Riau, Indonesia · Asia
Pangkalan Kerinci sits on the route: 40 minutes from Pangkalan Bunut.
Pangkalan Kerinci is a town located in Riau, Indonesia. With a population of 0, it is an important destination in Asia.
On a road trip, Pangkalan Kerinci sits in Indonesia, where you drive on the left. It's in the Asia/Jakarta time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Pangkalan Kerinci to your route.
Pangkalan Kerinci (Jawi: ڤڠكالن كرينچي ) is a town and district in Pelalawan Regency, of Riau province of Indonesia. The town is the administrative capital of Pelalawan Regency., Pangkalan Kerinci is a district that also serves as the administrative and economic center of Pelalawan Regency, Riau Province, Indonesia.Read more
The district has strong development potential because it is located along the Trans-Sumatra Highway.Historically, the name of this district is closely connected to migrants from Kerinci Regency, Jambi Province. The people of the Kerinci ethnic group were the first to clear and settle this area more than a century ago, transforming what was once dense forest into a thriving settlement that has since grown into a modern region.
Kerinci migration route, Pelalawan became the main migration corridor for the Kerinci people heading to the Malay Peninsula. Since the 17th century, Kerinci migrants—once part of central Sumatra under the same province as Riau—moved in large numbers to Malaysia via Pelalawan and Pekanbaru. Many became prominent figures in Malacca, particularly in the Sultanates of Johor and Selangor. Their migration path naturally passed through Riau, including the Kingdoms of Siak and Pelalawan.
Colonial transition and settlement land,Following the 1824 London Treaty (the Bengkulu–Malacca exchange between the Dutch and the British), some Kerinci migrants were stranded in Riau. The Sultan of Pelalawan granted them temporary land about 30 km west of the Sayap Palace. This site later developed into Pangkalan Kerinci.
Diaspora to Malaysia and abandoned plantations, Before the Kerinci–West Sumatra–Riau–Malaysia route was secure, the migrants opened land and settled temporarily on plots granted by the Sultan of Pelalawan. Once the route became safe, they continued their journey to Malacca, Selangor, and Johor, leaving behind the plantations they had cultivated in Pangkalan Kerinci. The area remained vacant for years until later resettled and rapidly developed, especially after the establishment of a major paper mill in Pelalawan, which became the driving force of the local economy.
Kerinci cultural influence,Traditional houses in Riau show strong influence from the Kerinci “rumah gedang” style. Features such as tiered straight roofs and elongated communal spaces for clan deliberations inspired the design of Riau’s vernacular architecture.
Historical evidence, Traces of Kerinci migration through Riau can be found in relics and in the Kerinci Museum in Malaysia. The Kerinci people also maintained close ties with the last Sultan of Pelalawan before Indonesia’s independence.
In summary: Migrants from Kerinci Regency (Jambi) were the original settlers of Pangkalan Kerinci (Pelalawan, Riau), using it as a safe migration corridor supported by land grants from the Sultan of Pelalawan. Malaysia became the ultimate destination of the Kerinci diaspora. Pangkalan Kerinci itself only regained momentum after the paper mill was established, while Kerinci cultural influence continues to live on in Riau’s traditional houses. In more recent history, during the early 1990s, Pangkalan Kerinci began to be re-inhabited by a new generation due to the expansion of large companies, marking the start of modern development in the region.
In 1993, Pangkalan Kerinci was a small village in the Sumatran rain forest. During that year, four thousand workers commissioned by Sukanto Tanoto constructed a river port and a large logging mill there. At this time, the Pangkalan Kerinci Township was home to 200 households; the district population would grow to 114,697 individuals by mid 2025 as APRIL Group's business expanded and diversified, transforming Kerinci into a social and commercial regional hub.
Commercial pulp production commenced in 1995, followed by commercial paper production in 1998. From the beginning, the region's growth would mirror the growth of APRIL Group's operations in Indonesia, with the Pelalawan Regency established in 1999, followed by the establishment of the Pelalawan Kerinci District within the Pelalawan Regency in 2001. Kerinci's continued growth would see its urban area divided into three kelurahan (urban villages) in 2005; the district (which all shares the postcode 28381) also includes four rural desa, listed first in the table below, of which Mekar Jaya and Makmur are situated to the north of the urban area and Kuala Terusan and Rantau Baru situated to its south.
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Pangkalan Kerinci.
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Pangkalan Kerinci.
Pangkalan Kerinci offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
Plan your road trip to Pangkalan Kerinci with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Pangkalan Kerinci as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.
Pangkalan Kerinci is located in Riau, Indonesia, Asia. The coordinates are 0.3961 latitude, 101.8572 longitude.
Pangkalan Kerinci has a population of approximately 0 people, making it a town in Indonesia.
Add to your itinerary
Start planning your road trip with Pangkalan Kerinci as a destination. Create a custom route and discover more amazing places along the way.
Start Road TripDiscover destinations like Tinder
Swipe through stunning destinations near Pangkalan Kerinci. Save your favourites and add them to your trip.
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
Other places to explore near Pangkalan Kerinci.
Create your perfect itinerary with our calendar-based planner. Add stops, discover attractions along the way, and share your trip with friends.
Start Planning