Serving as the capital of West Nusa Tenggara, Mataram is a bustling city that sprawls between the foothills of Mount Rinjani and the beaches of the Bali Sea. It’s an economic and cultural hub for the province, with shopping malls, cultural museums and historic parks just waiting to be explored.
Things to do in Mataram
Traditional crafts and natural history objects from across Lombok and Sumbawa are exhibited at the State Museum of West Nusa Tenggara, which is located in the west of Mataram. Get up close to handcrafted baskets and masks, admire the wedding costumes of the Sasak and Samawa people, and see traditional weapons from the Bima Sultanate. Also on display are objects related to local mystic beliefs and coins dating from the colonial Portuguese and Dutch periods.
Stretch your legs on a stroll through Mayura Park, which was built as a royal residence in 1866 by Anak Agung Gde Ngurah Karangasem. It centres around a peaceful pond watched over by the Bale Kambang, a historic building that combines both Hindu and Islamic influences. The adjacent courtyard features a bronze cannon and several statues of Banjar leaders wearing traditional clothing.
On the coastal edge of Mataram is Pantai Tanjung Karang where you can refresh with a swim in the warm waters of the Bali Sea. Watch the fishing boats coming and going or let the kids run loose in the children’s playground. Further south is the Konservasi Penyu Pantai Mapak Indah, which provides a breeding ground for hawkbill turtles.
Getting around Mataram
Zainuddin Abdul Madjid Lombok International Airport is a 35-minute drive from the centre of Mataram and has flights to destinations across Asia. Buses travel throughout Mataram and connect most of its attractions and taxis are readily available for getting around the city.