A Slice of Eden in Borneo: Exploring the Hidden Wilds of Sekadau

Lawang Kuwari is not only a historical landmark in Sekadau, but also a scenic destination with maritime charm. Photo credit: Masri Sareb Putra

🌍 PONTIANAK | BORNEOTRAVEL : 

Somewhere deep in West Kalimantan, where the Kapuas River breathes and the forest hums with ancestral memories, lies a place the locals call a fallen shard of Eden.

We didn’t believe it at first. Not until we stood there, ankle-deep in crystal waters, surrounded by silence and stones older than memory.

So—what are your holiday plans?

If you haven’t penciled in a destination yet, consider this your gentle push into the unknown. Sekadau, a modest regency tucked within Indonesian Borneo, offers an eco-travel experience that’s equal parts surreal and sacred. And no, it’s not your usual “touristy” getaway. It’s more like... rediscovering how the Earth once breathed before we built over it.

Here are seven reasons—and seven destinations—you’ll want to pack a bag for.

1. Batu Jato': Where Heaven Dropped Its Stones

In Pantok village, 12 kilometers off Nanga Taman’s district center, a river sprawls over smooth, round boulders—like a gallery of ancient sculpture. Legend has it these stones fell from the sky long ago. Scientists may say erosion, but locals know better: this is where the sky once cracked.

The road here is smooth and paved, an easy drive into a dreamlike scene. Dip your feet. Listen to the water speak in its own ancient language.

2. Sirin Meragun: The Forest That Forgot Humans

Hidden in the heart of Meragun, untouched by settlement, lies Sirin Meragun—a living laboratory for lovers of the wild. No crowds. No chatter. Just a symphony of leaves and creatures that don’t fear you.

Naturalists might count insects. Artists might sketch orchids. You? You might simply sit, breathe, and remember you’re alive.

3. Kalai Susu: A Waterfall That Pours Like Milk

The name means “milky stream,” and it’s exactly that. Kalai Susu doesn’t roar—it glides. The water cascades over bedrock too stubborn to erode, leaving behind a soft-white trail that looks like it was poured from a bowl of rice milk.

Philosophers, poets, and lovers of quiet moments—this is your sanctuary. Heraclitus would’ve nodded in agreement: everything flows. Except, maybe, your desire to leave.

4. Semirah Putih: The White Rush of Dreamfall

A waterfall that crashes like whispered thunder. At Semirah Putih, water leaps freely off a cliff, forming foamy white curtains that hypnotize even the busiest of minds.

The air? Crisp. The spirit? Calmed. The sound of falling water here doesn’t shout—it soothes. Come alone. Or come with someone who understands silence.

5. Lawang Kuwari: The Gate Where Time Waits

This is where Sekadau’s story began. Lawang Kuwari isn’t just a structure—it’s a portal. To reach it, you’ll ride a speedboat across the Kapuas River, past barges and birdsongs, toward the wooded past of a vanished kingdom.

Once a royal hideout. Now a living museum. Lawang Kuwari reminds you that history doesn’t just belong in books—it lingers in places.

6. Taman Kelempiau: The Jungle, Reimagined

In Tapang Sambas, some 27 kilometers from Sekadau town, the Keling Kumang Movement has carved out a nature park for families, adventurers, and curious minds. Here you’ll find bungalows, Dayak cuisine, and a festival spirit that roars with pride.

Monkeys swing. Children laugh. And the land feels—alive. The recent Iban Summit and CU Keling Kumang’s 30th anniversary drew 25,000 visitors here in just three days. But on quiet weekdays, it’s all yours.

7. Batu Tinggi: Where the City Meets the Sky

Located right in Sekadau town, Batu Tinggi is a place for sunsets and songs. Especially when the dry season lifts the mist, and the view stretches for miles.

Locals hum a wistful tune here—about longing, about lovers across oceans. Even if you don’t know the language, the sentiment is universal. Come at dusk. Let the horizon remind you that beauty isn’t always distant.

Final Words from the Riverbank

Sekadau doesn’t shout. It doesn’t sell itself with neon signs or slick brochures. It waits—patiently—for the right traveler to listen.

So go ahead. Call in your vacation. Turn off your phone. And come see why some corners of Borneo still feel like Eden.

-- Masri Sareb Putra