History
The Riau Archipelago has a rich history dating back to its first inhabitation as early as 230AD, according to Chinese records. Originally home to Malay and Orang Laut people (sea nomads), the Riau Archipelago was then inundated with migrants from south China and Indochina. Due to the China-India trading routes, this area was a sought-after location for the best resources and position in the maritime world.
Rulers of the region switched hands from the Srivijaya Empire in the 12th and 13th century to Sultan Mansur Shah from 1459-1466 to the Portuguese in 1511 where the dark history of the region begins. Since the Portuguese attack, power switched between the Portuguese, the Johor Sultanate and the Acehnese of northern Sumatra for centuries. However around the early 18th century, the Bugis aristocrats from Sulawesi (the Celebes) joined in the war over the region. The Bugis were great traders and made Bintan a major trading center, attracting British, Chinese, Dutch, Arabic and Indian traders; in turn bringing in another layer of conflict for the region.
The Dutch found the Bugis taking about from the trade business in other ports and started war on the Bugis for control of the Riau. Eventually the Dutch were granted control after the death of the Bugis commander in the later 1700s. Because the Dutch had control, the Malays and the Bugis started fighting eventually ending in peace in 1803. Around this time, Penyengat Island (near Tanjung Pinang) became the center of government, Islamic religion and Malay culture in the region. Battles for control of the region continued with less vigour until 1945 when the Riau Archipelago became part of the Republic of Indonesia.
Historical relics can still be visited at several locations through the archipelago. Penyengat Island has its egg-covered mosque, Lingga and Singkep islands have canons and old ruins that still remain from this turbulent time
Today
archipelago is administered under The Riau Islands Province. It is the 32nd province of the 33 provinces in Indonesia, consisting of the principal group of the Riau Archipelago, together with other island groups to the south, east and northeast. The sitting governor of Riau Island today is Muhammad Sani. Sani and his deputy Suryo Respationo took office in 2010 for a term of 5 years. Sani, 2nd governor of the province since its establishment, was the deputy to his predecessor Ismet Abdullah who was removed from the post due to corruption case.
The indigenous language of the Riau Islands is known as Riau Malay. The Riau Islands are considered the birthplace of the modern Malay language, though it was the classical Malaccan Malay of the Johor court rather than Riau Malay that formed the basis of the standard language.
The Chinese population in Riau (predominantly Hakka, Teochew and Hokkien) speak various forms of Chinese. The most common dialect is Min Nan, which originated in the southern part of Fujian province in the south-eastern part of China
There are around 3,200 islands in the province, which has its capital located at Tanjung Pinang in the south of Bintan Island. The province also includes the Lingga Islands to the south of the main Riau Archipelago, while to the northeast lies the Tudjuh Archipelago, located between Borneo and mainland Malaysia; the Tudjuh Archipelago consists of four distinct groups of islands – the Anambas Islands, Natuna islands, Tambelan islands and Badas Islands – which were also attached to the new province, although they were not geographically part of the Riau Archipelago.
The island of Batam, which lies within the central core group of islands, contains a majority of the province’s population; since becoming part of a Special Economic Zone with Singapore in 2006, it has experienced high population growth rates. Other highly populated islands within the Riau Archipelago include Bintan and Karimun, while the archipelago also includes islands such as Bulan and Kundur.
Bintan’s history is traced to the early 3rd century. The island flourished as a trading post on the route between China and India, and over the centuries it came under the control of the Chinese, the British, and then the Dutch when it was declared part of the Dutch East Indies through the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824.In the 12th century, the Bintan island in the Strait of Malacca was known as the “Pirate Island” since the Malay pirates used to loot trading ships sailing in these waters.
Singapore, the closest major city, is a 45-50 minute trip by motorised catamaran across the South China Sea from Bintan Resort area in the northwest of the island. The island has beaches with beach-front International hotels and resorts; the most prominent of these beaches is the Bintan Resorts set over an area of 300 hectares (740 acres) of tropical environment. The archipelago of the Riau islands is right opposite to this resort across the South China Sea. Indonesia is promoting Bintan as the next best tourist destination after Bali.
Anambas archipelago (Indonesian: Kepulauan Anambas) is a small archipelago of Indonesia, located 200 nautical miles east of Batam Island in the South China Sea between the Malaysian mainland to the west and the island of Borneo to the east. Geographically part of the Tudjuh Archipelago, it is administratively a regency within the Riau Islands Province.
Anambas have a large reserve of natural gas that is exported to countries such as Singapore and Malaysia. The island of Matak is the main base for oil exploration. Other islands are Siantan (Terempa), Mubur, Jemaja and Kiabu (Airabu).
Tourism
Today, Riau Islands has emerged as Indonesia 3rd most popular tourist destination to the foreign tourists after Bali and Yogyakarta. Thanks to it’s location in middle of international trading ship routes and it’s long and wonderful pristine beaches, Riau archipelago, especially Bintan Island and Anambas Island in the last 10 years have been steadily successful in attracting tourists from all over the world. International class beach resorts and designer golf courses with fantastic landscape and view in Batam island and Bintan island have been one of the favourites choice of international tourists for their holiday destination. International Bintan Beach Resorts is getting popular as perfect choice for your couple for their exclusive wedding and honey moon holiday.
How to Get There?
From Singapore:
There are more than 40 times ferry schedule to Batam, at least 10 times to Bintan Island and at leats 5 time to Karimun regularly. The frequency can double during holiday season in Indonesia or in Singapore.
Ferry cost from Singapore to Batam is around SGD 25 to 40 (return); around 50-60 minutes journey
Ferry (catamaran type) cost from Singapore to Bintan Resort is around SGD 40-60 (return); 60 minutes journey;
Ferry cost from Singapore to Tanjungpinang cost around SGD 60 (return); 2 hours journey.
From Malaysia:
By flight:
3 times a week flight from Subang to Batam by Firefly Air; and
4 times flight from Malacca to Tanjungpinang by Sky Aviation
By ferry:
There are at least 5 times ferry from Johor Bahru to Batam, and
5 times ferry from Johor Bahru to Tanjungpinang every day.
From Jakarta and major cities in Indonesia
There are almost 100 over regular flights from Batam to most of major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Bandung, Medan, Yogyakarta Surabaya, Makassar, Balikpapan, Denpasar and other cities.
There are 5 times reguler flight from Tanjungpinang to Jakarta and Pekanbaru and Anambas.
Contact us for organized regular or exclusive tour package in Batam, Bintan or other islands in the archipelago.
Anugerah Indonesia Tour & Travel has plenty of tour packages for you and your loved ones to discover and enjoy the beauty of Riau archipelago beaches, the warmth of it’s people and the taste of its food.
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