Kalianget,
The Beautiful Old Exalted Salt Town in Sumenep
Kalianget, the old salt town is one of first modern
town in Madura island. This town was built in the victorious era of VOC which
was continued by the East Indies. Kalianget was developed as a town because of
its strategic location which was a busiest harbour in the Madura strait.
Kertasada harbour is the oldest harbour in Sumenep. It
is about 10 kilometers from Sumenep town to the east. When Sumenep was
subjected by VOC on 1705, VOC was constructing a fortress located in West
Kalianget, because of its location which was not useful, that fortress
cancelled to be built. Today people named that fortress as “Loji Kantang”.
Moreover, VOC also built another fortress in Kalimo’ok
because its location which was more high than others. It was built on 1785.
Along with constructing the fortress, European house could be found aound
Marengan and Pabean village.
When VOC was dispersed, the East Indies was adopting
the authorization of group commerce of VOC in any thing, like the management of
making salt area in Sumenep. To support the economy and politic of East Indies
in Sumenep, on 1899 they built a modern briquet salt factory, the first in
Indonesia. Either proponent facilities of industry or electricity which was
centralized in Sentral, tennis court,
swimming pool, cinema, town park, houses of worker were built in this area.
This fact shows us that the East Indies so absolutely monopolized a number of
cropping salt in Madura island. Other facilitties, steam tram and harbour which
could be found in this area to expedite salt distribution.
The beautiful of Kalianget residual prosperous in the
past, Dutch old buildings which is still firm, become interesting spotto be
visited. A number historical inheritance found in Kalianget are:
1. The generator electricitybuilding (Sentral)
This building located in
side of Kalianget main street, west side of PT Garam office, has an elegant
Dutch architecture. It was built on 1914. Its eeriness can be seen from the
type and hight of this old building.
2.
The old clock
Located in gate of east side
in salt factory. Here the visitors can found the old neglated clock. Long time
ago it was used by the all workers to check their point who work in salt
factory. Check point means that an activity of checking the workers who go for
work or come out. They were inspectioned to avoid bring anything from the factory.
3. Locomotive
It was used to drive the train which is full of salt.
The salt was carried from salt field which is located around south and east sea
shore of Kalianget sub district.
4. Kalianget harbour
Kalianget harbour is one of the old harbour in
Sumenep. The oldest one is Kertasada harbour in Marengan village. Kalianget
harbour was bulit in colonial ere, when the East Indies holdout Sumenep. It was
used as important means of transportation for distributing salt in Madura.
Nowadays, this harbour is not only used for salt distribution but also as mean
of transportation among the tip east islands in Sumenep and Java.
This harbour divided into two parts, the south side is
use for public activity. This part is used by anyone who want to cross to
Poteran island and others (kangean, Sapeken, Masalembu, etc). The north part is
used only by PT. GARAM to distribute salt to other islands in Indonesia.
