Kalianget, The Beautiful Old Exalted Salt Town in Sumenep

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.