Destination Finder | North Sumatra --- Places of Interest

Medan was one the site of a battlefield between the Aceh people and the neighboring Deli Kingdom. Medan is the capital of North Sumatra Province, a trading center and important harbor. Once Medan was part of the Deli Sultanate. What is historically most interesting is the Mesjid Besar. (Grand Mosque) and the Palace of the Sultan of Deli which has been restored to restored its past grandeur.
Medan's harbor town is called Belawan, which is the sea link to Penang Malaysia. Medan, Indonesia's western international gateway maintains regular flight to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Amsterdam and Vienna. Additionally, there are several air connections between Medan and Jakarta, and other destinations in Sumatra.

The town of Parapat is the main tourist resort and lies on the very shore of the famous Lake Toba. This lake is about 50 miles long and 16 miles across, with a depth about 1 .400 feet.
In Parapat live Batak Toba and Batak Simalungun tribes, and are happy and easy going people. They are known for their lively and sentimental love songs.
Recreational sports in Parapat are among others swimming, Water skiing, motor boating, canoeing, fishing, and golf at Sally golf course (19 hotels) about 5 km from Parapat.
Parapat is 176 from Medan and can be reached in 4 hours by bus. The climate in Parapat is cool, and dry, making Parapat an ideal palace to relax. Many hotels, bungalows, villas, resthousee welcome visitors. Small shops selling souvenirs such as "Ulos" (local woven cloths) and specific fruits local grown.

Lake Toba

The island of Samosir is right in the middle of lake Toba, covering area of 239 square miles. This island is the original home of the fiercest but kind hearted Toba Bataks, It can be reached in half an hour by boat from Parapat. Visiting the village of Tomak, Tuk-tuk, Siallagan, Ambarita are recommended for traditional Batak Toba houses, and local dances. This island has many hotels, bungalows and rest houses.

Berastagi, a tourist town is another lovely town located in the Karo highlands. The town is know for its plantations and various kinds of flower, vegetables and fruit, most famous of which is the "Marqisa" passion fruit.
It's 66 km southwest of Medan and is 4.594 feet above sea level. There is a pleasant colonial-style hotel with a golf course. Other new hotel can also be found from Gundalling Hill a clear view of Mt.Sibayak and Mt.Sinabung volcanoes can be seen.

Jangga is a village of native Bataks, located in the hills, on the main road to the other Batak communities living separately there , like Lumban Nabolon village, Tonga-tonga Sirait Uruk village, Jnaji Matogu village, sihubuk hubak village, Siregar village, Sigiaol village, Silalahi Toruan Muara village and Tamak Sihatang village.
There are monuments of King Tambun and King Monurung, traditional houses, cultural and other historical remains left by Batak Kings centuries ago. This natively unchanged Batak Village has complete ornamentation, and is often visited by domestic and foreign visitors. Inn this place, visitors can watch young girl or old ladies weaving the beautiful ulos cloth inside the booths their principle livelihood beside agriculture.

Tongging is place to see waterfall surrounded by beautiful sights in cool mountain air. It is 24 km from Kabanjahe, located at the north side of Lake Toba. The 360 feet waterfall is visible from a gazebo at one of the tops of hills.

This places is for the adventurous, accessible through Sumatra's inland wilderness, crossing rivers and going over sleep hills. Area lies south of the Mount Leuser National Park, a rehabilitation center for orang utans in Bohorok, which was inaugurated in 1973, Orang utans living here are of Sumatra and Kalimantan origin.

Pematang Siantar is the second largest city, lying 128 km to the South Medan. On the way, you will pass through many rubber, cocoa, palm oil, tobacco and tea plantations. This is the richest part of North Sumatra, because these plantation produce the main export commodities.
Then onward to Lake Toba you will see a vast stretch of land covered with thick forest, plantations. terrace ricefields, lush vegetarian, blue and green hills mountains.

Located at Tongkoh village, in the district of the Karo highlands, approximately 59 km from Medan. Formerly Tahura Bukit Barisan since 1916, known for its location called "Arboretum Tongkoh Berastagi", however since 1989 renovated and renamed Great Bukit Barisan Forest Park.
Found there is the zoological museum and a gazebo with Koro ornaments designed on the roof, Painted with various writing of typical welcome greeting in Tapanuli, which is "Haras".

It lies in the southern part of North Sumatra, bordering the provinces of West Sumatra, bordering the provinces of West Sumatra and Riau. This region has a population of approximately 900.000. It lies on the way to west to west Sumatra overland. The sceneries are attractive all the way. Same of the tourist objects are Candi Portibi, Dolak Simago-mago, Pakantan, Husar Tolang, Sibanggar, Adian Lungun Nihara.
There are also hot springs and a good hotel available at Tar Sibohi.
This district is known for its ceramics and handicraft. The Portibi temple is at Padang Bolak, 78 km from Padang Sidempuan, or 581 km from Medan. There are cultural remnants of s Hindu temple kingdom of Panai, founded in 1039 A.d.

This island lies off West Sumatra in the Indian Ocean. The village of Bowomataluo and Hilisimae are curios place to visit, where visitors can see performances of traditional war-dances and thrilling high-jump sports, I,e. people making dangerous leaps over 2 meter-high stones. Typical scenes are dancers clad in traditional costumes with bird feathers on their heads, a hall for the Chief of Tribe built on wooden logs with stones chairs weighing up to 18 tons. There are daily flights serving Medan and Nias island.