Sources & photo credits

BPS Kabupaten Banjar · Kecamatan Martapura Dalam Angka 2025

BPS · Peraturan Kepala BPS Nomor 120 Tahun 2020: Klasifikasi Desa Perkotaan dan Perdesaan

disbudporapar.banjarkab.go.id · central permata cahaya bumi selamat martapura

disbudporapar.banjarkab.go.id · taman cahaya bumi selamat cbs martapura

si-praswita.banjarkab.go.id · detail destinasi2.php

si-praswita.banjarkab.go.id · detail destinasi2.php

disbudporapar.banjarkab.go.id · makam guru sekumpul

home.banjarkab.go.id · kawasan sekumpul siap menjadi destinasi wisata religi

disbudporapar.banjarkab.go.id · petah

si-praswita.banjarkab.go.id · daftar destinasi.php

syamsudinnoor-airport.co.id · index

commons.wikimedia.org · File:Ketupat_mie.jpg

id.wikibooks.org · Resep:Ketupat_mie

shalokalindonesia.com · bikin ngiler warung ketupat batumis sering dikunjungi masyarakat ini lokasinya

Al-Karomah Mosque, Martapura · 2024Μαυλάνα · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original

Cahaya Bumi Selamat · 2011Arief Rahman Saan (Ezagren) · Wikimedia Commons · Attribution only; commercial use explicitly permitted · Cropped · Original

Al-Karomah Mosque · 2011Arief Rahman Saan (Ezagren) · Wikimedia Commons · Attribution only; commercial use explicitly permitted · Cropped · Original

Sekumpul, Martapura · 2011Arief Rahman Saan (Ezagren) · Wikimedia Commons · Attribution only; commercial use explicitly permitted · Cropped · Original

Al-Karomah pulpit · 2024Μαυλάνα · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original

Cahaya Bumi Selamat · 2025Tim WikiBanua 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original

Alun-alun Ratu Zalecha · 2025Tim WikiBanua 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original

Musala Ar-Raudhah, Sekumpul · 2024Ilham Mufti Laksono · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original

Cahaya Bumi Selamat · 2025Tim WikiBanua 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original

Makam Guru Sekumpul · 2023Ilham Mufti Laksono · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0 · Cropped · Original

Ketupat mie, Martapura · 2025Volstand · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original

Soto Banjar photographed at Pak Amat in Banjarmasin.Midori · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0 · Cropped · Original

Alun-alun Ratu Zalecha · 2025Tim WikiBanua 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original

Musala Darul Aman, Keraton, Martapura · 2023Ilham Mufti Laksono · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original

Illuminated airport name sign at Syamsudin Noor Airport in Banjarbaru.Muhammad Ramadhana · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original

Mahligai Sultan Adam · 2011Arief Rahman Saan (Ezagren) · Wikimedia Commons · Attribution only; commercial use explicitly permitted · Cropped · Original

Cahaya Bumi Selamat · 2025Tim WikiBanua 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original

Masjid Syi’arus Shalihin, Sekumpul · 2024Ilham Mufti Laksono · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original

Alun-alun Ratu Zalecha · 2025Tim WikiBanua 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original

Banjarbaru city hall · 2018Kota Banjarbaru · Wikimedia Commons · PD-IDGov · Cropped · Original

Jukung trading boats at Lok Baintan, Banjar regency.Muhammad Haris · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original

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