history_of_medan.htm

Medan is the capital city of North Sumatra province of Indonesia, and the largest city in Sumatra. It is located in the north of the province, at 3°35'N 98°40'E, and has a nearby harbour, Belawan, and an international airport, Polonia International Airport.

Medan's embryo was a village called Kampung Medan (Medan Village). Kampung Medan was founded by Guru Patimpus around the 1590s. Because Kampung Medan sits on Tanah Deli (Land of Deli), Kampung Medan is also referred as Medan-Deli. The original location of Kampung Medan is an area where the River of Deli meets River Babura.

The first inhabitants of Medan came from the Batak Karo community. It was not until the King of Aceh, Sultan Iskandar Muda, sent his warlord, Gocah Pahlawan Laksamana Khoja Bintan, to be the Kingdom of Aceh's representative in Tanah Deli, that the Kingdom of Deli started to grow. This growth stimulated growth in both the population and culture of Medan.

Medan did not enjoy vast development until the 1860s, when the Dutch colonialists began clearing the land for tobacco plantations. Medan quickly became a centre of government and commercial activity, dominating development of Indonesia's western region.

The Dutch governed Tanah Deli from 1658, after Sultan Ismail, ruler of the Kingdom of Siak Sri Indrapura, yielded some of his once-ruled land, Deli, Langkat, and Serdang. In 1915 Medan officially became the capital of North Sumatera Province, and officially a city at 1918.

Mesjid Raya at Medan

There are many older buildings in Medan that still retain their Dutch architecture. Some buildings are: the old City Hall, Post Office Center, Water Tower which has been Medan City's icon, and Titi Gantung - a bridge over railway.

There are several historic places such as Maimun Palace and the Great Mosque (Masjid Raya) of Medan.

The newest food court in central of Medan city is Kesawan Square. Many kinds of Indonesian, Western and Chinese cuisine become special interest.

Maimun Palace at Medan

One of the unique features of Medan are the motorized becaks that are found almost everywhere. Unlike traditional becaks, a motorized becak can take its passenger to anywhere in the city. There are also more common transport like taxis and minibuses.

Railroad tracks connect Medan to Tanjungpura to the northwest, to port of Belawan to the north, and to Binjai, Tebing Tinggi and Pematang Siantar to the southeast.

The seaport of Belawan is about 20 km to the north. Polonia International Airport is located in the heart of the city.

A tollroad connects Medan to Belawan and Tanjungmorawa. Medan–Lubuk Pakam and Medan–Binjai are being planned.

Traditional transportation at Medan