MEDAN

Medan in Brief

Medan, the provincial capital of North Sumatera, is a cosmopolitan city with over 2 millions inhabitants and a booming commercial center for the region's huge oil and agro-business. As a result of major international investments in plantation, agriculture from 1870's onward. Medan grew from a tinny village to a prosperous colonial city of 60,000 people by 1943. Following indepence in 1945, the population exploded even more rapidly, with dramatic influx of various Batak and other groups all over Sumatera and Indonesia. Today, Medan is by far the largest city in Sumatera and the third largest in the nation after Jakarta and Surabaya in the island of Java. As a bustling, modern commercial and administrative center, Medan is Indonesia's western most international gateway, maintaining regular flights from Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Langkawi, Singapore. Additionally, there are several flight connecting Medan to the nation's capital., Jakarta, to Padang and to other destinations in the western Indonesian island. Medan literally meand "Field" or "Battlefield", and indeed was once the battlefield where the Deli Sultanete and the Kingdom of Aceh were at the war hundred years ago. Exploring the most culturally diverse selected historical destination, such as: Istana Maimon, the ceremonial palace of Sultan Deli, Mejid Raya or Grand Mosque;Kampung Keling, with Shri Mariamman Temple, built in 1884 but hasbeen renovated few years ago;Vihara Gunung Timur, the largest Chinese Temple in Medan (perhaps in Sumatera); Immanuel Protestant Church, built in 1812;Kesawan street, a center of traditional handicraft, developed by Tjong A Fie (first wealthy chineseman in Medan). . Originally the Istana Maimoon was called Deli Sultan Palace, istana means palace. Istana Maimoon is historically related to the Grand Mosque. It was built in 1888 by Sultan Ma'mun Al Rashid and used as an administrative center until the end of world war II. Maimoon Palace - Grand Mosque Around the city Medan City Major's Office, the third largest metropolitan in the country - to cope with the fast development in the city Chinese Temple, Vihara Gunung Timur, located in the downtown of Medan. The largest temple in Sumatera. Medan Post Office built in Dutch times. One of the city corners night. Tha largest crocodile farm in Indonesia, only about 5 km from the heart of Medan city. Make business with your relatives while playing golf.. Fresh from the ocean, variaty of seafood, ie. fish, crab, squid. The only wildlife gallery in Asia with a collection of ±600 species from all over the world. Belawan is a major gateway to Sumatera for tourist, besides Polonia airport. It is 26 km north of teh center of Medan and one of the liveliest ports in Indonesia serving big parts of Sumatera. Polonia airport has direct flight to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, China and India. This is the gateway for adventures for Tourist to North Sumatera.