The beauty of Lake Talang West Sumatera Likens Piece of Heaven

Have you ever imagine being in the natural coolness of the mountains, watching the green expanse of tea plantations background peak of a volcano that still smoke? Or standing in one spot where you can enjoy the beauty of two lakes at the same time with a calm and clear water and away from urban noise? Or even just driving a car where you go through every inch of which will be treated to the most beautiful natural scenery?

In Solok regency of West Sumatra province, precisely in the area Alahan Panjang, you will find everything.

Being at the level of 400 to 1700 meters above sea level, the District of Solok district is also known as the Thousand Lakes State. While not up to a thousand, but in this district there are several large and small lakes that are still natural. Call it the Danau Singkarak is already famous for its water that ripples and is the second largest lake in Indonesia after Danau Toba in North Sumatra.


Not Far from the Danau Singkarak there is a small lake covering an area no more than two hectares, the Danau Tuo. Towards the south there are three adjacent volcanic lake, but two of them almost as large and vast, the Danau Talang, Danau Diatas and Danau Dibawah

Unique indeed, although adjacent, which is only located approximately 1 km, but there is no relationship between these two lakes. Water from the Danau Diatas does not flow to Danau Dibawah and vice versa. And although the second area is relatively the same lake (Danau Diatas has an area of 17.2 square km, Danau Dibawah area of 16 km square), but the depth of the lake is much different.

Danau Diatas is categorized as a shallow lake, where its depth only 44 m. As for Danau Dibawah estimated depth reaches 884 m. Even locals do not dare to use the boat to the middle of the lake. Danau Dibawah has a unique mystery, because until now unknown where the cool lake water is drained. This is absurd considering there are no large rivers that disgorge in this lake.

Unlike the Air Danau Diatas which is the upstream river that flows Batanghari divide Sumatra island and empties into the Strait of Malacca. Some people believe that water Danau Dibawah flow through underground rivers that arise in the area of Jambi. However, there has been no scientific studies related to these beliefs.

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That's why, Danau Diatas is more touched by tourism activities are more accessible. Beautiful nature and calm to make the area an average temperature of 14-16 Celsius is suitable for tourism, convention, outbound, tracking and water sports. Solok District Government also makes a resort a community hall, villas and its other supporting facilities around the Danau Diatas.

If the Danau Diatas you can touch the cold water at the level of a lake that is 1600 meters above sea level, another case of Danau Dibawah. The only way to enjoy the natural beauty of Danau Dibawah, you have to climb a small hill to the north Danau Diatas. Above this small hill, you will find a simple Pesanggrahan, maybe a little less manicured. However, your heart will be relieved when he saw a panorama that presented in this Pesanggrahan.

To the north, seen a watery lake is calm, was in the basin of green hills. Towering west side with lofty summit of Mount Talang is covered with fog and smoke. It was so all-powerful God with all his creations. So switch the view to the east, seen Panorama Danau Diatas backgrounds Bukit Barisan Mountains.

Unlike the Danau Diatas, Danau Dibawah is still very natural. Almost no tourism activities touching this area. Exotic mystique it feels when enjoying the beauty of this lake. From this small hilltop visible modesty residents with homes and a simple vegetable plantation.

Unfortunately, there is no car access that allows visitors to touch the cool water of this lake. Danau Diatas as if deliberately in exile in order to stay awake d beauty. And this is what makes the charm of Danau Diatas a mystical and mysterious is always attractive although could only gaze from afar.

Around the Twin Lakes area, you can enjoy the vast expanse of verdant tea estates in the Valley-the valley of Mount Talang in the waist. Results of tea plantations that are managed by PTP Nusantara VI is exported to Europe, Middle East and South Asia. In addition, along the road stretching plot Turquoise Passion and Eggplant (aubergine Netherlands) as well as various kinds of other vegetables. This fresh fruit you can make unique souvenirs Twin Lakes area.

Do not run out until there, on his way home to the city of Padang, you will be treated to views of nature that is not inexhaustible. Starting from the Twin Lakes area you will pass through the tourist areas that could dinikamti even just driving the car. Call it the Valley Regional Gumanti with forest lined Pinusnya, Regional Kayu Aro and Sukarami (AROKA), the capital district in which the artifacts Solok Solok regent office complex located at the foot of Bukit Barisan with a blend of Minang and Modern architecture.

Minangkbau traditional houses lined with gonjong piercing sky-carvings and engravings that are on the sidelines of the terraced rice fields and river water flow ditingkahi nodes. Thick tropical forest in the area of Forest Raya Bung Hatta, until the beautiful city of Padang danSamudera panoraman Indies you can enjoy at some point in the area Sitinjau Scenic Lauik, on the way home back to the city of Padang.

