City

     Pematangsiantar City (often abbreviated as Siantar only) is one of the cities in North Sumatra Province and the second-largest city in the Province after Medan. Because of the strategic location of Pematangsiantar, it is crossed by the Trans Sumatra Highway. The city has an area of 79.97 km2. Pematangsiantar City which is only 128 km from Medan and 50 km from Parapat is often a crossing town for tourists who want to go to Lake Toba. As a city supporting tourism in the surrounding area, the city has 8-star hotels, 10 budget hotels, and 268 restaurants. In this city, there are still many old BSA motorcycles as motorized rickshaws that cause loud noises. Because it is located near the equator, Pematangsiantar City is included in the tropics and flat, with a temperate climate with an average maximum temperature of 30.3 ^oC and an average minimum temperature of 21.1 ^oC in 2012 until now. Pematangsiantar has a garden called TAMAN MERDEKA which was once called TAMAN BUNGA. So we will not feel hot like the heat or weather of Jakarta.

             The 3rd Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia Adam Malik was born in this city on July 22, 1917. The city had received the Adipura Cup in 1993 for the cleanliness and preservation of its city environment. Meanwhile, due to the orderliness of its traffic management, the city also won the Wahana Tata Nugraha Cup award in 1996.

In Pematangsiantar it is also famous for its delicious food and drinks. Especially Cap Badak Drinks and Roti Ganda. For friends who want to eat foods that are non-halal, there are many that are used as the favorite food of many people, especially the Pematangsiantar people, namely PANSIT. The most popular place is Simpang Empat. You will find many who sell these foods.

First produced on the island of Sumatra, this CAP BADAK drink is also very popular, more precisely in Pemantang Siantar City, Medan, and surrounding cities. This drink is easier to find at Toba Batak Restaurants and Chinese restaurants. To distinguish it is also very easy because CAP BADAK drinks are often lined up with soda, and other bottled drinks.

Because it is classified as a legendary drink, the audience also comes from various circles. Even CAP BADAK fanatical fans in Medan and Pematang Siantar is quite a lot. So even if someone has traveled to other regions or countries, CAP BADAK soda drinks remain in the heart and are always sought after returning home.

If you go to Pematangsiantar, there are many places that are very interesting, there are

1.       Swimbait Bathing Tour

Swlimbath Bathing is one of the Siantar Baths which is quite visited by visitors both from the city of Medan and from outside the city of Medan. This bath has the shape of a natural swimming pool where the source of the spring is directly from pure spring.

For those of you who are looking for recommendations for a comfortable and inexpensive tourist spot. This place can be your choice to spend your vacation with family.

2.      Dewi Kwan Im Statue

The next tourist spot is the tourist Statue of Dewi Kwam Im. Located inside the Avalokitesvara Temple complex located in the center of Pematang Siantar City. You need to know that this monastery was built for the purpose of being used as a place of worship for Buddhists.

For those of you who like religious tourism, make sure you visit this one tour when you are in Siantar. The statue of the Dewi Kwam Im is a statue that has a height of 22.8 meters. So it is not wrong if this statue is claimed to be the highest statue of Dewi Kwam Im in the Southeast Asian region. This statue was officially opened on 15 November 2015. So be sure to visit this one historical place

3.      Kok Tong coffee shop

            Located on Cipto’s street no. 115, Pematang Siantar, this coffee shop has been established since 1925. The 93-year-old tavern was founded by a Chinese-blooded man named Lim Tee Kee. Currently, the store is managed by a third-generation named Paimin Halim or more commonly called Aktiong. In Chinese, Kong Tok means east.

Located in the center of the crowd, no wonder there are many simple cafes and coffee shops found here. Although it has been around for a long time, Kok Tong Siantar is always crowded with customers of various ages. Even this shop already has regular customers. Even so, the place also does not look classic because it has been renovated several times and adapted to the times.

4.      Ganda bakery

Playing to Pematang Siantar, you have to stop by Jalan Sutomo. Here is a legendary bakery that has existed since 1979. Every day a store called Double Bread is always packed with buyers.

