Kalimas Traditional Seaport

Kalimas traditional seaport is located at the east of Kalimas River, lies about 10 kilometers west of Kenjeran beach. Comprising a two-kilometre stretch of warehouse and wharves along the East ward flank of Tanjung Perak, Kalimas is a living history of Surabaya's maritime heritage where carts and human toil continue to load and unload merchandise into and out of tile holds of brooch-beamed Phinisi Schooners. The best visit in order to see the loading and unloading activities is in the morning or before the sun, climbs too high and schooners set sail. The available facilities are; place parked, lodging and restaurant. It is easy reachable by various public vehicles.

Kalimas is the fraction of Brantas River that has upstream in Mojokerto town, flow into northeast direction and have estuary in Surabaya (Madura Strait). A hypothesis tell Kalimas is river becoming the gateway of Majapahit Kingdom, and in this river have ever happened encounter between Raden Wijaya (the founder of Majapahit) fight against Tar-tar (Mongol) team at 13th century.

Kali Mas is also as the limited line between Sidoarjo regency and Gresik regency. The estuary of Kalimas is traditional port of Surabaya, which have been there since for centuries ago. A number of the bridges getting through Kalimas in Surabaya now specified as culture pledge, refer to it historical value.
Port of Kalimas Remain a Memory
Otherwise got serious attention, Traditional Port of Kalimas Surabaya, will remain history. Workload of goods loading and unloading in this port always decline for a number of last years, and now more and more concern. Whereas institution related to Kalimas public Port management, seems to no longer care at continuity that have age traditional port life hundreds of this year. The many dirt cause water quality and environmental along the length of Kalimas is not balmy like formerly.

Now Traditional Port of Kalimas Surabaya, not as a pledge port anymore, because, some of ship entrepreneurs or service user transportation of public ship, have changed over to port in Gresik. Some last year, motor sailing boat (KLM) wood conveyor from Kalimantan a lot cargo handling still in this Kalimas port, but now they more love to unload goods in Gresik port because it more conducive.

The public perpetrators now look for best alternative to return the bustle of goods cargo-handling current. Concerning basic problem is traffic path of Madura Strait, which is solid, because the merchant marine grass, battleship TNI AL and ferry ship, must, broken and overcome soon, including port superficiality.

If years before all motor sailing boat (KLM) which cargo handling in Kalimas port reach 150-200 ships, now remain 60-70 ships. That also ship that have capacities at the most 250 tons.

Kalimas, Formerly and Now
In kampongs Surabaya formerly, there are architecture typical of kampong called "mask house", or "mask style". Its form stonewall vestibule, have wide glass window, with tiling or ceramics floor. In short natty and light. From bedroom until kitchen with is soil floor and have bamboo matting wall (gedhek sesek).

Kalimas, which separate the town heart, is actually a source of life symbol. In hinterland of river irrigate farm, fertilize rice field, suffuse fishpond, and yield crop, make the countryside welfare. Exploiting of river intensively and proportional. Kalimas ought to able to be exploited fully and appropriately for resident prosperity.

There is an old story in Raden Rahmat or Sunan Ampel epoch, 15th century, which gift land from King Majapahit cover Ngampel Denta, perhaps from Botoputih until Kalimas, mention that every town admission fish boat people boat throw some big fish to east continent that taken care by the Moslems. That fishes are for Kanjeng Sunan pleading it benediction and prayer.

A story, when Raden Rahmat had wudlu in Kalimas, found an item drift ruby. He wish to eat his finding, hence before that is he fringe river to request permit at the garden owner which its ruby fall to river. Do not one also there are people confess or no ruby garden along the length of ridge. After far trace finally find ruby garden in an area (Darmokali now). The ruby garden property of Mbah Bungkul, the founder of that area. Raden Rahmat meet the owner and request permit to eating his finding ruby. Mbah Bungkul was hardly impressing to Raden Rahmat sincerity.

Kalimas also save the important history story. On 31 Mays 1293 Raden Wijaya (Majapahit Empire Founder) valiantly and spirit and the warrior soul successfully break and dissipate of Tar-Tar army, Mongolia emperor team from Majapahit earth. Tar-Tar army left Majapahit through Ujung duramen, a countryside, which located in north back part North off Surabaya, in Kalimas estuary.

Kalimas now and which will come applied for water tourism by using boat follow the river current to enjoy some of Surabaya city. This water tourism is opened generically start at Monday until day Friday at 17.00-19.00 WIB, Saturday at 13.00-19.00 WIB, Sunday at 09.00-19.00 WIB. In the riparian multiplied of Kalimas there is also Prestasi Park where children can play and have recreation. Prestasi Park is opened generically every day in the evening.

Quoted from :http://www.eastjava.com/tourism/surabaya/kalimas.html

Supported by : JavaTourism, Lintang Buana Tours