Quaint Villages, Mountains And Dormant Volcanoes In Sumatra

The Indonesian Island of Sumatra belongs to the archipelago Greater Sunda Islands, located in their westernmost parts.

With 163,557 square miles of area, the Island of Sumatra is the sixth largest in the world.  The Sunda Strait separates it from Java in the southeast. On the north, the Malacca Straits separates it from the Malay Peninsula. Borneo, separated by the Karimata Strait is to the east of Sumatra and on its west is the Indian Ocean.

Geographically, the Sumatra Island can be divided into the western region of Barison Mountains with Mount Kerinci, an active volcano 3,805 meters high in the mid range and the eastern region where silt from the rivers of western ranges form swampy plains. Economically, these plains are vital as they are source of palm oil and petroleum.

Tropical rainforests cover most of this Island.

Sumatra became free from colonial rule and a part of the Republic of Indonesia in 1950.

When to go

Sumatra’s location on both sides of the equator in equal halves gives it a humid tropical climate. Temperatures are high throughout the year with heavy rainfalls, especially on the Island’s west coast.

The best time to visit the Island of Sumatra would be in the months of September and October, when the rainy season is just about to begin.

How to reach

The largest city of the Island, Medan, is well connected to domestic as well as international destinations by direct flights. Other cities like Palembang, Pekanbaru, Padang and Banda Aceh too have domestic as well as international services.

Indonesia and Malaysia are also connected to the Island by the ferries. The main port for Sumatra is Dumai in Riau.

To explore the Island, renting a bicycle or mountain bike would be a good idea.

Attractions

Rainforests, rich wild life, sun-kissed beaches and other activities like trekking – there is a lot to do and explore at Sumatra.

The province of Aceh, at the northwest end of Sumatra has been and important trade center since ancient times. It was here that the first Islamic Indonesian kingdom was established in 804. It’s a gateway for Indonesians on their pilgrimage to Mecca.

The North Sumatra with its rainforests, rice fields, mountain rivers, waterfalls, volcanic lakes, tranquil beaches and a rich flora and fauna is a tourist delight. This region has five  main ethnic groups – the Coastal Malays along the Malacca Straits, the Bataks around Lake Toba, the largest Island Lake in South East Asia and Samosir Island, the pesisirs along the Indian Ocean Coast, the Mandalling of Southern Tapanuli and the Nias in the Islands off the western coast. In Medan and other town are Chinese and Indian and in other parts are Acehnese, Minagkabau and Javanese. Such mix of ethnic groups makes the culture here vibrant and rich.

Medan is a cultural hub of North Sumatra, with fine architectural structures. Among the landmarks here is the Mejid Raya or the Raya Mosque. You can explore the hill town of Brastagi and further the Karo Batak Village.

On the borders of North Sumatra and Aceh is the Mount Leuser National Park home to 3,381 meters high Mount Leuser, and a habitat of Sumatran Orangutans – Pongo Abelii.  About 700 species of birds, animals, reptiles and mammals have made this park their habitat. In proximity are Tengkahan and the Kedah Village.

In West Sumatra you will find volcanic highlands, a long coastal plain and islands covered with wild jungles, just off the shore. It is home to Minanghabau, said to be the descendants of the youngest son of Alexander the great, King Maharajo Dirajo. Bukittinggi is an important cultural and tourist centre here. It is located in the highlands north of Padding with mountains, valleys and lakes around. For west Sumatra, the Padang Tabing Airport is the gateway which serves domestic flights. Buses too ply here.

The King Palace in Pagaruyung area of Bukittinggi houses a museum dedicated to the royal family. An important tourist destination, it is regarded as a cultural heritage of Sumatra.

Tanjungpinang is an important town here in the Bintan Island. In proximity to this town are Singapore and the Batam Island as well. Strategically placed with the rest of Asia, it is a rapidly developing area.

On the east coast of Central Sumatra is the Jambi province, facing the Malacca Strait, a melting pot of ethnic groups.

The province of Bengkulu, accessible by domestic flights and ships, is the first site of Sir Stamford Raffles entry into India.

The South of Sumatra has some major kingdoms as well. The Sriwijaya Kingdom that flourished along the Musi River banks is located on the southern-most tip of the South China Sea. T. he Chinese scholar I Tsing, in 672 recorded that the place was a hub of monks and scholars who studied Sanskrit here. There are few relics from that era.

This part of Sumatra is flat and fertile, with quite a few rivers criss-crossing each other here.

The Bangka and the Belitung Islands, off the Island’s east coast are another tourist destination here.

The southernmost part of Sumatra is Lampung. This historic place has a long trade history and is your gateway to Sumatra if you are coming from Jakarta. It is home to dormant volcanoes like Gunung pesagi, Tanggamas, Seminiung and Raya among others. On the west of this province is The Way Kambas Nature Reserve where you can spot elephants being trained to work in jungles, rare tigers and exotic species of birds. The Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park here is home to the world’s largest flower Rafflesia.

The mountain lake of Danau Ranu in the Bukit Barisan Mountain range here is a major tourist attraction.

If you are a trekking enthusiast, Berastagi town, in Karo highlands at 70 kilometers from Medan has plenty of options. The Gunung Sinabung and the Gunung Sibayak are two dormant volcanoes here.

A rich cultural heritage, beaches, lakes and mountains, quaint villages and a tranquil holiday for you to seek, the Sumatra Island charms tourists because of all this and more.