Banjarmasin is the capital of South Kalimantan, Indonesia. It located on a delta island near the junction of the Barito and Martapura rivers. The city is surrounded by several rivers, particularly the Martapura and Nagara . As a result, Banjarmasin is sometimes called the "River City".

An important deepwater port, it is the trade center of the rich Barito basin; exports include rubber, pepper, timber, petroleum, coal, gold, and diamonds. There is a large oil refinery, and coal mines and sawmills are in the vicinity. The city floods regularly, and raft-like dwellings are common in the city. A satat university (Universitas Lambung Mangkurat, UNLAM) is in the town.

History

In the fourteenth century, Banjarmasin was part of the Hindu kingdom of Majapahit, but it passed to Muslim rulers in the late fifteenth century. The Dutch opened trade there in 1606. The British controlled the city for several brief periods, and in 1787 it became a Dutch protectorate.

The Hikayat Banjar is the chronicle of Banjarmasin. This text, also called the History of Lembu Mangkurat, contains the history of the kings of Banjar and of Kota Waringin in South-east and South Borneo respectively.