North Sumatra

Medan is a beautiful and historic city. As the capital of North Sumatra, Medan has many historical sites and cultural heritage buildings that are worth to be visited. Not only that, Medan also became a haven for culinary lovers. There are various types of cuisine typical of all districts in North Sumatra can be enjoyed in the city of Medan so it can be said that Medan is a culinery city.

Medan is the fourth biggest city by population in Indonesia, behind Jakarta, Surabaya and Bandung. With 2,097,610 inhabitants according the 2010 census and remains the largest settlement outside Java island, having a diversity of multicultural peoples, a busy trading city in Sumatra island. Medan is the gateway to the western part of Indonesia, accessible via the Port of Belawan and Kuala Namu International Airport,

The lake is located not far from the city of Medan, approximately 175 km to the south, has become one of the icons of Tourism in North Sumatra. So it is very inappropriate if not visit Lake Toba.

Lake Toba offers such exotic scenery, with hills around the lake and cool mountain air. Lake Toba is also a suitable place for you to relax and enjoy the breeze and charm of North Sumatra.If you're interested in exploring, you can wander the lake by boat or car. In addition there are also other support facilities such as good hotels, cafes, inns, and restaurants that complement your tour. No wonder this place is the target of travelers who stop in Medan and become the 3rd place in Indonesia that is often visited.

Samosir Island, is a tourist attraction that is called as a tourist icon of North Sumatra, crowded visited by tourists throughout the year. Samosir Island is in the middle of Lake Toba.

The natural landscape of Samosir Island is always able to amaze foreign and local tourists to visit. In Samosir Island there is a place to buy souvenirs typical of North Sumatra precisely in the village of Tomok, like traditional statues of Batak, bracelets, ulos, and others.

Here we can visit the traditional village of Batak Toba and see the typical house of Batak Toba, also can enjoy the local folk dance.

Green hill, clear water of Lake Toba, fresh air away from the pollution of the city noise, no air pollution, making the small island in the middle of Lake Toba dubbed as a piece of heaven on earth

Bukit Lawang is one of the tourist destinations in Langkat district located at the foot of Mount Leuser. This place is a former orangutan rehabilitation center in North Sumatra. Bukit Lawang is a hilly area with green trees, a river with clear water making it perfect to relax and unwind from daily work. Popular tourist attractions in North Sumatra is so beautiful and visited by tourists every year, in addition to seeing semi-wild orangutans, here tourists also often swim and soak in the river Bahorok, Bahorok River which is the largest river in the region is perfect for water tourism such as tubbing. Visitors can enjoy the swift currents of the Bahorok river as they glide over the rubber tires that can enhance your adrenaline. Only 90 km from Medan City and can be reached in two and a half hours by car.

The Sumatran Orangutan
The Sumatran Orangutan with the Latin (Pongo abelii) is the rarest species of orangutan. Sumatran orangutans live and endemic to the island of Sumatra, an island located in Indonesia. Their size is smaller when compared with species of orang utan kalimanta. Sumatran orangutans only have a height of about 4.6 feet and weighs 200 pounds, while the female size is smaller with a height of about 3 feet and weighs 100 pounds. This kind of orangutans prefer fruits and insects for their food. Sumatran orangutans are more sociable compared to the Bornean orangutans, they will gather to eat a large fruit of trees together. But for the type of adult male orangutans usually avoid contact with other adult males. The survey in 2004 estimated there were about 7,300 Sumatran orangutans. Really including a small amount with a vast sumatra island region.

Berastagi is a sub-district in Karo District, North Sumatra. Berastagi is the second largest city in karo highlands after Kabanjahe Town. Berastagi is one of the popular tourist city in North Sumatra. Berastagi is about 66 kilometers from Medan City. Berastagi flanked by 2 active volcanoes namely Mount Sibayak and Mount Sinabung. Near Sibayak Mountain, there is a hot spring bath. Berastagi itself is located at an altitude of more than 1300 mdpl, making this city became one of the coldest cities in Indonesia.Economic activity in Berastagi is centered on the production of vegetables, fruits and tourism. Berastagi is one of the largest vegetable and fruit producers in North Sumatra. Even already exported to Singapore and Malaysia. The dominant ethnicity in this area is the Karo Tribe, and communicates with the Karo dialect.

