Tourism Objects Riau

Riau

Riau province is one of the fastest growing parts of Indonesia in terms of economic, population and tourism. Riau Province occupies the central part of eastern region on Sumatra Island, which straddles between Malacca Straits, South China Sea and Berhala Straits. The Province is a strategic region as it directly faces Malacca Straits and Singapore, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.

Riau is one of the richest provinces in Indonesia. This province is rich with natural resources, particularly petroleum and natural gas, rubber, and palm oil. The majority of the province is heavily forested lowland; logging is a major industry in the province.

Geographically

Geographically, Riau Province lies on 445' North Altitude up to 115' South Longitude or 10003' up to 10919' Greenwich and 650' up to 145' West Longitude Jakarta, with natural borders as follows:

North side: North Sumatra Province, Malacca Straits

South side: Jambi Province

West Side: West Sumatra Province

East side: Riau Archipelago

Administratively

Riau Province is administratively divided into 9 Regencies (Bengkalis, Indragiri Hilir, Kampar, Kuantan Singingi, Pelalawan, Rokan Hilir, Rokan Hulu, Siak) and 2 cities (Pekanbaru, Dumai), with Pekanbaru as the capital city.

Climate

This region is dominantly characterized by the sea climate with average temperature of 30°C at day and 23°C at night throughout the year. Rainy season falls on November (sometimes October) up to April while dry season begins in July. Riau has tropical climate and in general is classified into climate type "A" with relatively high rainfall, ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 mm per year in average.

Topography

Most areas in Riau are lowland plain, including alluvial islands scattered along coastal line with average elevation less than 200 m above sea level. In mainland region, there are four big rivers, i.e. Rokan River, Siak River, Kampar River and Indragiri River. These rivers spring from Bukit Barisan mountain range stretching along the border Riau Province and West Sumatra Province, and flow down to Malacca Straits. The rivers play an important role as the means of transportation, sources of irrigation, energy, and clean water as well as fishery resources. Archipelagic region of Riau, on the other hand, is formed of volcanic formation in the form of islands, big and small. The soil is in general of Organosol type (Histosol), containing much organic substance. Wide Area

The territorial size of Riau Province is 329,867.16 km consisting of land area 94,561,61 Km2 and water area 235,306,00 Km2. Riau population is 4,948,000 (2000 census).

Siak Sri Indrapura

Siak Sri Indrapura was the centre of an Islamite Malayan kingdom, which enjoyed its golden age from the 18th through 20th century. Sultan Abdul Jalil Rakhmad Syah founded the kingdom in 1725. He was the first in a family tree of 12 sultans who would reign until 1945. In November 1945, the last sultan, Sultan Syarif Kasyim II, sent a cable to the president of Republic of Indonesia stating his loyalty to the republic, and he contributed his properties to the struggle of independence.

The old palace of Siak Sri Indrapura is definitely worth a visit. It is located 125 km northeast from Pekanbaru and can best be reached from Pekanbaru over land. It was built 1889 by Sultan Abdul Jalil Syarifuddin, in the 11th of 12th sultans who ruled Siak from 1725 to 1945 the M Arches and Minarets give the palace a strong Indian Moghui look representative of stills during the colonials times. The Palace was refurbished in 1989.

The palace stores a collection of properties of the last sultans. In the reception area, life size figures of the sultan and his courtiers welcome the visitor. Inside the palace, one can admire the gold plated royal throne and a duplicate of the royal crown. The original gold crown has been brought to the National Museum in Jakarta. Large photographs of the last sultans decorate the walls of the palace.

The last sultans formed a part of the Dutch establishment. Much of the decor in the palace is European. A big attraction is Komet, a large German music player, whose perforated metal disks tinkle tunes of Mozart, Beethoven and Strauss, brought by the sultan from a visit to Europe in 1896. People say that there are only two left in the world.

Close to the palace, at the banks of Siak river is the Royal Mosque.

