 |
| Tourist spots aren’t just beautiful for their scenery. They’re also compelling because of the stories behind them, like Gertak Penanjung in Sekadau. Photo credit: Tribun Pontianak. |
By Masri Sareb Putra
Penanjung Bridge, locally known as “Gertak Penanjung,” stands as a silent witness to history, stretching gracefully across the Sekadau River.
This bridge links the upper reaches of Sintang Regency with the lower stretches of Sanggau Regency, acting as both a physical and symbolic connection between past and present.
A Historic Crossing: The Story Behind Penanjung Bridge
Built by the Dutch East Indies Company in 1938, the bridge originally featured a hanging design without concrete pillars. Its iron framework bore the weight of travelers and goods alike. During the Japanese occupation around 1943, it suffered bombing damage, only to be restored later, reaffirming its resilience and the community’s determination to preserve this vital link.
Walking across the bridge is like stepping back into a bygone era. Locals call it “gertak” because it is a bridge suspended above water, evoking both delicacy and strength. At 90 meters long and 2.5 meters wide, it is now mostly used by pedestrians and two-wheelers because the structure can no longer support heavy vehicles.
Yet this limitation only adds to its charm. There is a sense of intimacy in crossing, a rhythm created by each step and each pedal stroke that connects one to the generations that came before.
The bridge has witnessed countless lives, from children on bicycles to villagers transporting their harvest, and in every creak of the wooden planks one can feel the heartbeat of Sekadau’s history.
Sekadau as a Hidden Gem for Nature and Sunset Lovers
Sekadau, a town often overlooked by mainstream tourism, is a treasure trove of natural beauty and cultural heritage.
The Sekadau River flows relentlessly from the surrounding highlands, carrying stories, sediments, and life itself into the lower reaches of the regency.
From Penanjung Bridge, the river appears like liquid gold at sunset, reflecting the sky’s amber and crimson hues. It is a scene that feels both cinematic and meditative, perfect for travelers seeking tranquility and inspiration.
Around Penanjung Island, close to the bridge, visitors can find cozy cafés, local restaurants, and small inns, providing spaces to rest and savor the river’s serene ambience. A short walk from the bridge allows one to sit on the riverbank, listening to the water’s murmurs as it slips past stones and rocks, while swallows return to their nests, their high-pitched calls echoing along the riverbank.
The combination of natural rhythm, soft sunlight, and gentle movement of water creates an experience that is both grounding and uplifting.
Sekadau’s charm lies not only in its landscapes but also in how those landscapes interact with the human spirit. Beauty here is not merely visual; it is emotional, a dialogue between the heart of the traveler and the essence of the place.
The allure of Penanjung Bridge, particularly at dusk, demonstrates this perfectly. The bridge becomes more than infrastructure. It becomes a stage where nature, history, and human presence converge.
For travelers in search of authentic experiences, Sekadau offers a wealth of moments that are simultaneously serene, vibrant, and deeply human.
Legends, Mystery, and Cultural Charm
No story of Penanjung Bridge would be complete without acknowledging the legends that shroud its creation. Local elders tell of “Keruit,” a ritual involving human and buffalo sacrifices believed necessary for the bridge’s successful construction.
While these tales may strain modern credulity, they add a layer of mystique to the bridge, transforming it from a mere crossing into a cultural artifact imbued with local belief and tradition.
Elders recount that if the sacrifices were not made, the bridge would never hold. Children and women feared venturing near the construction site, and the legend imbued daily life with a tension that has now become mythic in retrospect.
Musa Narang, a local resident, remembers cycling across the bridge with his father as a boy. The hair on his arms would stand. They would pedal faster, heart racing, as though the spirits of the bridge watched their every move. Such recollections may be rooted in superstition, yet they reveal the profound connection between people and place.
Beyond these tales, Penanjung Bridge serves as a portal to Sekadau’s cultural and natural treasures. It is an entry point for exploring riverside villages, tasting local cuisine, and observing daily life in a town that remains authentic despite the creeping influence of modernity. It is here that Sekadau’s essence is most palpable, the blending of history, myth, and daily existence into a harmonious narrative that both educates and enchants.
Visiting Gertak Penanjung is an invitation to step into a story, where every sunset, every creak of the planks, and every bird call carries the weight of memory and imagination.
The bridge embodies the soul of Sekadau, a destination where history, nature, and culture are inseparable, offering a travel experience that lingers long after one has crossed its span.
In Sekadau, Penanjung Bridge is more than a structure. It is a living monument, a reminder of human endeavor, and a canvas for dreams, myths, and natural beauty.
For travelers seeking destinations that are contemplative and vibrant, Sekadau and its beloved Gertak Penanjung stand ready to enchant, challenge, and inspire.
