Batusangkar is a city in the Indonesian province of West Sumatra, about 30 km southeast of Bukittinggi. It is the administrative capital of the Tanah Datar regency.
Understand
[edit]Batusangkar is the administrative center as well as the capital of Tanah Datar Regency.
The city lies within three districts: Lima Kaum, Tanjung Emas, and Sungai Tarab. The Nagari of Pagaruyung is the location of the regency’s administrative center. Batusangkar has many interesting tourist destinations, one of which is Lake Singkarak, located 15 km from Batusangkar. In addition, Batusangkar also offers views of two mountains that flank the city, Mount Marapi and Mount Sago.
Batusangkar was formerly known as Fort Van der Capellen during the Dutch colonial era. Fort Van der Capellen was a fortress built during the Padri War. Since 1949, the area around Fort Van der Capellen has been officially renamed Batusangkar.
Get in
[edit]One way to reach Batusangkar is by taking a bus on the Jakarta–Batusangkar route.
Some bus options that can be used are:
- NPM
- ANS
- Palala
- Al-Hijrah
- SEMBODO
- Gumarang Jaya
- MPM
Get around
[edit]See
[edit]- Indo Jelito Building. The art deco style mansion of the Dutch colonial residents, Van der Capellen, remains the official residence of the Tanah Datar regents.
- Fort Van der Capellen. In colonial times, the whole town was known by this name to the Dutch. Today, the remains of the actual Dutch fort (built in the 1820s) are a tourist attraction.
- 1 Istano Basa Pagaruyung (Pagaruyung Palace). 8AM. The royal palace of the former Pagaruyung kingdom is built in the traditional Minangkabau Rumah Gadang vernacular architectural style.
Do
[edit]Buy
[edit]Van Der Capellen Market sells traditional Minang snacks. This market has been opened since 2018. The seller in this market is wearing kuruang basibah cloth. To buy something from this market, you can only use special coins, Capellen coins. So tourist need to exchange cash for these wooden coins for Rp 2,500 per coin.
Eat
[edit]Dadiah, a yoghurt from fermented buffalo milk, popular among people of West Sumatra.
Drink
[edit]Niro Talua, a drink made from niro sap that mixed with egg yolk. Niro sap is a liquid that is produced from bunches of Anau/Aren flowers.