Indonesian Folktales from East Kalimantan (Borneo)

Welcome to a treasure chest of stories! Here you'll find a collection of Indonesian folklore — folktales, fairy tales, and legends passed down among the people of East Kalimantan Province.

East Kalimantan sits in the eastern part of the island of Borneo, with Samarinda as its capital city. The province carries the motto Ruhui Rahayu, meaning perfect balance in all things through God's blessing.

These stories have been gathered from many different sources (see the references page). New tales will be added from time to time, so do come back and visit! We hope you enjoy every story you find here.

1. Princess Aji Bedarah Putih: Legend of Lipan Lake (Indonesia)

Long, long ago, in the region of East Kalimantan, there was a lake with a curious name — Lipan Lake, or "Centipede Lake." It lies within a wide stretch of shrubland in the Muara Kaman sub-district, near Tenggarong, the capital of Kutai Kartanegara Regency.

Why such a name, you ask? Long before, this very place was said to be home to giant centipedes — creatures so enormous that people never forgot them. And so, the lake came to carry their name ever since.