The Sipisopiso is a plunge waterfall in the Batak highlands of Sumatra, Indonesia. It is formed by a small underground river of the Karo plateau that hurls itself from a cave in the side of the lake Toba caldera some 120 meters (360 feet) down to lake level. This fact earns it the title for the highest waterfall in Indonesia. Sipisopiso is a well-known tourist attraction and a nearby vantage point offers great vistas of the fall and the lake.

Sipisopiso waterfall is located in the Tanah Karo regency in North Sumatra, at the northern most tip of the Lake Toba caldera, near the fishing village of Tongging. The closest municipality, about 25 kilometers away, is the town of Kabanjahe.

Tangkahan well-known as the hidden paradise of Gunung Leuser National Park, is an Eco Tourism area in the Langkat district of North Sumatra. The peaceful jungle retreat is located along the Kualsa Buluh River next to the dense rainforest, just 2.5 hours far from Bukit Lawang driving on a bumpy road through Palm oil plantations and rural villages. It is the perfect place to lay back from strong traveling and spend a memorable time with seven rehabilitated adult Sumatran elephants and a few small calves.

Sumatran elephants
The Sumatran Elephant (Elephas Maximus). This endemic Sumatran elephant can also be found in North Sumatra, precisely in Tangkahan, Langkat. In Tangkahan, tourists can watch a herd of elephants who are walking around the river and if you want to immediately feel the sensation of riding elephants, bathe and walk into the forest, can also be done . About 1 Km from the entrance of Tangkahan ecotourism, Barumun Nagari - Wildlife Sanctuary, Providing Peaceful Animals and Dignity. The Baringin Nagari resort gives us the opportunity to enjoy the silence of the forest. Here you are allowed to interact with the Sumatran Elephant. Some of our activities include feeding elephants under the guidance and physical examination of elephants.

The Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra is a conservation area for Tropical Rainforest in Sumatra and the habitat of some extinct species such as Sumatran tiger, Sumatran orangutan, Sumatran elephant and Sumatran Rhino which is the smallest Rhino species and has two horns. The total area of the Tropical Rainforest of Sumatra is 2.5 million hectares consisting of 3 National Parks in Sumatra, Gunung Leuser National Park, Kerinci Seblat National Park, and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park.

It is also home to many endemic species such as, the semar bag, the largest flower in the world of Rafflesia Arnoldi, and the highest flower of Amorphophallus titanum. In addition to having a high biodiversity, Sumatra's tropical rain forest is also a source of livelihood for the people who live there. Some tribes live in the tropical rain forests of Sumatra, such as the Mentawai tribe and the Anak Dalam tribe.

The house is built on a sturdy pole and one house is usually inhabited by a large family of 4 to 8 Batak families. Inside the house there is no partition as a room divider. Space is bounded by strong custom lines, though the line is not visible.

Each room has a name, Who could occupy a certain room, has been determined also by custom. All activities of daily life carried out in the middle of the house, the upper part is used as a place to store goods and household appliances, while the bottom of the house is usually a place of livestock, such as pigs, chickens, buffalo.

The house is divided into two types namely Jabu Parsakitan and Jabu Bolon. Jabu Parsakitan is a place of storage of goods, this place is also sometimes used as a place for discussion related to customary matters. Jabu Bolon is a big family home. This house has no partition or room so the family lives and sleeps together. For Batak people, this house looks like a buffalo standing. The construction of traditional house of Batak tribe is done in mutual assistance by Batak society.

This house is shaped like a house on stilts supported by several poles. House poles are usually made of wood. According to the belief of Batak people, this house is divided into three parts that reflect the world or different dimensions. The first part of the roof of the house is believed to reflect the world of the gods. The second part is the floor of the house that is believed to reflect the human world. The third part is the bottom of the house or under the house that reflects the world of death. On the front wall of the house, there are Batak-engraved carvings, white, red and black. Carving and color has a certain meaning for the Toba Batak people.