Balikpapan Hotels
The gateway to East Kalimantan, Balikpapan is a port located on the eastern side of the Coast of Borneo Island. Famed as a town of opportunity, people from world over and from various part of the Indonesian archipelago come to Balikpapan in search for their fortunes.
A region highly rich in timber, mining and export of petroleum products, Balikpapan has two harbours Somber and Semayang. Besides this, the Sepinggan International Airport provides the primary transportation access to and from Balikpapan.
With over 85% of hilly and green land, Balikpapan has very less of flatland. The coast is relatively flat and the climate is pleasant. Before the boom in export of petroleum products, this town was a Bugis fishing village, pretty much isolated and unknown. The name Balikpapan is derived from two words “Balik” – behind and “Papan” – plank. According to the folklore, a local king once threw his newly born daughter into the ocean to protect the child from the attacking enemies. He tied the baby beneath some wooden planks in order to hide her. She was then found by one of the local fishermen. Hence the name Balikpapan.
Oil was found for the very first time in 1897 by Dutch Company (Shell) that set-up the first oil refinery in Balikpapan. Much of the town’s facilities and oil refinery was damaged during WWII. Today, Balikpapan is not just the only oil refinery site in this coastal region but also a source of employment to many Indonesians. It is also a thriving and flourishing town!