Comprising of ten Regencies and two autonomous cities with the main capital at Pekan Baru which is Sumatra's third largest municipality after Medan and Palembang.
Other major cities in Riau Province include Dumai,Selat Panjang,Bagansiapiapi,Bengkalis,Bakinang,Rengat and Siak Sri Indrapura.
With abundant natural resources such as petroleum,natural gas,rubber,palm oil and fiber plantations,the Riau Province is one of the biggest contributor of Indonesia's economy.
The society is ethnically heterogeneous comprising of Minangkabau,Jawa,Batak,Bugis,Banjar,Tionghoa and many others .With rich cultural diversity,the Riau Province is one great place to explore.
The word Riau originates from the Portuguese version 'Rio'
In 1511,the Malacca Sultanate falls into the hand of the Portuguese conquerors and Sultan Mahmud Shah escaped to River Siak area in Sumatra being pursued by the Portuguese armada who then named the place as Rio.
The old capital of Riau Province was Tanjung Pinang until 1959.Today it is the capital city of the Riau Archipelago or Kepulauan Riau (acronym,Kepri)
After the fall of Malacca,the Riau Islands became the centre of politcal power of the mighty Sultanate of Johor challenging the Sultan Siak Sri Inderapura who also seek control.
Batam is the main core island,other populated islands are Bintan and Karimun.Smaller islands are Bulan and Kundur
Places of interests and festivals in Riau Province:
1) Pulau Jemur
Located about 45miles from Bagansiapiapi town and only about 45miles to Malacca.
Other clusters of islands within vicinity are pulau Tekong Emas,pulau Tekong Seimbang,pulau Labuhan Bilik and smaller islands good for snorkelling or scuba diving.
During the north east monsoon,the island is a main shelter for the fishermen.
Remains of Japanese Occupation artifacts are still being preserved.
2) Taman Nasional Bukit Tiga Puluh national Park
A lowland Tropical Rain Forest rich in flora and fauna.Covers part of the Bukit Barisan Mountain Range with many undiscovered wildlife santuaries.
Tribes still in existence in the mountain range includes Talang Mamak,Anak Rimba and Melayu Tua.
3) Pantai Rupat Utara, Tanjung Medang
The easy to reach Rupat Island from Dumai with many seaside resorts.Teluk Phu and Tanjung Punak with nice beaches.
4) Air Terjun Aek Martua
Located in district Bangun Purba near Barisan Mountains, a waterfall with a thousand stairs.
5) Strange waves at Bono Beach
Located at Desa Teluk Meranti(Meranti Bay) along Sungai Kampar and Sungai Rokan.
Bono is a natural phenomena of sudden rise in sea waves at times as high as 4-6 meter near the river mouth that occurs almost daily.
6) Marine Tourism in Kabupaten Siak.
A huge lake at Desa Zamrud in Kecamatan Siak Sri Inderapura comprising of Lake Naga at Sungai Apit.
Natural rain forests surrounded the lake with fishes such as the arwana,pinang merah and balido can be found in the area.
7) Barge Burning Ritual or Ritual Bakar Tongkang
An annual event in Bagansiapiapi,a town in Kabupaten Rokan Hilir which has a large Chinese community.
The event is held around the month of mid-June.
8) Chinese New Year at Selatpanjang,Kabupaten Kepulauan Meranti
Grand fireworks display.Another place in Indonesia with many Chinese temples.
9) Pekan Baru National Mosque (Masjid Raya) in Kecamatan Senapelan
An eighteenth century built mosque during Siak Sri Inderapura Sultanate by Sultan Abdul Jalil Muazza Syah and Sultan Muhammad Ali Abdul Jalil Muazzam Syah.
10) Siak Sri Indrapura Royal Palace built in 1889
Historical relics of the old Malay kingdom being displayed at this royal palace museum.
11) Candi Muara Tikus
Archeological site of ancient Buddhist temple complex and relics at Desa Muara Tikus in Kampar District about 135km from Pekan Baru.
12) Klenteng Hoo An Kiong/Vihara Sejahtera Sakti Selatpanjang
Oldest Chinese temple in whole of Riau Province also called Tua Pek Kong Bio(Hokkian dialect)
Built during Dutch colonial rule.
13) Seven Layer Fortress or Benteng Tujuh Lapis
Located at Dalu Dalu in the district of Tambusai,Rokan Hilir Regency built by Dalu-Dalu people to defend against Dutch invaders.
No comments:
Post a Comment