ancient_batak_village .htm

Located about 140 kilometres from Medan, this village of the Simalungun Batak tribe is almost 200 years old. It is rather different from Lingga village, another ancient Batak village located in the Karo highlands.

Pematang Purba has been restored as an open museum, as the traditional village of the Simalungun tribal chiefs. The 'long house' was the dwelling place of the chief and his wives centuries ago. Made of teak boards and standing on poles, the main building is decorated with carved ornaments, painted in the traditional Batak colours of red, black and white. On the wall that once protected the compound, unfortunately nothing is left.

Batak Village

Lake Toba

World famous is the crater lake Danau Toba in the Batak highlands, approximately five hours drive from Medan. Danau Toba is the largest lake in South East Asia and also one of the most spectacular, surrounded by tall mountains and with the large island of Samosir in the middle. If we descend from the mountain we see the lake glittering in all its beauty. The Dutch writer Rudy Kousbroek even called Lake Toba, 'the most beautiful place on earth'. Most visitors stay on the peninsula of Tuk Tuk on Samosir, named after the linguist Herman Neubronner van der Tuuk. In general people stay several days on Samosir to discover the island, to visit traditional Batak villages, to swim in the lake and go to the hot springs in Pangururan.

There are two ways to go to Lake Toba from Medan. One way via Brastagi in the Karo highlands and the other way along the plantation route and Pematang Siantar .

Kesawan Squere

Kesawan Squere is facility had built by government for food stall. There are many traditional and Chinese food offers to visitors. People enjoy to spend the night there.