Mulia, Puncak Jaya

Mulia, also known as Kota Mulia, is a district that serves as the capital of Puncak Jaya Regency in Central Papua, Indonesia. Mulia is the coldest regency capital in Indonesia, located at an elevation of 2,448 meters above sea level. Mulia is the only inhabited area at such a high altitude that is surrounded by the Jaya Wijaya or Puncak Jaya mountains.^[3]

Mulia
District
Mulia in 2007
Mulia Location in Central Papua Show map of Central Papua Mulia Location in Indonesian Papua Show map of Western New Guinea Mulia Location in Indonesia Show map of Indonesia
Coordinates: 3.716201°S 137.984739°E / -3.716201; 137.984739
Country	Indonesia
Province	Central Papua
Regency	Puncak Jaya Regency
Government
• District head (Camat)	Tekiles Wonda[1]
Area [2]
• Total	268.00 km2 (103.48 sq mi)
Population  (2021)	35,884

Geography

Mulia is an inhabited area in Indonesia situated at a high altitude, surrounded by the Jaya Wijaya or Puncak Jaya mountains. Puncak Jaya is Indonesia's highest peak, reaching an altitude of 4,884 meters above sea level. The daytime temperature in Mulia can reach 15 degrees Celsius, while at night, it can drop to 9 degrees Celsius.^[3]

Housing

Rainfall in Mulia occurs almost throughout the year. Most residents in Mulia live in honai, a warm traditional Papuan house without windows that prevent cold air from easily entering the home, especially at night. Meanwhile, cement-walled buildings are typically used for office buildings such as village offices, community health centers, schools, and other social services.^[3]

Demography

Population

In 2021, the population of Mulia District was 35,884, with a density of 1,435 people per square kilometer.^[4] The indigenous tribes in Puncak Jaya are the Lani, Damal, Dawa, Wano, Nduga, and Turu. Additionally, there are also several migrants from other regions in Indonesia.^[5]

Religion

According to data from the Ministry of Home Affairs the Civil Registration (DUKCAPIL), in 2021, most of the population in Mulia District were Christians. The religious composition of Mulia District is as follows: 95.19% Christian, with 93.09% being Protestant and 2.10% Catholic. A smaller portion of the population follows Islam (4.79%), while Hinduism and Buddhism each account for 0.01%.^[4]

Transportation

In Mulia, there is a small airport called Mulia Airport, which accommodates small-sized aircraft. These aircraft provide pioneer flights to Jayapura with a travel time of approximately one hour.^[3]