Grand Mosque of Pekanbaru

Pekanbaru is located at the south bank of the Siak River. Here, one can visit the Grand Mosque, which is the oldest mosque of Pekanbaru. It has been built in the 18th century during the authority of Abdul Jalil Alamuddin Syah Sultan and Muhammad All Abdul Jalil Alamuddin Syah Sultan of Siak sultanate; the Great Mosque of this kingdom is the oldest mosque in Pekanbaru City. Next to the mosque there are some graves of the royal family. Their graves can be found on the compound of the mosque. Other than that, there is also an old well considered holy and frequently visited by visitors, mainly those who possessed the cultural link with Siak Sultanate, while requesting for blessing and fortune.

Balai Adat

Many of Pekanbaru's buildings, including ones recently constructed, are built in traditional Riau-Malay architectural style. One of these buildings is Balai Adat, or Adat Community House at Diponegoro Street. Decorated with woodcarvings and woven cloth motives, its architecture represents the glory of Riau-Malay culture. Balai Adat has initially been built to accommodate various activities relating to Resam Malayan Riau custom, but now is also the place for various meeting gatherings.

Riau Cultural Park

South of the city centre, not far from the airport, is Pekanbaru's museum, housing historical remains from the region. The museum is built in traditional Riau-Malay style. Next door to the museum is Taman Budaya Riau, which comprises several traditional houses. The place is designated as the centre of cultural activities. The museum known by the name of Sang Nila Utama is a Malay traditional architectural model building located at Jenderal Sudirman Street Pekanbaru, not far from Sultan Syarif Kasim II airport. The museum, which is opened daily, except on Sunday and holidays, is keeping various collection of objects of art, history and culture from Riau area in general.

Next to the museum, there is also a building with nearly similar architectural feature, i.e. Riau Cultural Park Building, which is appropriated as the centre of various art and cultural activity.

Taluk Kuantan

From Pekanbaru about 170 km south to Taluk Kuantan, crossing the equator just after Lipat Kain. Before reaching Taluk Kuantan, the road crosses Logas region, once a gold mining area. During the Second World War, the Japanese established here a camp where many Dutch people were imprisoned and exploited by forcing them to work in the mines.

Taluk Kuantan lies at the upstream part (Hilir) of Indragiri River. In the early years, this river was used to carry the gold, which was mined in West Sumatra, to the east coast of Sumatra.

Taluk Kuantan is the centre of Pacu Jalur, a traditional boat race held every year in remembrance Indonesia's independence day on the 17th of August. More than 100 teams from all over Riau province join the race. Each team rows their line, a long and slender boat that carries 50 to 60 people, along a track setout on Indragiri River. The races start on Wednesday in the third or fourth week of August. The boats gather upstream and race to each other two by two. The winner makes the next round. The final is held on Sunday.

Pacu Jalur is full with mystic and tradition, which already starts with picking out a tree with a circumference of 4 to 5 meters for the Jalur, up to the moment, the Jalur is launched into the water.

Bangkinang Tourism

The main road to Bukittinggi takes through the swamplands covering the lowland of Riau. The land has been cleared and cultivated. Where the peat is thick, pineapple and coconuts grow. Further to the west, the peat gets thinner, making the land suitable for rice cultivation.

Just before reaching Bangkinang town, some 2 kilometers off the main road, is the old Jamik Mosque of Air Tiris. The mosque is more than 100 years old, built in 1901 without using iron nails. Corrugated metal sheets have replaced the original shingled roof. Outside the mosque lies a mysterious stone submerged in a well. The stone resembles the head of a buffalo and is believed to move under its own power. According to an old story, once seven buffaloes were slaughtered. One of the buffalo heads mysteriously disappeared and it is said it turned into the stone.

Muara Takus

At Rantau Berangin, 15 kilometers after Bangkinang, the roads splits and turn left, entering Bukit Barisan range, which borders Riau province. The road climbs up and reaches the recently finished hydroelectric dam of Koto Panjang.

Near Muaramahat, some 122 km west of Pekanbaru off the main road to Bukittinggi, are the ruins of Muara Takus, an ancient temple complex close to the bank of the river Kampar Kanan. Standing in a remote area amid Sumatra's tropical forest, the temple is a mysterious entity. Archeological experts have not yet been able to confirm when the temple has been built. Short inscriptions found among the ruins point to a date in the 11th or 12th century. Other relates the complex to Srivijaya Buddhist Empire, which ruled in Sumatra in the 8th through 10th century. Some opinions go even back to the 4th century.