5.      Pematangsiantar’s Zoo

            Pematangsiantar's zoo is the fourth oldest zoo in Indonesia which still survives after the Surabaya Zoo, Kinantan Wildlife and Cultural Park in Bukittinggi and Bandung Zoo. Along with the journey of THPS which at that time was still called Pematangsiantar Zoo was under the management of the Regional Government, ironically, as long as under the management of the Regional Government the condition of the Pematangsiantar Zoo turned out to be unable to meet community expectations due to various management limitations and internal problems.For those of you who plan to take a vacation with your family, this is one of the recommendations for a suitable place, namely the Pematangsiantar Animal Park.

            The zoo in Siantar is located on Gunung Simanuk, Pematang Siantar City. Having an area of ​​4.5 hectares, this garden is very comfortable to use for recreation with family. You need to know that this zoo is the best and most complete zoo owned by North Sumatra. This Animal Park began inaugurated since 1936, in the zoo there are 715 animals with various species. It is estimated that this number continues to increase every year because the management has successfully carried out captivity for the animals.

6. Museum Zoology

The Zoological Museum is one of the museums in Siantar. This museum is part of the Animal Park. Even so, if you are interested in entering this museum. You have to pay for the ticket because the entrance ticket is different from the ticket at the Animal Park. For the price of the ticket, which costs 10,000 per person. In the museum, you can see some animals with various species that have been preserved. The Pematangsiantar Animal Park originated from the passion of Dr. Coonrad is an animal lover from the Dutch Colonial in the world of Zoology. Until November 27, 1936, the history of THPS began with the inauguration of a Zoological and Botanical Garden on a 4.5 Ha plot of land located in the Pematangsiantar City area by Dr. Coonrad. Dr. Coonrad, who initiated the establishment of the first Zoological and Botanical Gardens in Pematangsiantar City, then served as the first leader of the Zoological and Botanical Lovers Community and the Zoological and Botanical Gardens. In June 1956 at the Zoological and Botanical Garden site founded by Dr. Coonrad was also founded a Zoological Museum by Prof. Dr. F. J. Nainggolan which was inaugurated by Mrs. Rahmi Hatta, Mrs. Deputy President of the Republic of Indonesia at that time Ir. Mohammad Hatta. For some time the name of the Pematangsiantar City Zoological and Botanical Garden was also called the Pematangsiantar Zoo.

7.      Aek Manik

            From the name alone this one tourist place sounds strange and less attractive. But unexpectedly this one tour is a favorite tourist attraction both from the archipelago and from abroad. Aek Manik in Siantar is a place where nature is located not far from the Sidamanik Tea Plantation tour. You need approximately one hour to get to the location if you depart from Siantar City. The water conditions in this bath are really very clear. Because it's too clear, you can see the base of the bathing pool. For road access to tourist sites, it can be said to be quite good. But you need to walk to get to the natural bathing place.

You don't need to worry about the ticket price, because the availability of Aek Manik can still be visited for free or at no cost. So don't let you miss a tour in this one place.

8.  Tugu Becak

            For those of you who are on vacation in Siantar, it's less complete if you don't visit Becak Monument. This place is right in the city of Pematang Siantar.This pedicab monument is located on Jalan Merdeka Atas. This building is one of the top tourist destinations which is currently very popular. This pedicab monument was inaugurated since 2016. Why is the statue in the shape of a motorized pedicab, because you need to know that motorized becak is one of the icons of the City of Pematangsiantar. There you can enjoy the crowds of visitors at night. Make sure if you visit this place, you must use it as a place to take pictures with your family.

9.  Taman Merdeka

The last recommended tourist spot is Taman Bunga in Siantar. Another mention of the Flower Garden is Merdeka Siantar Square. Its beautiful and cool location makes the visitors feel at home enjoying various kinds of wild plants inside the park. This place is very suitable for visitors who want to release fatigue from their activities. In addition, visitors can go camping with family in the area of ​​the flower garden.

10. Museum Siantar

The Simalungun Museum was built on April 10, 1939, in Pematangsiantar by the Kings of Simalungun using a cost of 1,650 guilders and was inaugurated on April 30, 1940. The purpose of building the Simalungun Museum at that time was to safeguard cultural heritage objects with historical and cultural values ​​so as not to disappear into the era. Since June 7, 1955, the Simalungun Museum has been managed by the Simalungun Museum. The maintenance and maintenance costs are expected from the visitors and Simalungun Regency government and Pematangsiantar City Government.


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