Tanjung Pinang

Tanjung Pinang
Kota Tanjungpinang
تنجوڠ ڤينڠ

Seal
Motto: Jujur Bertutur Bijak Bertindak

Location in Bintan.
Tanjung Pinang

Location in Indonesia.

Coordinates: 1°5′0″N 104°29′0″E / 1.08333°N 104.48333°ECoordinates: 1°5′0″N 104°29′0″E / 1.08333°N 104.48333°E
Country Indonesia
Province Kepulauan Riau
Government
  Mayor H. Lis Darmansyah
  Mayor Deputy Drs. H. Syahrul, S.Pd
Area
  Total 812.7 km2 (313.8 sq mi)
Elevation 18 m (59 ft)
Population
  Total 225,086
  Density 236.8/km2 (613/sq mi)
Time zone WIB (UTC+7)
Website www.tanjungpinangkota.go.id

Tanjung Pinang (Jawi: تنجوڠ ڤينڠ ) is the capital and second largest city of the Indonesian province of Riau Islands after Batam. A city with roughly 200,000 residents, it is a trading port between islands in the Riau archipelago. Tanjung Pinang is located on south of Bintan island and has ferry and speedboat connections to Batam, Singapore (40 km away), and Johor Bahru.

History

Tanjung Pinang was a political center 500 years ago, when the Portuguese won the battle of Malacca and the Sultan Mahmud of Malacca fled to Tanjung Pinang to create a resistance against the Portuguese's very hostile expansion.

Tanjung Pinang has always played a leading role in Malay culture. A few hundred years ago, Tanjung Pinang became a powerful trading port, attracting regional, Western, Indian and Chinese traders. Migrants including Chinese were also attracted, much in the same way how Malacca had developed into a regional power three centuries earlier.

Administration

The City is divided into four districts (kecamatan) - tabulated below with their 2010 Census population:[1]

Name Population
Census 2010[2]
Bukit Bestari 54,157
Tanjungpinang Timur
(East Tanjung Pinang)
70,867
Tanjungpinang Kota
(City)
17,026
Tanjungpinang Barat
(West Tanjung Pinang)
45,309

Landmarks

The cultural center for stage performances of Malay music and dances is located in Tanjung Pinang. The center organises regularly festivals and other performance. Culture happenings such as music and dance. Renowned Buddhist temples are located outside central Tanjung Pinang in a small town named Senggarang.

Penyengat Island

Penyengat Island

The old ruler's palace and royal tombs, among them the grave of the respected Raja Ali Haji, who was the creater and author of the first Malay Language grammar book, are one of the many legacies left by the Riau sultanate. Still in use is the old vice-royal mosque, the Mesjid Raya.

Raja Haji Fisabillah Monument

The Raja Haji Fisabillah Monument in Tanjung Pinang.

The 28-metre tall Raja Haji Fisabillah Monument was raised in memory of the Raja Haji Fisabilillah who died during the battle of Malacca against the Dutch in 1784. He was a famous Malayan king and had his castle on Penyengat island outside Tanjung Pinang.

Notes

  1. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
  2. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.

External links

Tanjung Pinang travel guide from Wikivoyage