The temple complex is the largest ancient brick building in Sumatra. The tall temple part, known as Mahligai Temple, has the unusual shape of a tower, rather than the squat bell-shape normally associated with Buddhist architecture. Several other foundations can be seen nearby, like Bungsu Temple, a platform on which once stood two statue, and Tua Temple, originally the largest structure of all, with two stairways leading up to yet another temple parts.

The temples structure was made of river rocks, sand and bricks circled by a wall of 74 x 74 m size while at its external part, it is also circled by soil wall of 1.5 km x 1.5 km size. It is said that the ancient city was so large that a cat would wander from roof to roof for three months before reaching the last house.

Alam Mayang Fishing Park

Alam Mayang Fishing Park is located at Harapan Raya street km 8 from the centre of Pekanbaru city. Alam Mayang is a recreational and relaxing place, which is frequently visited, mainly by those who have fishing hobby, as there are a number of fishing ponds in this place with various species of fishes in it. It equipped with three pools with 18.560km2 and also has many kind of fishes such as; fresh water crap fish, lemak, nila, patin and sepat siam. Relaxing under the shadiness of the vegetation and a beautiful natural atmosphere is really a very exciting experience.

Today it is frequented especially by those having the hobby of fishing since here there are fishing ponds covering a total area of 18.650 square meters with various kinds of fish inside. Much more fun is certainly to go fishing together with the family.

Limbungan Lake Tourism

The dam that was initially established for the irrigation purposes is located in the area surrounded by beautiful panoramic range of hills, which has an attraction as a tourist spot. Viewing such potential, this place is then developed by as tourist area furnished with various facility and means for recreational spot is around 10 km from the center of Pekanbaru City and it can be reached by public transportation. Not far from there, there is also a location made as the arena of motocross racing competition.

Selat Baru Beach

Selat Baru beach is located at the east coast of Bengkalis Island; Selat Baru beach of about 4 km long has a very beautiful panorama with traditional fisherman village's life background. Other attractive thing is a creek near to the beach, which is named by the local people as Liong River. Along the edge of this river, there are lines of fish Floating pond for about 3,000 containers of the breeding place of white snapper breeding. Directly watching the fish breeding and drying process is really an exciting.

Tujuh Serangkai Caves

Tujuh Serangkai Caves, located in Rambah village about 17 km from Bangkinang is the tops tourist attraction in Kampar region. Entire of way from municipal district into Tujuh Pintu Serangkai Cave which estimate interval is 2 kilometers we can enjoying wonderful nature that back grounding by hills and the leafy of trees until front of Tujuh Pintu Serangkai cave door. Besides the natural beauty of the caves, we can enjoy a hot bath in it. The cave what we visit is not one but in 10 hectares area founded other cave as Sungai Cawan Cave, Langkuk Cave, Sungai Panturun Cave, Sungai Lo Cave and Sungai Pisang Cave.

Elephants Training

At Sebanga-Duri that interval estimate from Pekanbaru City is 139 kilometers founded training and taming center for elephant at Riau Province. As one of attractive tourism objects at Riau found there is give some, entertain that seeing attraction and demonstration of elephants. As wild animal, elephant can tame at Sebanga School for Elephants. The elephants can attract as like: salute to visitor, step over big size of pieces of wood that was pile, pull up piece of wood using it trunk, step over men which sleep on ground, etc

Zamrud Lake

Bawah Lake and Pulau Besar Lake founded at Zamrud petroleum exploration fields. It is has wonderful view that very astonishing. Entirely of the lake founded Fauna reservation that it wide is 2,500 hectares which kind of exotic flora and fauna. Life resources that founded in the lake like red pinang, arwana fish, and balido fish are protected. Kind of wild animals at Fauna Reservation at Pulau Besar and Bawah Lake are unique wealth for water recreation tour at Riau.