North Sumatera

North Sumatera’s Province

The Capital of North Sumatera’s Province is “Medan”

Medan is the North Sumatera’s capital city the western gateway to Indonesia and Indonesia’s third air gateway after Jakarta and Denpasar in Bali. Width, 71.680 Kilometers²  (3,69 width of Indonesia). North Sumatera lies at latitude l°N - 4°N, longitude 98°E - 100°E, and borders on the special region of Aceh on the north, the province of West Sumatera and Riau on the south, the Malacca straits on the east, and the Indian Ocean on the west. The total land area of North Sumatera covers an area of 71,680 sq km, with 10,256,027 inhabitants. Medan, is North Sumatera’s provincial capital and commercial center. It is a bustling city that has somehow managed to retain some of it’s old elegance despite overcrowding in many quarters. Old, stately building remind of the city’s history as a booming planter’s town.Among the places to see in Medan are the Maimun Palace built by Sultan Makmun Alrasyid Perkasa Alam of the Deli sultanate in 1889. Nearby is the Grand Mosque, built in Moorish style and reputedly still the most beautiful in the province. Medan’s North Sumatera Provincial Museum is said to have the most comprehensive collection of items of cultural and historical interest regarding the province.

The province of North Sumatera is comprised of 11 regencies, 7 municipalities, and 3 administrative cities. The capital is Medan. It is the western gate of the Indonesian archipelago. It faces the Malaysian Peninsula, and is separated by the Malacca straits. Medan has developed a lot in the last several years. It also has a lot of historical remains which show how the traditional life styles were maintained by previous generations. The province of North Sumatera is rich in flora and fauna. The main exports are rubber, tea, palm oil, cocoa, coffee, and tobacco. The fame of Deli tobacco makes North Sumatera well-known in the world. Deli tobacco has been available ever since the Dutch colonial era. It is still exported to Europe and other countries. Some other crops which are also grown are tobacco, rubber, tea, coffee, cocoa, and coconut. North Sumatera is also famous for its many different kinds of delicious fruits; i.e., salak, rambutan, mangoes, mangosteens, langsat, durian, markisah, oranges, and watermelons.

North Sumatera is an exciting place to visit, especially, for those who really enjoy staying in villages. North Sumatera is predominantly covered by large forests, hilly areas, volcanoes, and some coastal areas with beautiful white sand. There are many tribes, different cultures, and languages, and as a result, there are many different kinds of interesting arts and crafts that can be found throughout the area.

Tourists can get to North Sumatera from various places. The best choices are to take a ferry from Penang to harbor of Belawan or to arrive by plane, getting off at Polonia airport in Medan. The transportation systems are quite good in both the cities and rural areas. It is suggested that tourists who would like to go to North Sumatera take transportation from Aceh, all the way to Jakarta going through Riau or West Sumatera. Moreover, the highways have recently been recently been repaired and you can board luxury buses which are air conditioned so you can enjoy your trip.

Dating back

A short story connected between North Sumatera and tobacco happened around the middle of the last century. A Dutch tobacco planter, J. Nienhuys came to this fertile land near the mouth of the Deli River to test it’s suitability for the planning on a large scale of tobacco. The results exceeded all expectations and in 1869, this country’s first plantation company was born in what is now the province of  North Sumatera. “Deli tobacco” now the province of North Sumatera. Smooth and perfect “Deli tobacco”, was by the time of the outbreak of World War II famous the world over as a wrapper for cigars.

Other estates followed, among them rubber and palm oil, tobacco, has made North Sumatera great. From a little hamlet on the Deli River, Medan was transformed in a few decades into a bustling city with metropolitan airs. Before the outbreak of World War II Medan was known as “the most European city in the Indies”.

Medan is North Sumatera’s capital city the western gateway to commodity exports. Imposing old buildings grace many of the city’s tree lined avenue. Today, tobacco has lost much of the importance it had before as an export commodity. Other estates like rubber and cocoa and especially palm oil have come to take  it’s place. North Sumatera today is still a land of wide plantations, extending for as far as the eye could see. Industry is becoming increasingly important. The following figures reflect the province’s relative prosperity. Population mainly consist of three groups, the coastal Moslem Malays in the Northeast, Batak people and the Nias people on the island of Nias on the rim of the Indian Ocean.

