Sumatera Island
Sumatera is the third biggest island in the Indonesia archipelago. The massive Bukit Barisan mountai range which runs almost the entire lenght of the island make up Sumatera’s diverse lanscape of dense tropical forest, rugged coastlines, wide sandy beaches, deep gorges and steamy swamps. Large of them are protected reserves, such as the Great Bukit Barisan Forest Reserve in North Sumatera.
Sumatera Provinces
NAD (Nanggroe Aceh Darusalam) is Sumatera’s and Indonesia’s nothernmost and westernmost province. Since the arrival of Islam in the 13th century, Aceh has become a predominantly moeslim region. The Saman Dance for examples, incorporates religious chants with the dynamic movements performed in unison. The fast-paced dance expresses the praise for the Almighty. The body movements require tremendous personal discipline and full concentration from all members of troupe.
In the capital of Banda Aceh, the most striking feature is the black-domed Grand Baiturrachman Mosque with its white marble interior. It is one of the few buildings that miraculously remained erect after a natural disaster struck part of the province at the end of 2004.
On December 26, 2004, Aceh was hit by the worst tsunami and earthquake the world has ever seen with Banda Aceh and areas along the northwestern coast of Sumatera being the worse hit. Since then, the people have picked up the pieces and slowly rebuild their lives, showing the resilience the Acehnese are famous for.
One of the region’s riches is its wild life, largely concentrated and protected in Mount Leuser National Park. The reserve is home to a variety of primates, such as gibbons and orangutans, the Sumatran rinocheros, tigers and elephants.
Whether sea or river, Aceh offers some of the most exciting water adventures. White water rafting down the rapids and bends of Krueng Tripa and the River Alas is an experience that will have you soaking wet and breathless.
Under the sea is an ideal environment for snorkeling and scuba diving (with 25m visibility), such as around Pulau Weh (Weh island) off the nothernmost tip of Sumatera, and Rubiah Sea Garden.
From Ancient Relies to Bright-colored Primates
The Bataks
The Bohorok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center at Bukit Lawang near Medan is also worth a visit when in North Sumatera, to see these orange-haired apes up close.
The Bataks inhabit the highland of North Sumatera. Apart from their musical abilities, the Bataks are famed for their ulos, a cloth with significant traditional value. Ancient Batak Stone burial urns, carved sarcophagi and traditional houses are still found on Samosir Island on Lake Toba, homeland of the Toba Batak. The 1,700Km2 lake is situated 906m above sea level. This lake is the largest in Southeast Asia and the deepest in the world (450m).
Valley of Beauty
The cool highlands of West Sumatera is one of the most picturesque regions in Sumatera. It offers spectacular view of volcanoes, fertile valleys and canyons, such as the Anai Valley, Sianok and Harau Canyons. The latter is a nature reserve famous for the rare giant, flowering plant, Rafflesia.
Jam Gadang, Sianok Canyon, Mentawai Island
West Sumatera is land of the Minangkabau people, known for their beautiful hand-woven songkets and richly decorated horn-roofed longhouses or called Rumah Gadang.
Bukittinggi is a cool highland town with stunning view of two volcanoes, Mount Merapi and Mount Singgalang. 63Km away, is Lake Maninjau, a huge and beautiful crater lake with complete recreational facilities.
About 10-hours drive from Padang – the province capital – we’ll reach the largest park in Sumatera, Kerinci Seblat National Park, includes its active volcano, Mount Kerinci (3805 m) and several high-altitude lakes. The park contains areas of lowland ranforest home to rhinoceros, tigers, clouded leopards, elephants and wide variety of bird species. East of the mountain, is a botanists’ heaven, a high-altitude freshwater marsh known as Lake Bentu.
On Mentawai Island, people live in comparative isolation and still hold on to centuries old animistic beliefs. Mentawai Island is a chain of islands off the western coast of Sumatera, surrounded by beautiful cotal reefs that are ideal for diving. Around Pieh Island, a 40m vertical wall rises from a sandy slope and is frequented by a rich variety of fish and other marine animals.
A Legacy of Great, Ancient Malay Kingdoms
Siak Sri Indrapura Palace
Approximately 2.5 hours from Pekanbaru, the 19th century Sultan’s palace still stands in the village of Siak Sri Indrapura, on the banks of Siak River. Teh Asserayah Palace’s architecture incorporates Moorish, European, Indian and traditional Malay designs. Muara Takus, about 200 KM from Pekanbaru, is the site of an ancient Buddhist temple believed to have been built between 7th-9th century AD.
Bintan Island in the Riau archipelago is making a name as an ideal tropical gateway with golf, scenic beaches and luxury resorts as its main attractions.
Majestic Rocks and Volcano
Rafflesia
Bangka-Belitung offers not only a uniquely breathtaking coastal scenery. Its is a gourmet’s paradise for seafoodlovers. In Belitung, giant granite rocks rise out of pristine blue waters just off the white sandy beaches.
Rich and fertile, oil refineries and vast rubber, oil palm and coffee plantations dot the region. In Bengkulu, the 17th century British stronghold, Fort Marlborough has been carefully restored. The giant rafflesia flower at Dendam Tak Sudah Botanical Gardens was named in honor of Sir Stamford Raffles, Bengkulu’s lieutenant governor from 1818 to 1823.
97 KM across Lampung Bay, South Sumatera, the volcano Krakatau lay dormant. The island volcano erupted in 1883 in an explosion that could be felt half way across the world.
