Penyengat Island and Tanjungpinang: A Full-Day Cultural Route

A trip to Bintan does not have to stop at the beach. Travel south from Lagoi and the island begins to tell a very different story through old ports, Malay royal heritage, Chinese temples and waterfront villages.

At the centre of this cultural route is Penyengat Island, a small historic island just offshore from Tanjungpinang. Once an important centre of the Riau-Lingga Sultanate, Penyengat remains closely connected with Malay history, Islamic heritage and the development of Malay language and literature.

Combined with Tanjungpinang, Senggarang and the 500 Lohan Temple Bintan, it makes one of the most rewarding full-day trips for travellers who want to see more than the resort side of the island.

Why Visit Tanjungpinang and Penyengat Island?

Tanjungpinang has long played an important role as a trading port and centre of Malay culture in the Riau Islands. Today, the city still combines maritime life, markets, local food and several layers of Malay and Chinese heritage.

Just across the water, Penyengat was once a centre of government, religion and culture for the Riau-Lingga Sultanate. The island is also strongly associated with Raja Ali Haji, the scholar and writer of Gurindam Dua Belas whose work played an important role in the development of modern Malay.

If you are looking for things to do in Tanjung Pinang beyond shopping and dining, dedicating a full day to this heritage circuit is a good place to start.

Start with the 500 Lohan Temple Bintan

Leaving Lagoi in the morning, make Vihara Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, better known as the 500 Lohan Temple, your first major stop.

The temple complex is known for more than 500 life-sized stone arhat statues, each carved with different expressions, poses and details. It is one of the most visually distinctive cultural attractions in southern Bintan.

The temple currently opens Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with a published entrance fee of IDR 30,000. It is normally closed on Mondays except on public holidays, so check your travel date before building the day around it.

Allow around 45 minutes to an hour before continuing towards central Tanjungpinang.

Take a Pompong to Penyengat Island

From Tanjungpinang, the journey to Penyengat Island continues by traditional motorised boat, locally known as a pompong.

The crossing takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes, making Penyengat easy to include in a day trip. Once on the island, you can explore on foot or use local motorised transport to move between historical sites.

The first landmark you will notice is the yellow-and-green Masjid Raya Sultan Riau. An earlier mosque stood here before the present structure was enlarged in 1832 under Raja Abdurrahman. Local historical accounts famously record that egg white was mixed with lime and sand as part of its construction material.

The mosque remains an active place of worship, so dress modestly, remove your shoes before entering and be respectful when taking photographs.

Explore Penyengat's Royal Heritage

Do not visit Penyengat only for the mosque. Give yourself time to explore the historical sites spread around the island.

Penyengat contains royal tombs, the remains of former palaces and defensive structures connected with the Riau-Lingga Sultanate. The island is also home to the tomb of Raja Ali Haji and other important figures in Riau-Malay history.

The sites are spread out enough that local transport can be useful, particularly in the middle of the day. Around 90 minutes to two hours gives you enough time for a comfortable introduction without rushing from monument to monument.

Stop for a Local Seafood Lunch

Return to Tanjungpinang around lunchtime and use the opportunity to explore the city's food scene.

Seafood is an obvious choice in a city shaped by the sea. Look for fish, prawns, squid and local favourites such as gong gong, a sea snail commonly eaten throughout the Riau Islands.

This is also a good point in the itinerary to slow down. A full cultural route involves several transfers, boat journeys and outdoor stops, so allowing a proper lunch break makes the afternoon much more enjoyable.

Visit Senggarang Floating Village

After lunch, continue to Senggarang Village, one of the oldest Chinese settlements around Tanjungpinang.

The Senggarang floating village is characterised by houses and walkways along the waterfront and is home to several historic Chinese religious sites. Bintan Resorts identifies the village with early Teochew settlement in Bintan and highlights the Lau Ya Keng temple complex and Banyan Tree Temple among its key landmarks.

The Banyan Tree Temple is particularly unusual. Tree roots have grown around the walls of an old structure traditionally dated to 1811, creating one of Senggarang's most recognisable sights.