The Bataks are among the oldest inhabitants of the island. Old legends mention the existence in the past of a great Batak Kingdom called Aru, with borders extending from Aceh in the north to the Johor settlements along the river Rokan in the Batak people withdrew into the mountainous North Sumateran hinterland, which is today still the hearth land of the Batak civilization.

Retaining many of their ancient port Malay customs and traditions, the Bataks are distinguished into five main groups, Karo, Toba, Simalungun, Mandailing and Angkola Bataks. Part of North Sumatera’s population are also a great number of Chinese, Javanese, Indians and other groups, many of whose fathers and grandfathers came as immigrants to work on the plantations.

Along the northeastern coast facing the Strait of Malacca, the land is low and flat and crossed by rivers depositing fertile silt along their banks. In many places the marshlands intrude deep into the land. The rest of the province is mountainous highland with only a narrow strip of coast in the southwest, facing the Indian Ocean. We could also visit so many places of interests in North Sumatera.

The Ethnocentricities are

Batak Toba, Mandailing, Malay, Nias, Simalungun, etc. The Folk Songs are :  Anjun Ahu, Sengko-Sengko, Butet, Dago Inang Sarge, Lisoi, Sing-Sing So, etc.

Tradisional House

The traditional Batak house, in gave the "Jabu Persakitan" name. This Traditional Batak Toba house of the regional community was used the place of the storage of heirlooms and the place of the meeting to discuss matters that were connected with the implementation of the tradition. Runah the "Jabu Bolon" tradition, was the house for the meeting of the extended family. This model had the shape of the stage and the upper room for the residence. The bed was higher than the kitchen.

Traditional Costume

Ulos clothes, traditional woven cloth from Batak (North of Sumatera), is believed contained a magic power and considered as amulet that can give a protection for a user.

Recently ulos is put on in the daily living but there are special ulos that put on in the special occasion only i.e: Ulos Jugia, Sadum, Ragi, Hotang, Ragidup, and Runjat.Batak Tobanese put on the ulos as a headdress combined with white shirt and sarong, meanwhile the women hanging the ulos on the shoulder combined with gold terrace necklace.

The Traditional Dances

Tor – Tor Dance, Tunggal Panaluan Dance, Serampang Dua Belas Dance, The Umbrella Dance, Morah-Morah Dance, Sigale-Sigale Dance, Kuku Endek-Endek Dance, etc.A dance from the Batak area with the background of philosophy peradatan and in dance-would in the special atmosphere.

The Instruments are

Kendang Melayu, this instrument was gotten in the Deli area, to accompany the Melayu Band. Marwas or Gedumba, this musical instrument was often gotten in the East Sumatera area and Malaysia. Faritia, this musical instrument a kind of Aramba small from the Nias Island. Hapetan, this musical instrument was similar kecapi from Tapanuli. Doli Doli, the musical instrument that have the shape of bilah-bilah wood that was hung from Tapanuli. Gondrang, the similar musical instrument kendang from the Simalungun area. Druri Dana, this musical instrument take the form of take the form of bamboo that was severed like the fork penaka from the Nias Island. Aramba, this musical instrument have the shape of bende from the Nias Island.

Serampang Duabelas Dance

A dance withered with the rhythm “joget” dance. Accompanied music with the drum blow in the style of Latin America. Harpoon Duabelas was the social dance, both for the young and parents.

The District Identities are

Kenanga Flower  “Cananga Odorata”, flora, and Bei Nias “Gacula Religiosa Robusta”, fauna.

