The people are hospitable and eloquent; primarily speak bahasa Minang, with poetic style of speech. West Sumatran days are filled with colourful ceremonies and festivals. Legend has it the Minang kabau are descendants of the youngest son of Alexander the Great, King Maharjo Dirajo. During the early 19th century, the area was disrupted by wars between the followers of the traditional Islam or Padris, and those adhering to the traditional law (Adat) of the Minangkabau.
Getting there:
Padang’s Tabing Airport is the main gateway to West Sumatra and is serviced by Merpati Nusantara Airlines.PELNI’s ship ”Kerinci” sails every two weeks for Jakarta from Teluk Bayur harbour. Smaller vessels from Muara harbour sail to small towns along the entire west coast of Sumatra.Regular bus services run between Padang, Bukittinggi and other major cities of Sumatra, as well as via the trans-Sumatra Highway to Jakarta.
Padang Food - West SumatraTourism Events
* Dances performed on the Bukittinggi museum’s open stage every Sunday and on public holidays, the famous bullfights at Padang Lawas (6 Km south of Bukittinggi) are every Tuesday at 05.00 p.m, where the antics of local owners and bettors are as much fun as the fights themselves.
* Pacu Jawi every July performs bullrace in Payakumbuh. The uniqueness of its race, the joky bite its tail to make the bull runs faster.
* Selaju Sampan and Dragon boat race every September is a traditional watersports in Muko-Muko, Lake Maninjau.
* Wild Hog Hunting every May on Sunday in Solok by the farmers with well - trained dog.
Places of Interest
Air Manis
4 kms South of Padang, down the hill and across Batang Arau River is a fishermen village on Padang’s scenic west coast. A rock standing in the water a short distance from the shore is said to be the hull of Malin Kundang’s boat, which shipwrecked in a storm after it was cursed by the defiant young man’s mother.
Bungus
20 kms South of Padang sheltered by a bay, there are two good beaches : Caroli na and Karang Tirta.
Anai Resort and Golf Course.
The Anai resort is located in gorgeous natural setting roughly 550 meters above sea level. This resort is incorporating first-class hotel facilities.
Batang Palupuah,
12 km from Bukittinggi, is a refuge for the giant flower Rafflesia arnoldi, blooming only once a year in November. A guide can be obtained from the office at the reserve.
Rimbo Panti Nature Reserve.
Just aside the road to Medan, at the distance of 108 kms from Bukittinggi, this nature and wild life reserve where various monkey species and black panther found in here.
Bung Hatta Forest Reserve.
Situated 15 kms from Padang in the direction of Solok, known in the past as the Setya Mulya Botanic Garden. The reserve has giant flower Rafflesia arnoldi.
Padang
Padang is the capital of West Sumatra; and gateway to the homeland of Minangkabau. Its bustling harbours a crossroads for rubber, cinnamon, coffee, tea and nutmeg. There are Minang houses, prehistoric artifacts, ceramics, manuscripts and modern art. In Kampung Cina (Chinatown) you can wander streets lined with turn-of-the century houses, Chinese herbalist and coffee shops. Good hiking and wonderful views of the city can be had a Bukit Monyet and Gunung Padang.
Batu Basurek.
A stone with inscriptions in the old Palava script of India, bearing the legend of Adityawarman in the year 1347.
Twin Lakes, West SumatraThe Twin Lakes (Lake Diatas and Lake Dibawah)
65 km from Padang the two lakes, one a little higher than the other are located at +1000 meters above sea level and covered by thick mist. There are several cottages and coffee shops in Lake Diatas resort.
Pagaruyung Kingdom.
Situated at the ouskirt of Batusangkar the capital city of Tanah Datar Regency. In the past, it was the seat of the ancient of Minangkabau Kingdom, Pagaruyung : which at the beginning of its history was ruled by a queen named Bundo Kanduang. Relics of that ancient past are still scaffered over the area among them are Batusangkar stone inscriptions found in some areas.
Lake Singkaraka
Lake Singkarak is surrounded with green hills and mountains, the biggest lake in west 129,70 kms square and lies on the Trans Sumatra between Bukittinggi and Solok regency. It is 36 km from Bukittinggi or 86 km from Padang.
Tanjung Alai.
