Sekandis – a settlement in South Kalimantan province
Sekandis is a settlement in Pamukan Selatan subdistrict of Baru regency, which is located in South Kalimantan province in the southeastern part of Borneo island in Indonesia. There is no international-level tourism database information about the settlement, however its location within the Indonesian administrative system is precisely defined by the administrative units mentioned. South Kalimantan, to which it belongs, is an Indonesian province with an area of 38,744 square kilometers, which is the homeland and traditional cultural center of the Banjar people. As of the first half of 2025, the province has more than 4.3 million residents and is divided into 11 regencies and 2 municipalities as administrative units. Baru regency, which belongs to the province, is one of South Kalimantan's important territorial administrative units, where Sekandis is embedded as a settlement within broader regional contexts.
General overview
Sekandis functions as a settlement within Pamukan Selatan subdistrict, which is part of Baru regency's administrative system. The settlement is not known from international tourism sources, which is unsurprising given that the vast majority of Indonesian rural and provincial settlements gain recognition only at the local or regional level. Pamukan Selatan subdistrict is a traditional, community-based area where Indonesian local administration, barangay-like community organization, and the cultural traditions of the Banjar people operate together. Community networks running through or near the settlement, markets, and local economic activities provide the daily pulse characteristic of rural Indonesia. South Kalimantan as a province is the homeland of the Banjar ethnic group, which through its rich, multi-century history derives from the Banjar Sultanate lineage, and which obtained provincial status after the Sultanate's fall in 1945 and following the establishment of the Indonesian Republic in 1950.
Within the territories belonging to South Kalimantan province, formally established on August 14, 1950, during the sovereignty transfer process between the Indonesian Republic and the Dutch-Indonesian Union (RIS), including within Baru regency and its Pamukan Selatan subdistrict, a combined system of traditional community organization and modern administrative institutions operates. Sekandis is positioned within such a context: as a settlement that organized its local community life around agriculture, small-scale commerce, and traditional industry. The region—particularly in recent decades—has gradually integrated into Indonesia's broader economic and infrastructure networks, although real modernization has proven slow in many rural areas.
Real estate and investment
There are no verified source data available at the settlement level regarding real estate markets in Sekandis and the broader Baru regency/South Kalimantan region. However, in Indonesia generally—and particularly in rural Kalimantan areas—the following general frameworks merit attention with respect to land ownership and real estate markets. In Indonesia, real estate market regulation is based on the Agrarian Law of 1960 (Law No. 5 of 1960), which stipulates that foreign nationals and companies cannot be landowners in the full sense of the term. Instead, foreigners may enter into leasing agreements (hak guna usaha—usage and cultivation rights), which are typically concluded for 30-year periods or shorter terms, and which may be extended but are not guaranteed.
South Kalimantan province, which is home to Sekandis, should be regarded as a developing region where the real estate market shows stronger dynamics primarily at the regency level (such as Baru) and around better-known cities. In rural areas, such as those with subdistricts like Pamukan Selatan, the real estate market is typically characterized by smaller scale, follows local conditions, and prices are generally significantly lower than in urban centers. The Indonesian rural real estate market is characterized by more limited liquidity, fewer professional intermediaries, and more prominently community/family-based transactions. Although infrastructure development projects in South Kalimantan province over the past two decades have contributed to certain economic stimulation, a rural area like Sekandis still remains relatively far from centers of international investor interest. Property prices are typically lower, but the administrative processes required for sales and the bureaucratic requirements of the Indonesian administrative system remain time-consuming.
Safety and security
There are no verified statistical data available regarding public safety at the settlement level in Sekandis. Compared to the broader environment, however, it can be said generally about South Kalimantan province and Baru regency that general public order institutions operate at the level typical of rural Indonesia. The South Kalimantan region generally is not among the country's highest crime rate areas, although as throughout Indonesia, common threats are present here: these include traffic accidents, theft, and crime against personal property. In rural areas such as Pamukan Selatan subdistrict, community-level order maintenance still heavily relies on the joint work of local community leaders and local units of Polri (Kepolisian Negara Republik Indonesia—the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia).
For travelers and those staying in the area, the basic caution generally recommended for Indonesia is advised: care is needed with regard to personal belongings and valuables, especially in larger gatherings or near transportation hubs. Caution is recommended in nighttime travel and when visiting unfamiliar areas as applies generally to Indonesian rural settlements, and should be mentioned as a basic consideration regarding Sekandis and its surroundings. Respect for local customs and community norms significantly contributes to enhancing the safety and pleasantness of a stay there.
Tourist attractions
Unfortunately, there are no verified source data for Sekandis settlement that would identify specific tourist attractions or notable sights. The settlement is absent from international tourism databases, which is a common characteristic of the overwhelming majority of Indonesian rural settlements. At the level of Pamukan Selatan subdistrict and Baru regency, there are likewise no outstanding tourist attractions that Indonesian or international tourism information sources routinely mention. In these rural areas of Indonesia, tourism—insofar as it appears at all—is typically limited to local community tourism, accommodation organized around family, and experiencing authentic, everyday life.
Regarding the broader South Kalimantan province, however, several sights and events worth mentioning can be noted that relate to more organized tourism: the province has close ties to Banjar cultural heritage, which is more strongly tangible in larger cities—particularly around Banjarmasin and the newer provincial capital, Banjarbaru. The Banjar culture, Islamic tradition, and weaving of Indonesian rural community life can offer unique experiences around certain other, better-known subdistricts and cities, however no such institutions or notable places have been identified in the immediate vicinity of Sekandis. For international travelers, rural settlements such as Sekandis primarily offer the opportunity to immerse themselves in local community life and gain authentic knowledge of Indonesia's village, everyday reality, rather than organized tourism infrastructure.
Summary
Sekandis is a small Indonesian settlement located in Pamukan Selatan subdistrict of Baru regency, which belongs to South Kalimantan province. There is no international-level tourism data about the settlement, and no settlement-level information is available regarding its real estate market; for both areas, the general characteristics of the broader region (South Kalimantan, Baru regency) may be considered authoritative within such a context. The area's public safety level operates according to Indonesian rural standards, and general caution is recommended for travelers. Apart from experiencing authentic Indonesian rural community life, organized tourist attractions are not directly connected to the settlement. The settlement is positioned within South Kalimantan's rich historical and cultural context, as well as within the structure of the Indonesian rural administrative system.
