Palangkaraya is one of the most well constructed and best planned cities in Indonesia. Initially, it was intended to replace Jakarta as the capital of Indonesia. To support this idea, many iconic building were erected to reflect the staus of the city, including Bundaran Besar which is a junction of eight crossroads that symbolise the eight great islands of Indonesia, namely Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, and Papua. This makes
The city is famous for its local dish of Patin Bakar (Grilled River Fish), Nasi Kuning (Yellow Rice) and Sop Rotan (Rattan Soup). Some the city's popular delicacies, such as Soto Banjar and Ketupat Kandangan, originated in the neighbouring province of South Kalimantan. The city's two main traditional markets, Pasar Besar and Pasar Kahayan offer many types of goods. Palangka Raya Mall is a modern shopping centre located in the city centre at Bundaran Besar. There are also abundant mini markets, as well as supermarkets.