Mataram is the capital of the province, which has in the past decades joined with old town Alpena, and cakranegara to become the province's biggest urban complex. At the beginning of the 18th century, Mataram was the residence of the crown princes of Karin Same, a kingdom in southern Bali. The ruler had his seat in Cakranegara. The royal palace no longer exists, but many of the old temple and pleasure gardens are still there.
Regular shuttle flights from Bali, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Jakarta and other destination as well as ferries, provide excellent transportation links between the island of the province as well as the rest of the country. Selaparang Airport has already become an international terminal, which only helps to make the region more accessible and therefore attractive as an option for tourist. Selaparang Airport has afford direct flight from Singapore as often as seven times a week with silk Airlines and once a week by the Australian National Jet System, although in 1998 the Australian flight had to stop altogether. For sea travel to the area, there are three main harbours in West Nusa Tenggara; Lembar Harbour in Lombok, badas Harbour in Sumbawa Besar and Bima Harbour in Bima eastern of Subway Island
Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan are clustered together just of the northwest coast of Lombok. Coral gardens abound in clear waters around the islands. Gili Air, the nearest island, can be reached in 30 minutes by outrigger boat from bangsal Quay or 45 minutes from Senggigi beach resort.
