I have just realized that Jambi has plenty of something to explore when I stayed in Cosmo Hotel nearby airport (5 minutes from airport). In front of reception desk I found a standing map what explain what are available in Jambi.
Hereby, I will share you what did I found about the places what shown in that map. Start from east part – north – west – south. First I would like to inform you, almost all the way you will see oil palm trees. Oil palm become a big commodity of Jambi, it reached until 515,300 hectare. Beside oil palm trees you will also see river in almost every place you stop, it caused by Jambi is passed by Batanghari River.
In East Tanjung Jabung Regency there are at least 4 places we can visit.
Berbak National Park. To get there you will have to reach Air Hitam Dalam. There are 2 ways to get “Air Hitam Dalam”. 1st way is through public transportation, started from WTC (shopping mall in Jambi, close to Angso Duo Market), 2nd way is renting the car to go to Suakkandis. The 2nd alternative is more suggested because it’s gonna be shorter (1,5hour – 2 hour). The unique characteristic of this National Park is the condition of nature what have wetlands (peat) and it counted as the 2nd biggest National Park in Southeast Asia. Consider most of the land of Jambi is surrounded by river and swamp, so please be ready to pass rivers and swamp quite often.
National Park Berbak is situated in between of the territorial of Tanjung Jabung Timur Regency and Muaro Jambi Regency with 162,700 hectare large. There are 3 interesting place what you can visit in Berbak National Park, they are Air Hitam Dalam, Air Hitam Laut and Simpangkubu.
Berbak National Park provides habitat for a rich fauna, which includes the endangered Sumatran Tiger and Malayan Tapir. Small remnant populations of the critically threatened Sumatran Rhinoceros may still exist in some areas of the park, although not sighted in recent years. There are also more than 250 bird species include the Chinese Egret, Lesser Adjutant Stork, many species of Kingfisher and White-winged Wood Duck. Reptiles such as Malaysian Giant Turtle, Batagur Turtle and Saltwater Crocodile also exist in this National Park.
Kampung Laut. Kampung laut is administratively located in Kuala Jambi subs-district, Tanjung Jabung Timur Regency, and geographically located on the mouth of Batanghari river. This situation put Kampung Laut as the “gate” to enter Jambi, since long back time a go until now. What makes Kampung Laut become unique is the way the build their house. They build it on the top of swamp or mangrove plantation area. Those houses are built on the top of areca branches as a buffer. Most of the houses are made by woods.
The people are coming from many ethnics such as Malay, Bugis, Banjar, Java, etc. These people created the community what people call as Duano Ethnic Group. Duano Ethnic Group is the people who mostly spend their life in the sea. In Indonesia, this ethnics are known as Bajo People.
If you visit this place, people will start to talk about mutik sumbun. Mutik is Jambi traditional language, it means harvesting. Sumbun is solen grandis sp., the marine species as the phylum Mollusca. Sumbun is kind of clam what are habitat in Tanjung Solok. It is unique because sumbun isn’t available anywhere, it’s only available in China, Kalimantan and Kampung Laut. Mutik Sumbun will happen when the harvest time of sumbun started, it’s usually will be held in the month of April until July. The way they take them is still traditional. They will use stick and put chalk on the top of that stick. The stick will be placed in the hole where sumbun live. After a while, sumbun will get drunk by the chalk and automatically come out from their hole.
Muaro Jambi Temple, is the largest ancient temple of Hindu-Budha in Indonesia what might was legacy of Sriwijaya Kingdom and Malay Kingdom. This Temple Site is located in Muaro Sebo sub-dictrict, Muaro Jambi Regency, Jambi, Indonesia. It is situated on the edge of Batang Hari river, 26 kilometer from Jambi City. This temple is estimated come from the 11th Century. Started from 2009, Muaro Jambi Temple is nominated to UNESCO as the World Legacy Site.
And a little bit cross the delta, you can enjoy 1 package of beautiful islands – Berhala Island.
Berhala Island, there is no word can describe how beautiful and wonderful is Berhala Island. Berhala Island is the main island what located in Berhala Strait. You will probably can’t find it in Indonesia Map. But it what makes it beautiful. I (the writer of this article) have ever visited that place and I spoke a lot about it in my blog already. You can find complete story in this link : https://kharismagita.wordpress.com/2013/01/08/256/. On the top of this blog you can find the cover picture, that is the part of Berhala Island from the top of big rock.
Berhala island is the island what populated by 130 families from Riau Province and 6 families from Jambi Province. This island is surrounded by other islands. here was an island what contain only rocks and 1 building on it, I guess that was a house (well until now I am still curious what building is that, whether that is a house or cottage or just watchtower, anyhow I will visit that building one day), that island name was Lampu island, it situated on the south of Berhala Island. In the east of Berhala Island there was Layak Island. Compared by Berhala island, Layak Island was contain more rocks, and I was real eager to stay a night with tent in that island, turn on the fire, catch and cook fish alone, well maybe with 1 or 2 accompanies will be better :p . And the northwest of Berhala Island, there was Telur Island. Telur means egg in English. This name came from the characteristic of this island. Yeah,, this island is the place for sea turtle to lay their eggs whenever full moon reach the night.
Before, it was difficult to reach this island. People used to have to rent pompong or fisherman ship from Nipah Panjang to get there. And from Jambi City to Nipah Panjang you will have to go by car as long as 3 hours through uneven road. But right now, it’s no longer that difficult. Because the special boat to go to that island is available already, the name of the boat is SB. Rahmat Jaya 06. Below is the tracks and schedule details :
Dabo – Jambi (via Lalang Island – Berhala Island – Kampung Laut) : Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday (10:00)
Jambi – Dabo (via Kampung Laut – Berhala Island – Lalang Island) : Monday, Wednesday, Saturday (10:00)
Mileage : 3 hours
Below is the ticket price details :
Dabo – Jambi : Rp. 230,000 (arrived in Simpang Kawat Terminal Jambi, and will be delivered to your address in Jambi
Dabo – Kampung Laut : Rp. 200,000
Dabo – Berhala Island : Rp. 105,000
Dabo – Lalang : Rp. 55,000
Ticket reservation details :
H. Hamdi Idul (Mr.) : 08163627510
H. Yazahar Usman (Mr.): 081536659046
Rahmat(Boat Taker) : 081366666777
This observation is not finish yet. I will come back to you with more information about interesting place in Jambi. Next article I will show u the West Tanjung Jabung Regency part. See you ^_^
By. O.K. Gita
Kharismagita's Blog 