Tenggarong (), historically known as either Tepian Pandan or Tangga Arung, is a riverside administrative district (kecamatan) and the centre of Kutai Kartanegara Regency in the Indonesian province of East Kalimantan. The district is located on the west bank of the Mahakam River and covers an area of 358.34 km2.following the administrative split when the east bank villages were split off to be formed into the new Tenggarong Seberang District in 1996. It is the most populous district in Kutai Kartanegara, with a population of 106,480 in the 2020 census, and an estimated 117,308 in 2025.
History The former Kutai Kartanegara Sultanate's capital was likewise located in Tenggarong. Historically, the then capital was called Tepian Pandan. At some point, the Kutai Kartanegara Sultan, Aji Muhammad Muslihuddin, changed the name from Tepian Pandan to Tangga Arung (literally the house of the king). In application, the people of Kutai would then shorten this name by combining the two words Tangga Arung to Tenggarong. It was alternatively spelt as Tengaron, especially in older publications.
Tenggarong became the capital of the Special Region of Kutai (and then Kutai Regency) in late 1956. Previously, Samarinda held this status from 1950 until 1956, three years before it became an autonomous city. In November 1964, following the release of a local decree, the western part of the district (which consisted of only one village, Sebulu) was separated from Tenggarong, together with parts of Muara Kaman, to form the new District of Sebulu (which was later inaugurated on 12 May 1965). On 11 June 1996, the eastern part of the remaining district, separated by the Mahakam river, was similarly separated from Tenggarong to form the new District of Tenggarong Seberang.
Administration Villages Tenggarong is divided into the following fourteen villages (twelve urban and two rural , the latter marked with a grey background): Regional code() Name Area (km2) Pop'n (2023) RT() 64.02.06.1001 Jahab 161.57 4,851 22 64.02.06.1002 Loa Ipuh 67.38 26,048 77 64.02.06.1003 Bukit Biru 13.45 5,087 24 64.02.06.1004 Timbau 10.00 18,155 36 64.02.06.1005 Melayu 9.00 15,606 47 64.02.06.1006 Panji 13.70 6,061 19 64.02.06.1007 Sukarame 4.00 4,074 13 64.02.06.1008 Kampung Baru 7.00 6,290 18 64.02.06.1009 Loa Tebu 52.00 4,959 21 64.02.06.1010 Mangkurawang 20.00 9,127 20 64.02.06.1011 Maluhu 4.72 6,401 24 64.02.06.2012 Rapak Lambur 12.00 2,072 15 64.02.06.1013 Loa Ipuh Darat 20.00 3,946 14 64.02.06.2014 Bendang Raya 25.82 1,362 14 Totals 358.34 114,039 364
Demographics Tenggarong had a population of 96,209 at the 2010 Census and 106,480 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2025 was 117,308. Its administrative headquarters is located at the urban village (kelurahan) of Timbau.
Climate Tenggarong has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with heavy rainfall year-round.
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