One of Indonesia’s top travel destinations, Medan, offers a distinctive urban landscape, harmonious and vibrant multi-ethnic civilizations, and good food.
Anyone who has adventured to Medan will not be able to deny the fact that they are sometimes mad about this city’s delicious food choices. The town also still retains its old-world charm as it delivers a portrait of a real metropolitan Indonesian facade. Medan’s unique personality is formed by the area’s ethnic diversity and abundant historical values. A distinctive mix of cultures, with powerful Malay, Indian, Batak, Chinese and Javanese communities, and many spiritual, cultural, and culinary traditions unite to create a town famous for its abundant arts and traditions.
The first thing that usually catches tourists’ attention while on a town tour during Medan is the many unique Dutch-colonial buildings with strong European characteristics. Although lots are gloomy and crumbling, they still speak of their history of colonialism in Indonesia.
Mesjid Raya Al Mashun
The mosque is one of the major landmark in Medan. The Great Mosque of Medan or Mesjid Raya Al Mashun, designed by Theodoor van Erp, a Dutch architect, in 1906 and completed in 1909 at the age of Sultan Ma’ mun Al Rashid Perkasa Ala, also a leader of the Sultanate of Deli. This building includes an octagonal form and materials such as marble in Italy and Germany, the stained glass from China, and France’s chandelier. This mosque’s uniqueness is in the mixture of Mughal (Indian), Europe, Turkey, and the Middle East. The minarets reflect a blend of Iran, Egypt, and Arab designs. Simultaneously, the arched windows look at the designs of Islamic royal buildings in Spain in the Middle Ages, and the mantle employs the Turkish version.
Maimoon Palace
Not far from the mosque, Maimoon Palace’s grandeur is quite seen worthy, showing Medan also has powerful Malay cultural ties. The palace is another Theodoor van Erp production, which lies within The excellent Mosque complex.
The two-story building boasts 30 rooms over a place of 2,772sqm and comprises European and Aztec architecture styles. Middle Eastern influence can be observed in the roof, which looks like an inverted boat. A bit of Europe could be viewed in the wide lamps, tables, windows, and doors equal to conventional European buildings. While the Dutch influence could be viewed in the marble inscription before the stairs that browse Dutch. Uniquely, this palace is dominated by the yellowish color as a sign of the greatness of the Deli Kingdom from North Sumatra. This attraction offers people dress up conventional Malay clothes, available at wineries within the palace, present just like a Malay king and queen at the palace and take photographs.
Tjong A Fie
One of the historical jewel in Medan, Tjong A Fie Mansion, is a must-visit. Tjong A Fie has been a merchant who left his hometown,” China’s Guangdong province, also traveled to Labuan Deli–North Sumatra’s conventional port–at the Dutch East Indies to find fortune. He established businesses on the island, producing sugar and palm oil in addition to other big businesses. However, what made him widespread respect was his funding of public facilities in Medan, like bridges, schools, and worship places..
Tjong A Fie Mansion was constructed in 1895 and is currently enrolled as a historic landmark and a cultural heritage museum and building. The renovated house inhabiting one hectare shows a range of dwelling rooms, a lavish master bedroom plus a photograph gallery, and a ballroom with their original furnishings. The mansion has Chinese, Chinese, Chinese, and art deco changes in its design style. The construction was constructed observing feng-shui. The chambers are around either side of those structures and encircle a large open courtyard in the center, representing that the ‘Well of Heaven.’
Tjong Yong Hian, Tjong’s older brother, was also included in the city’s development. His life was honored at Tjong Yong Hian Gallery, a museum that houses memorabilia as old photographs, clothing, and musical instruments that belonged to him. The chemical’s garden is your highlight, comprising ponds and manicured hedges.
Madras Village
Live the tour up with a piece of India, Medan includes Kampung Madras (Madras village) that can be known as Kampung Keling. And enjoy the Indian village Kampung Madras becomes an intriguing cultural tourism destination in Medan.
The source of the village could be traced back to the 19th century. At the point, many Tamil Indians were erased in their first nation to be the laborers in Deli tobacco plantations. Plantation owners like to utilize sterile labor from India since they have been proven to be both hard workers as well as powerful. As time goes by, more Tamil Indians functioned in Medan. Besides serving as farm laborers, they also acquired jobs in the construction and lots of work as traders.
The village was previously called Patisah. Originally, the roads within this region also utilized Indian titles, such as Calcutta street, Bombay road, Ceylon road, Madras road, etc. However, currently, there are lots of titles which were changed. There’s also a mosque called Ghaudiyah that has a thick Indian architectural layout. That is since the Tamil people in rural villages aren’t just Hindus but also some Muslims.
Are you craving a few roti canai flatbreads? The stalls within this area are sure bets to this and many other Indian-influenced dishes such as famous Indian curry along with martabak or chapati. If you are in town through a few large Indian festivals, for example, Festival Colour (Holy), Deepawali, and Adimahapuja party, you will discover all the colorful parties.
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