The Mountainous are

Mount Sibayak (2.172 meters) in Karo Regency. Mount Kulau (2.171 meters) in South Tapanuli. Mount Lelematsua (886 meters) in Nias Island. Mount Lubuk Raya (1.886 meters) in South Tapanuli. Mount Pinapan (2.037 meters) in North Tapanuli. Mount Sibuatan (2.457 meters) in Karo Regncy. Mount Sihabu-Habu (2.300 meters) in North Tapanuli. Mount Sinabung (2.412 meters) in Karo Regency. Mount Sipoimcim (2.199 meters) in South Tapanuli. Mount Sorikmarapi (2.145 meters) in South Tapanuli. Mount Tampulonanjing (2.008 meters) in South Tapanuli.

The Rivers are

Aek Asam, Bah Angkola, Aek Berumun, Aek Basihan, Aek Batugarigis, Bah Bangko, Belawan, Belutu, Besitang, Bah Bolon, Buluh, Deli, Bah Gadis, Gambus, Hapai, Aek Haporah, Kuala, Bah Lumut, Nalipang, Bah Natal, Padang, Aek Panai, Aek Piosa, Sarangan, Aek Sarkam, Aek Sibundung, Aek Sidendeng, Silautua, Bah Silaya, Aek Simpangkanan, Aek Simpangkiri, Bah Singkurang, Aek Sirumambe, Aek Soma, Bah Toru, The Snake River, The Wampu River, The Bilah River, and The Meribau River.

The Promontories are

Alanomakinu Promontory, in Nias Island. Bengsi Promontory, in Labuhan Batu Regency. Hatik Promontory, in Nias Island. Sairo Promontory, in Tanah Masa, Nias Island.

The Wildlife Reserve are

Sikundur (79.100 Hectares), populations of : The Elephants, Orang Hutans, tigers, Deers, The Pigs, etc. South Langkat (82.985 Hectares), populations of : The Elephants, Orang Hutans, Pigs, Tigers, Deers, Monkeys, etc. West Langkat (51.900 Hectares), populations of : The Elephants, Orang Hutans, Monkeys, Birds, etc. Lau Debuk-Debuk (7 hectares), Sibolangit (115 Hectares), Dolok Tinggi (167 Hectares), Batu Gajah (1 Hectare), Dolok Laut (39 Hectares), populations of : Tapirus Indicus. Batu Gimbrit (0,50 Hectare), and Liang Balik (0,50 Hectare).

The legacy of the History

Biaro Bahal, was found in Padang Sedempuan, Istana Deli or Isatana Maimun, Candi Porbiti, this temple the Hindu Panai Kingdom legacy that governed around the year 1039 Masehi, Benteng / Castle, that was built in the Majapahit royal period in the year 1365 Masehi in the Javanese city, Medan. The Baturaja grave the king Batak.

The Gulfs are

Gulf Aru, Gulf Tapanuli, in the middle of Tapanuli Regency. Gulf Mengkudu, in Langkat Regency.

The Straits are : Selat Siberut.

The Flora : Beringin, Bambu, Markisa, Rambutan, Durian, Manggis, Mangga, etc.

Dan Fauna : Deer, Monkey, Pig, Crocodile, Kancil, Tiger, etc.

The Ethnocentricities are: Kubu, Melayu, Kerinci, Bajau, Batin, Penghulu.

The Museums are

The Perjuangan Museum for the Barisan Hill, Museum Negeri North Sumatera was located in Medan with this museum collection consisted of the legacy of prehistory, Numismatic, of Foreign Ceramic, Fine Arts Breaker Arkeologi, Geologi, ethnography, et cetera.

Tebing Tinggi, Pematang Siantar

Tebing Tinggi, Pematang Siantar, 128 kilometers southeast of Medan on the road to Lake Toba, is North Sumatera’s second largest city. The road from Medan cuts to wide rubber, palm oil, tea and cocoa plantations. From Pematang Siantar to Parapat on Lake Toba, the journey leads through scenic mountain landscapes with rice fields and forest stand flanking the road. The city has a museum on Simalungun Batak art and history, and historical relies like a 200 year olds Simalungun house are found in the vicinity.

