Pekanbaru
About 160 kms upstream on the Siak river, Pekanbaru, Riau's provincial
capital, has a number of buildings in the traditional style of
the area, among them the Balai sang Merdu, the Balai Adat and
Taman Budaya Riau or Riau Cultural Park.
The Siak Sultanate's Park
This Moorish style palace of the Sultan of Siak, 120 kms up
stream from Pekanbaru on the siak river, was built in 1889 by
Sultan Syarif Hasyim Abdul Jalil Syarifuddin. Now a museum,
the palace contains the sultanate's royal paraphernalia and
other items of historical interest. Established during the 1
6th century, the Siak Seri Inderapura sultanate lasted until
1946, when it became victim to the popular upheavals following
the Japanese surrender at the close of World War II.
Candi Muara Takus
Like many other structures of its kind in Sumatra, this Buddhist
stupa near the village of Muara Takus in the Tigabelas Koto
district, was built with red bricks and sand. The temple is
believed to have been built at around the 9th or 1 0th century
A.D. when the power of the South Sumatra - bassed Sriwijaya
empire was at its peak. Excavations are still being made to
determine the precise age and function of the stupa.
Tanjung Pinang
A busy lime town on Bintan Island, visited by traders from Jakarta,
Medan, Palembang and other big cities in Indonesia, Tanjung
Pinang is only a two-hour boat ride away from Singapore. The
town has a Museum located on Jl. Katamso.
A large section of the old part of the town was built in traditional
local fashion, on stilts, over the water. Bintan is a good point
of departure to other islands in the area.
Kerumutan Nature Reserve
Located on mainland Riau in the Kuala Kampar district, this
120,000 hectares 130,000 acres) nature reserve can be reached
in 18 hours by motor boat from Pekanbaru. The boat sails up
a calm river surrounded by virgin forests.
The
Island of Batam
A very strategic island in Indonesia, Batam lies close to Singapore,
designated as a centre of not only industry, but also tourism
and trade. It is one among Indonesia's key locations of industrial
growth.
The Batuampar area is called a pioneer area and is being rapidly
developed. While in the region of Sekupang significant projects
have been in progress.
The Nongsa region has been set aside as a recreation area. Four
golf courses, hotels, motels and marina sports facilities are
there as well as a forest reserve managed by the Batam Industrial
Development Authority.
The Batam Centre is designed for the administrative and commercial
centre of Batam island.
Hotels of international standard have recently been completed
on Nongsa Beach. Batam can be reached in two hours from Tanjung
Pinanq by ferry, and in about half an hour from Singapore.
Beaches
Riau with its thousands of islands has plenty of scenic beaches
and diving spots, among them Trikora on Bintan and Pasir Panjang
on Rupat Island. The first is about 50 kilometers south of Tanjung
Pinang on the eastern side of the island. Pasir Panjang, on
the northern side of Rupat facing the Strait of Malacca, is
a stretched out natural beach with waves that make it attractive
for surfing. Good beaches are also found on the islands Terkulai
and Soreh, about an hour's distance by boat from Tanjung Pinang.
One of the most popular beaches is Nongsa on Batam Island. From
here one can see the Singapore skyline.
Sea Gardens
Sea gardens with beautiful corals and fish are found in the
waters around the islands of Mapor, Abang, Pompong, Balang,
and Tanjung Berka
Penyengat Island
This island, six kilometers away from Tanjung Pinang, can be
reached in 15 minutes by sampan boat. The seat of the powerful
Bugis-descended viceroys of Riau during the 18th century, Penyengat
still bears the traces of its illustrious past. Ruines, abandoned
for almost 70 years, were recently restored.
The old ruler's palace and royal tombs, among them the grave
of the book respected Sultan Haji, author of the first Malay
Language grammar book are among the legacies left by the Riau
sultanate. Still in use is the old viceroyal mosque, the Mesjid
Raya.
A newly built cultural center for stage performances of Malay
music and dances can also be found.
