Pekanbaru is the capital of Riau, a province in Indonesia on the island of Sumatra. It has an area of 446.5 km² and population of over 793,000. Located on the Siak River, which drains to the Strait of Malacca, Pekanbaru has direct access to the busy strait and was long known as a trading port (the city name is derived from the Indonesia words of ‘new market’, “pekan” meaning market, and “baru” meaning new).
The city is divided into 9 subdistricts (kecamatan). The Sultan Syarif Qasim II International Airport serves Pekanbaru with direct flights to Batam, Jakarta, Malaysia (Malacca and Kuala Lumpur), Singapore and other destinations in Indonesia.
A settlement has existed on the city site since the 17th century. In
the late 19th century, the city developed to serve the coffee and coal
industries, and the Dutch built roads to help ship goods to Singapore and Malacca
(now Melaka). After oil was discovered in the region in the 1930s,
Pekanbaru’s economy has depended heavily on oil revenues and made the
city with the highest per capita income in Indonesia.[citation needed] Most of Indonesia’s petroleum is produced in Riau, and much of Pekanbaru’s economy is based on the petroleum industry. International oil companies, such as Chevron
from US, as well as other Indonesian companies, have established their
offices in the region. This location for oil has proven to be one of
the best money providers in the world. The The city is connected by
road to an oil refining and exporting port at Dumai.
Many facilities, including an airport, three stadiums (building a
fourth), swimming pool, one of the two bridges that cross the Siak
River near the city, the roads in Rumbai area, and also the road to
Dumai, were partially or fully financed by oil companies working in the
area.
Pekanbaru is one of the cleanest big cities in Indonesi,
and in 2006 received the “Adipura” award (’clean city’) in the category
of large city, again, for the second consecutive time in 2007. The city
is also notable for its wide streets, which are in the city’s main.
Pekanbaru regularly suffers, however, from smoke or smog due to forest
fires, particularly in the dry season, since there is no rain to put
the fires out. The fires also can be traced from people simply burning
their trash or freshly cut grass. Most of the fires are intentionally
started, but unintentionally grow into dangers.
Some tourist attractions in Pekanbaru are the “Great” Mosque of
An-Nur, Alam Mayang Fishing Garden, Sang Nila Utama Museum, Riau
Cultural Park, Princess Kaca Mayang Garden, and Sari Valley Artificial
Lake. Pekanbaru is becoming known as a center of Malay culture; a Malay
culture festival was held there in 2004.
Places of Interest:
* 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.
* 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.
* Sea Gardens
Sea gardens with beautiful corals and fish are found in the
waters around the islands of Mapor, Abang, Pompong, Balang,
and Tanjung Berkait.
* 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.
* Candi Muara Takus
Candi Muara Takus. Like many others structures of its kind in Sumatra, this
Budha temple 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 arround the 9th 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. It can be reached in 118 Km from Pekanbaru.
* Kerumutan Nature Reserve
Kerumutan Nature Reserve. Located in mainland Riau in the Kuala Kampar district,
this 120,000 hectares (30,000 acres) nature reserve can be reached in
18 hours by motor boat from Pekanbaru.
* Bono
Bono is a curious natural phenomenon, which the Rokan River (in the Kampar
regency) displays daily along its downstream reaches. Every day at the
time high tide sets in, a swelling appears in the water at the river
mouth. Accompanied by a rumbling sound, the swelling grows in mass
until it is about as high as a small tree, spinning as it moves upwards
along the river and growing smaller in the process until it finally
disappears.
* Dumai
Formerly a fishing village on the east coast, it is now a major oil
terminal. Storage tanks and modern installations rise against the sky,
although the town itself is quite pleasant and interesting.
* The Siak Sultanate’s Park
The Siak Sultanate’s Park. This Moorish style palace of the Sultan Siak,
120 kms upstream 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 others items of
historical interest.
* Batu Bedaun Beach
Batu Bedaun Beach is very famous among the teenagers in Dabo Singkep. The
beach situated 20 km from Dabo. This white sandy beach is very clean,
with blue sea and small wave.
* Daik
Daik is a small town but has many historical relics of Riau Lingga kingdom
as in the Penyengat Island. We can reach the town by speedboats from
Tanjung Pinang. In Lingga Island there are also many variation of
tropical plantation and marine water fish species that cannot be found
in other pla¬ces. Other interesting objects is Mount Daik with 3 peaks.
* Senayang Island
Senayang Island. Boat cruising touring the waters between the islands is among
potential attractions. Some real and thrilling adventures are available
since there are many islands surrounding Senayang and excellent
packages include cycling, bush wacking, swimming, snorkeling and diving.
* Tambelan Island
Tambelan Island is about 200 km away from Tanjungpinang. There are only six
villages, which are spread over a few islands, with a total population
of about 4,000. As is to be expected, the environment here is largely
unspoilt, and the scenery is truly magnificent. One of the most
interesting of natural attraction in this island is watching turtles
laying their eggs in great number that protected by local peoples.
* Bintan Island
Bintan Island. International investors have developed many new hotels,
integrated world-class resorts, international golf courses on the
island of Bintan. Other deve¬lopments include industrial parks,
medical, commercial and banking facilities that are readily available
to any visitors. During your visit to Riau Archipelago will not be
bored or uninspired because there are many other interesting places
like Pasar Ikan (Fish Market) where fresh, cheap seafood and
ve¬getables are sold. There are also the Akau (Night Market), Pelantar
(Water Villages) and shops selling local handicraft, natural attraction
like watching the turtles laying their eggs or fishing on the Kelong.
* Trikora Beach
Trikora Beach is about 40 kilometers south of Tanjung Pinang on the eastern
side of the island. Good beaches are also found on the islands of
Terkulai and Soreh, about an hour away by boat.
* Natuna Archipelago
Natuna Archipelago is a part of the vast province, which embraces all of the
islands off the Riau mainland. The main island clusters of the Natuna
archipelago are: Anambas, Natuna, South Natuna and Tambelan. Matak
Island at present serves as a base for offshore oil exploration.
Colourful co¬rals and reef fish are found in the waters surrounding
these islands. South Natuna comprises the islands Serasan, Panjang and
Subi. The surf is strong on these islands and the scenery impressive.
The Tambelan Islands are accessed by boat in 6 hours from Pontianak in
West Kalimantan or from Tanjung Pinang in 16 hours. Turtles habitually
come to some of the beaches to depo¬sit their eggs in the warm sand.
There are probably more turtles than people on these islands. Natuna is
located in area of South China Sea with the geographical location
passed by international shipping and coast lines. Natuna’s Ranai
airport has length of 2,550 metres and Matak airport with length basis
of 1,700 metres. Natuna’s seaport are Lampa (100 x 10 sqm) and Penagih
(50 x 8 sqm).
* Karimun Island
Karimun Island is one of the most important islands in the Riau Archipelago,
due to its thriving economy and proximity to Singa¬pore. Tanjungbalai
Karimun is a medium-sized town, with a large Chinese community and
shops selling a large variety of imported items. Lies in a shipping
line in Malacca Strait and Singapore, Karimun gateway can be passed by
international ferry from and to Malaysia and Singapore.
* Batam Island
Batam Island is a very strategic island designated as a center of industry,
tourism and trade. It lies close to Singapore. The Nongsa recreational
region has international hotels, four golf courses, a marina sports
facility and a forest reserve. Batam can be reached in two hours from
Tanjung Pinang 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 of 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.