Located at 7 kms Lake Singkarak, enjoy gliding in the fresh and coolness of its air.
Mount Talang tea plantation.
35 km from Padang, one of the highest mountains 2,572 meters above sea level has a green and fresh views. From here you can overlook the beautiful Twin Lakes and Lake Singkarak.
The Mystical Rao-rao.
Some 15 kilometers from Batusangkar. A village in which the Minangkabau building style is well preserved.
Belimbing Village.
Some 20 km from Batusangkar, this traditional village has some beautiful old Minangkabau long houses. Around the village one can enjoy the beauty view and traditional social life of Minangkabau matriarchal society.\
Tabek Patah.
30 kilometers from Batusangkar, is a lookout point in the foothills offering a wide open view on the magnificent central Minangkabau countryside.
Lake Maninjau
Perhaps the most beautiful lake in Sumatra, Maninjau is far smaller and less developed thas its neighbour lake Toba to the north the road to the lake is famous for its forty four bends oftering superb panoramas as it meaders down to the water’s edge. The lake is punctuated by pretty Moorish styled mosques, perhap designed by some long ago Arab traders who came to her shores. Datted about the lake are small and friendly villages. Mountain bikes for rent ofter a perfect way to explore along the flat roads. Small hotels.
Bukittinggi
Bukittinggi is the West Sumatra’s center of culture and tourism, nestled in the higlands north of the provincial capital of Padang. It is a pleasant two-hour drive (90 km) from Padang through the gorgeus Anai Valley up to Agam Plateu. Located 930 metres above sea level, it has a cool climate and is surrounded by tree volcanoes: Tandikat, Singgalang and Merapi. The central landmark is the town’s clocktower, reffered by the local people as Jam Gadang. It overlooks the market square, a beehive of activity and fantastic place to do some souvenir shopping. Also worth visiting is the Rumah Gadang Museum, a traditional extended family house built in the 19th century.
Batu Sangkar
Batu Sangkar is 41 km southeast of Bukittinggi, a center of the Minang kabau culture. Megalithic remains found in the area support the theory of a large community li ving in the area some 2000 years ago. Many fascinating historical sites were found at Batu Basurek, a stone with inscriptions in the Palava script of India, bearing the le gend Adityawarman, the Emperor of Kanaka Mahindra (the island of gold). Pariaman has 300 years old traditional houses. Make sure to visit the open council grounds with ancient stone seats, the mosque and hot spring.
Ngarai Sianok
Ngarai Sianok is a canyon in a city, a steep colorful valley surrounded by 100 meter cliffs. 4 km from Bukittinggi, there are many tunnels and caves made by the Japanese during WW II. The pathway leads to Koto Gadang that is renowned for its fine silver filigree and hand embroidery.
Pandai Sikek village
13 km south of Bukit Tinggi and famous for its hand woving and carving industry. The village has a thousand of looms and turning out richly colored cloth. Carved wooden ornaments and furniture also made here.
Harau Valley is 15 km northeast Payakumbuh, 100 to 200 meter steep granite walls shelter this 315 ha fertile valley. It is a nature and wildlife reserve, where wild goats and tigers still roam.
Ngalau Indah Cave can be reach on the way from Bukittinggi to Payakumbuh, it has extend deep into the mountainside. The domain of thousands of bats, the main entrance is the outline of an elephant visible on its face. The pats through these caves lead out to the top of the mountain and panoramic views.
Siberut National Park:
Using a regular ferry, which regularly sail three times a week in the night from Padang (Muara Padang) to Muara Siberut/Muara Sikabaluan/Muara Saibi. The trip takes approximately 10 hours of sailing. Or use an express ferry that travels every Thursday morning from Padang to the town of Tuapejat in Sipora Island and then further to the southern part of Siberut Island for only four hours of sailing.
Mentawai peopleMentawai Islands
Mentawai Islands is made up from four islands: Siberut, Sipora, Pagai Utara and Pagai Selatan. The people of these islands still live in comparative isolation, maintaining their age-old ways. Siberut is an area for trekking and visiting these ancient cultures, and its virgin rain forest, inhabited by a number of some rare monkey’s species. Beautiful co ral reefs are found offshore, and its wave is famous for surfing. The best season to visit is January to September.
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