PALEMBANG CITY

Palembang is the capital city of South Sumatra Province of Indonesia. It was formerly known as the capital city of the ancient Kingdom of Srivijaya . Located on the Musi River banks on the east coast of southern Sumatra Island, it has an area of 400,61 square kilometres and a population of 1.441.500. Palembang is the second-largest city in Sumatra Island after Medan and the fifth-largest city in Indonesia.

Major landmark of Palembang are the AMPERA bridge and Musi River that divided this city into two parts, the north (Seberang Ilir) and the south part (Seberang Ulu). The Seberang Ilir became the economy and cultural center and the Seberang Ulu became the political center of this city.

Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International Airport serves Palembang and other cities around South Sumatra Province. The Boom Baru Harbor is the main harbor of Palembang, it is located on the north coast of Musi River and also connected Palembang with Bangka Belitung Islands Province.

History

The city was once the capital of the ancient, Buddhist Kingdom of Srivijaya that controlled a large part of what is now Malaysia and Indonesia. Following a 1025 raid by the Chola Empire (In the period of Emperor Rajendra Chola I) of southern India it began to gradually decline in importance. Srivijaya's capital eventually moved northward to Jambi. Palembang is also the origin of Parameswara, founder of the Malacca Sultanate.

The architectural legacy of Dutch colonization is still visible in the city. Deep-water port facilities are built along the Musi River, which flows through the city.

The naval Battle of Palembang was fought near the city during the Second World War between February 13-February 15, 1942.

Citizen

The Palembangnese is one of Malay family, they speak Malay as their language but with their own dialect and they called it Bahasa Palembang. Other people that are not native to Palembang but still came from South Sumatra usually blended their language with Bahasa Palembang, such as Bahasa Komering, Lahat, Rawas, etc. There are also the people that came from outer South Sumatera. Most of them are Javanese, Chinese, Arabian, Indian, and Sundanese.
The major religion in Palembang is Muslim. But they are also Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Konghucu.

Bidar boat (The Sriwijaya Festival)

Tanggai Dance

Interesting Places

Palembang is rich for its culture and it makes Palembang as one of tourism destination in Indonesia. These are the interesting places that you must visit when you come to Palembang:
1. Musi River
2. AMPERA Bridge
3. Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Grand Mosque
4. Kuto Besak Fortress
5. Major Office Building
6. Kambang Iwak Family Park
7. Punti Kayu Forest
8. Museum of the ancient Kingdom of Srivijaya
9. Siguntang Hill
10. MONPERA (People Struggle Monument)
11. Balaputradewa Museum
12. Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Museum
13. Kawah Tengkurep Cemetery
14. Cheng-Ho Sriwijaya Mosque
15. Kapitan Town
16. Arabian Town
17. Fantasy Island
18. Bagus Kuning
19. Songket crafts center
20. Kemaro Island
21. Pertamina refinery
22. PUSRI fertilizer factory
23. Sungai Gerong

Arts and Cultures

These are some of the famous arts in Palembang:
>Dul Muluk (the Palembang's traditional performing arts (drama))
>Many of traditional dances such as Gending Sriwijaya Dance to welcome guests and Tanggai Dance that usually performed in wedding reception
>Many of traditional songs such as Dek Sangke, Cuk Mak Ilang, Dirut, and Ribang Kemambang

The traditional house of Palembang is Limas House and Rakit House. You may visit the Limas House for 10,000 Rupiah. (About $1 US).

There are many festivals that are always held every year in Palembang such as: the Srivijaya Ferstival on June to celebrate Palembang's anniversary, the Boat festival on August to celebrate Republic of Indonesia's anniversary, and other festivals to celebrate the Ramadhan, New Year, Chinese New Year, etc.

Pempek

Tekwan

Traditional Foods

Palembang also known as the Pempek City. It is because there is a traditional snack that was made from a fish and sago called pempek or empek - empek. This delicacy has many variation in shape and taste, but all of them are absolutely delicious. Other traditional food from Palembang are tekwan, model, laksan, celimpungan, mie Celor, burgo, pindang patin, pindang tulang, malbi, tempoyak, otak - otak, kemplang, kerupuk, maksubah cake, delapan jam cake, srikayo cake, etc.

"LIMAS" The Traditional House

In Palembang, another interesting attraction is the traditional Limas houses, which you can find scattered all over the city. Most of them were built along the riverbank, facing away from the waterfront, so the residents can have more privacy in their daily household activities.

These ornate prototype of traditional houses in Palembang are easily identified by some of their unique characteristics; - their trapezoid shaped roof; multi-floors structures; and intricately hand-carved columns, door and window frames and ventilation panel which shows the charisma and identity of the house. These houses are built on poles of Unglen (hardest) wood in rather sizeable measurement, with most measuring 400 – 1000 sq meters, Some of these Limas houses are open to the public; there are two well-preserved Limas House which are still used as of today: Rumah Hasyin Ning and Rumah Bayumi. You can make arrangements through the tourist office to visit one of these attractive architectures.

Masjid Agung (Grand Mosque)

The Masjid Agung was built in the 1740s by Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin. It has been restored a few times, however, the original part of the mosque is still maintained. It is now a very large and beautiful mosque and a major landmark of the city.

The State Museum Built in 1977, The State Museum features a large collection of around 2000 relics and antiquities which originate from the province. It is worth visiting to discover the remnants of the region’s ancient culture.

BENTENG KUTO BESAK

Benteng Kuto Besak which means Fortress of a Big City, is another landmark of the Palembang. The idea of development was initiated by Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin I, to defend his sultanate from the attacks of the European enemies. The actual construction was only realized by his prince Sultan Muhammad Bahaudin. It took 17 years to build the fort, the construction was completed by Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II.

The fortress is 290 meters in length, 180 meters wide and 9.99 meters high. It is the pride of the people of Palembang. The Kuto Besak fortress is the only fort built at the expense of the Palembang Sultanate; and the only modern fortress which has stone walls up to standards of a castle. The fort now houses commercial and tourist premises as well as the local military division.