The Karo Highland

As you drive south from Medan into the Karo highland, the Great Bukit Barisan Forest Park greets you with its distinctive Karonese gazebo decorated with ret-ret, a two-headed, lizard-like animal that is carved on the walls of traditional Karonese family houses. Along the windy, mountainous road to the Karo highland, as you pass the Sibolangit National Garden, chants of monkeys and possibly orangutans will accompany you, mysteriously appearing and disappearing from the thick jungle.

Tao Island

Tao Island. This is a small uninhabited island on Lake Toba with bungalows and a restaurant for visitors. The peaceful surroundings and the serenity of the Lake Toba side here make this island an ideal refuge for those who seek rest and privacy.

Balige

Balige, the last great Batak King, Sisingamangaraja XII, lies buried in a grave yard in this town 65 kilometers from Parapat. The ruler died in 1907 after leading his people in along fight against the Dutch. Balige is also known for it’s traditional Batak textiles. Not far from Balige is the village of Laguboti, which is known for it’s woodcarvings and statues.

Sipiso-piso Waterfall and Tongging

Further south from Berastagi and Kabanjahe, the Karonese portion of Lake Toba is marked with a thin yet tall waterfall, and we called it Sipiso-Piso Waterfall.

Brastagi

The town of Berastagi, located at the foot of Mount Sibayak, will greet you with its lovely flowers. The smell of fresh vegetables and the colorful and aromatic arrangements of fruit will etch their place in your memory. Try markisah (Passion Fruit). In Brastagi we could visit the ancient King’s Palace of Simalungun at Pematang Purba. Brastagi, 66 kilometers from Medan in the Karo Highlands, is a cool mountain resort known for it’s fruit’s and flowers. Also see the slender Sipisopiso Waterfall drops into Lake Toba from hundred meters high. Brastagi has fruit market and Brastagi’s markisa passion fruit is known far beyond North Sumatera’s borders, also the traditional Batak Karo Village Peceran. In Bukit Lawang has orangutan rehabilitation, they are trained to return to their natural habitat.

To visit Gunung Sitoli we could by small aircraft. Than Teluk Dalam is 120 km away from Gunung Sitoli. To Bawoluo for the magnificent view along the beach while waiting for the sunset.

Sibolangit

Sibolangit started as a branch of the world famous Bogor Botanical Gardens. It is now a botanical reserve for the study of a wide variety of tropical plant species. The park has a camping ground and restaurant.

Linga

Linga, in this Karo Batak village 82 kilometers from Medan and 12 kilometers from Brastagi, ancient houses are still occupied by families. Like most traditional Batal houses, they contain large spaces for cooking, and a separate partitioned area for married couples.

Pematang Purba

Pematang Purba, a site worth seeing in this Simalungun Batak village, 180 kilometers from Medan is the more than 200 years old compound of houses of the tribal chief. Made of teak boards and standing on poles, the main building decorated with carved ornaments, painted in the traditional Batak colors of white, red and black. This is where the chief lived with his wives, guarded by soldiers.

Botohilitano Village

Botohilitano Village which is 2 km away to see some traditional houses of South of Nias island. So many people in Sorake Beach surfing and the way of picking coconut from the tree. In Bawomataluwo traditional village with as much as 375 unit traditional houses, we could see the performance of stone jumping, visit to the conservation of the Leuser Ecosystem and Sumatera’s First Conservation Lodge at Gurah Bungalows. Around the riverside of the lodge and a half day trek leads throe primary rainforest to the Gurah Hot Spring. Here wildlife viewing includes primates such as leaf monkey, macaque, gibbons, siamang, abundant bird life and orangutan.

Sikundur Park

Sikundur Park. We could visit Sikundur Park as a recreation forest on the eastern rim of the famed Mount Leuser National Park in the Langkat Regency, near the Acehnese border. The Park is home to a variety of wildlife species, including Elephants, Deer and Siamang primates, all of which are protected by law.

