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Voykit pocket guide · Indonesia
Amuntai
Skip unless you have a specific interest in Banjar history or water buffalo races: half a day from Banjarmasin or Kandangan is enough for Candi Agung and a swamp boat ride.
Amuntai, the capital of North Hulu Sungai regency in South Kalimantan, is a lowland town best known for Candi Agung, a stone-and-wood temple from the Negara Dipa kingdom, and for August water buffalo races in nearby villages. Most travellers pass through in half a day or use it as a brief stop between Kandangan and Banjarmasin.
- Country
- Indonesia
- Best months
- May–September (dry season)
- Avoid
- November–March (heavy rain, swamp flooding)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- IDR
- Money
- Rupiah (Rp) in small notes for warungs, parking, offerings and drivers; large cards are common in tourist restaurants but not everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget Rp150,000–250,000 excl. bed · Mid Rp250,000–500,000 excl. bed · High Rp500,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telkomsel, XL and Indosat sell tourist SIMs at airports; foreign phones must be IMEI-registered if staying over 90 days — check.
- Emergency
- General emergency 112 · Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 118/119
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European round pins.
- Tipping
- Warung: Nothing.; Restaurants: Often 10% service + tax on the bill; nothing more needed.; Drivers and guides: Rp50,000–100,000 a day.; Spa: Rp20,000–50,000.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; refill stations common in Bali.
- Toilets
- Western in hotels and cafés; squat toilets with a water scoop elsewhere; paper in the bin.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Nasi goreng (fried rice) at a warung | Rp15,000–25,000 |
| Bottle of water (600 ml) | Rp5,000–7,000 |
| Ojek ride within town | Rp10,000–20,000 |
| Becak ride | Rp10,000–15,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BDJ · Syamsudin Noor International Airport (Banjarmasin)
- About 3 h by car or bus via Kandangan
Typical fares
- Banjarmasin → Amuntai (bus)
- about Rp80,000–120,000, about 3 h (check)
- Ojek Amuntai → Candi Agung
- about Rp25,000–50,000 one way
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk the compact centre; hire a becak (cycle rickshaw) or ojek (motorcycle taxi) for Candi Agung and the swamp area. For Bararawa village, arrange a car or ojek from town.
See and do
Known for
- Candi Agung (Great Temple)
- Water buffalo races (August)
- Swamp boat (jukung) rides
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kandangan | Public minibus (angkot) or ojek, about 1 h | 1–1.5 h |
| Banjarmasin | Bus or car via Kandangan, about 3 h | 3–3.5 h |
| Loksado | Car or ojek via Kandangan, about 2 h | 2.5–3 h |
| Barabai | Minibus or ojek, about 1 h | 1–1.5 h |
Sleep
- Amuntai town centre
- Basic losmen and a few mid-range hotels; limited options, book ahead.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Halohah-loh |
| Thank you | Terima kasihtuh-ree-mah kah-seeh |
| How much? | Berapa?buh-rah-pah |
| Where is the temple? | Di mana candi?dee mah-nah chan-dee |
| I want to go to the swamp | Saya mau ke rawasah-yah mao kuh rah-wah |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Light handshake then hand to chest; smile; avoid: Firm grips
- Left hand: Give and receive with the right; avoid: Passing anything with the left
- Temples: Sarong and sash; step around offerings; avoid: Standing higher than priests
- Keeping calm: Patience; indirect requests; avoid: Anger in public
- Pointing: Thumb; avoid: Index finger
Scams and watch-outs
- No ATMs may work reliably; bring enough cash from Banjarmasin or Kandangan.
- Candi Agung is a modest site; do not expect a large temple complex.
- Water buffalo races happen only in August; confirm exact dates locally.
Amuntai is safe for tourists; normal precautions for a small Indonesian town. Watch for mosquitoes in the swamp areas and carry insect repellent.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Amuntai yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Candi Agung (Great Temple)
- Water buffalo races (August)
- Swamp boat (jukung) rides
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Amuntai, revision 4699182 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4699182
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/amuntai). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.