Padang City Guide
Indonesia>Padang
A visit to West Sumatra usually starts in Padang, the provincial
capital and the air sea gateway to the Land of the Minang.
Padang, the provincial capital of West Sumatra and the principal
gateway to the Minang highlands. Ships call here to load
rubber, cinnamon, cement and coal from Ombilin in the highlands
The main attraction in downtown Padang is the Provincial
Museum (Adhityawarman)which stands in a park and built in
the traditional Minang style known as Gajah Maharam. Collections
ranging from prehistoric artifacts to the modern art and
ethnographic displays of the Minang.
A must visit Padang Sugihan Wildlife Reserve in south Sumatra
province consists of Sumatran Elephants and four habitat
types divided in five distinct north-south belts intersected
by man-made primary canals. It is surely fascinating!
Capture a moment of artistry at the Taman Budaya cultural
center which holds periodic art and cultural exhibitions,
devoted to artifacts connected to Minang ceremonies such
as weddings, funerals and investiture of village leaders.
Enjoy your sunbathe at Bungus, 20km South of Padang, the
most popular beach among the local Padang people. It is
situated on a lovely bay with calm water and a good beach,
you can hire a small outrigger from Bungus to visit the
coral islands.
Or, Sirandah Island, the farthest westward, has little
shade but is the only one without a rocky core so that you
can walk across it. Wonderful white sand beaches, all are
encircled by colorful coral reefs.
Getting There and Moving Around
By air
Indonesia has a variety of airlines servicing domestic
routes including Garuda, Mandala, Merpati and Bouraq. There
are flights from Jakarta to a number of places in Sumatra,
and from Singapore, Penang and Kuala Lumpur to Medan.
By sea
There are also ships/ferries between Java and various ports
in Sumatra. The Merak-Bakauheni ferry is probably the most
popular, and you can also go from Padang to Jakarta. There
are regular ferries from Sumatra to surrounding islands.
By road
If you want more mobility, you can rent cars, motorbikes
and bicycles in the main cities and tourist centers.
Moving Around
The availability of various transport mode in Padang is
a convenience of the visitors to move around the captivating
city.
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