Sorake Beach

Sorake Beach is located in the Botohilitano Village , Subdistrict of Teluk Dalam, South Nias Regency, Nias Island. Nias Island is located on the west Island of Sumatera. South Nias Regency is one of the Regencies of North Sumatera Province. The provincial capital of North Sumatera is Medan, Sumatera Island.South Nias Regency is one of the Regencies of North Sumatera Province who are not located on the Island of Sumatera, but on the Island of Nias.Sorake Beach famous for surfing sports. Sorake Beach referred to as the second best surfing beach after Hawaii in the United States.Every year, many foreign tourists come to Sorake Beach for surfing sports.In Sorake Beach, foreign tourists can sunbathe on the beach, walking along a white sandy beach, swimming, relaxing.

Bohorok

Bohorok, two hours driving distance from Medan and near the Acehnese border. Bohorok is a part of the Langkat Nature reserve known for it’s Orang Utan rehabilitation center. Established in 1973, the center aims at teaching the primates to return to the forest after being freed from captivity.

Pintu Alas

And we could drive about 3 hours to Pintu Alas from Alas River Safari at Muara Situlen. The wildlife sighting is very best between 2.30 – 5.30 pm during the rating to Serakut Camp. We could see the Elephants at the camp, but do not disturb them and do not use flash photography. 200 meters upstream along the Penakesan river are two lovely waterfalls.

Sibolga

Sibolga, a small Harbor town 180 km from Parapat. Sibolga is the district capital of Tapanuli and North Sumatera’s most important port on the Indian Ocean. Sheltered by a bay, the waters of the Sibolga coast are good for swimming, diving and other water sports. There are a number of islands with good beaches just of the bay. Sibolga is the port of departure for motor boats to Nias Island, which is a 17 to 20 hours journey. We visit to the Lumban Garaga village, the small town Balige with unique market building, winding along the road from Tarutung to Sibolga.

The Tour Adventure’s Resorts are

Lake Toba, Maimun Palace, The Medan Grand Mosque, Bukit Barisan Museum, North Sumatera District Museum, The Zoo, The Crocodile Park, Cermin Beach, Samosir Island, Nias Island, Berastagi, Sibolangit, Sikundur National Tourism Park, Biaro Bahal, Parapat on Lake Toba, Sorake Beach, The Berbak National Park, The Treasure Trove of Plants and Animals, etc.

Accommodation

Accommodation. Hotel for tourists are concentrated in the provincial capital of Medan and in the Lake resort town of Parapat. Leading the list in Medan are four star hotels provide convention facilities, health center, restaurants and night clubs. All three and two hotels in Medan have air conditioning but those in the highlands do not need them. All have attached bathrooms, restaurants, phones in the rooms and some have TV sets.

Transportation

Transportation. The provincial capital, Medan, is Sumatera’s biggest city and commercial center and is linked by good means of transportation and telecommunications with most major points in Indonesia. It has regular air services to and from Jakarta, Palembang, Banda Aceh and Pekan Baru. Inter-island bus routes from Banda Aceh and Padang to Jakarta and further east lead through Medan. The sea routes between Medan’s port of Belawan and Ujung Pandang, Jakarta and Surabaya.

The Harbors are

Pelabuhan Belawan, is located in Muara Belawan, North Sumatera Eastcoast. Pelabuhan Gunung Sitoli, is located in Eastcoast Nias Island. Pelabuhan Pangkalan Susu, is located Gulf Aru, North Sumatera Eastcoast. Pelabuhan Sibolga, is located in Gulf of Tapanuli-North Sumatera Westcoast. And Pelabuhan Tanjung Balai Asahan, is located in Asahan River.

The Airports are

Polonia Airport, is located in Medan. Gunung Sitoli Airport, is located in Gunung Sitoli. Aek Gondang Airport, is located in Aek Kondang. Pabatu Airport, is located in Pabatu. Pinang Sore Airport, is located in Sibolga. Roket / Sipora Airport, are located in Roket and Sepora. Siberut Airport, is located in Siberut. Tanjung Balai Karimun Airport, is located in Tanjung Balai Karimun.