Indeed, if the Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture Jero Wacik has said that West Sumatra is like heaven sekepign yng fall to the World, the Twin Lakes area is the Garden of Eden, which happened to fall on the waist of Mount Talang. So, if you are to the city of Padang, visit the area which is only 2 hours travel from Minangkabau International Airport.
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General Information

One of the poets who visited West Sumatra for the first time depicted this province as one of the remaining heavens on earth. West Sumatra is indeed very rich in stunning natural scenic panorama, including a number of unique stalactite caves. There are also several beautiful lakes, nature reserves and eighteen mountains, three of which are active volcanoes: Mount Merapi, Mount Talang and Mount Tandikat in the area. With such a rich environment, West Sumatra has become for many years a popular destination for domestic and foreign tourists. In general the tourist destinations in the province spread out at three different main areas: Padang and its vicinity with their beautiful sea and beaches ; the cool Bukittinggi, famous for its plentiful assortment of delicious meals and snacks as well as home for a number of natural scenic beauties; and finally, the Tanah Datar area which is home for the old Minangkabau cultural heritage.

range of orchids and dwarf black and yellow gibbons.

LAND & SOCIETY

The province of West Sumatra covers an area of 42.229 square kilometers with Padang as its capital. The most recent census indicated that its population amounts to 4.5 millions, more or less the same with the number of Minangkabau living in the other parts of the country. The population comprises 85% Minangkabaus, and the rest are Indonesians of Arab, Indian, Chinese descents as well as Javanese transmigrants. Approximately 85% of the West Sumatrans reside in the rural areas living on traditional agricultural produce. The Minangkabaus are matrilineal. Land and wealth of the clan are handed down to the daughters. The Mentawai archipelago is part of West Sumatra, but their culture and language are entirely different from the Minangkabau’s.

LANGUAGE

The West Sumatrans speak in Minang. Each nagari or district has its own dialect. Thanks to the school system which has been introduced to this province for many years, people in both the rural and urban areas can speak Indonesian well. Nagari is a unique communal unit in Minangkabau.

CLIMATE

Being on the equator, West Sumatra has only two seasons: rainy and hot. The rainy season is between March and October, and the hot season, between April and September.

CUSTOM & TRADITIONS

The proverb in the Minangkabau tradition says: adat bersendi syara’, syara’ bersendi Kitabullah which means that customs follow the religious rules, and the latter are based on the Holy Qur’an. The consensus based on deliberation traditions has led the society to deal with others in a democratic way.

FLORA & FAUNA

West Sumatra, which is mountainous, is not only rich in dense forests, but also in the diversity of its flora and fauna, including several endangered species, such as the Sumatran tigers, twin horned rhinoceros, and a number of other wild animals. The famous Rafflesia Arnoldi flower is found in the areas around Padang and Bukittinggi. In additions, the jungles are home for wild boars, the famous hunting game targets in the area. While on the Mentawai archipelago you can find a wide
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The History Of Minangkabau

Maharaja Diraja and his followers landed on top of Mount Merapi (in the district of Tanah Datar) which was still surrounded by water. The face of the earth expanded, the number of inhabitants increased, and finally the early settlements were established in the district of Tanah Datar. And the nagari, the basic Minangkabau political organization, were founded. That was how the history of Alam Minangkabau begins, at least according to the tambo, the Minangkabau traditional historiography.

The earliest archeological evidence, can be found in the district (luhak) Limapuluh Kota, one of the district, besides Agam and Tanah Datar – traditionally regarded as the heartland of the Minangkabau world. Archeological remains, scattered in several hundred sites and dating from 3000 to 2000 BC, consist of menhirs, sometimes decorated with ornaments depicting birds, crocodiles, and buffalo heads. They must have been used as meeting ground were ceremonial gatherings took place.

Once the heartland was secured, it ceased to expand, but the Minangkabau people continued their geographical explorations and established new nagari. The new territories, called rantau, grew in accordance with the expansion of the Minangkabau people.

If the heartland was ruled by the pangulu – matrilineal inherited representatives of the people, the rantau territories were ruled by the aristocratic raja. It was most probably also in the rantau that the supranagari political organization was firstly established.

Buddhist stupa, still standing near the confluence of two branches of the Kampar River in the eastern part of Minangkabau ( now lying in Riau Province ), may attest to early Indian influences in the cultural and political sphere. Muara Takus was a Buddhist centre of learning, frequented by many monks from China and India. The area was perhaps also visited by traders since it produced gold and aromatic woods. Similarities in architectural features with Buddhist remains found in Thailand ( Haripunjana or Lampun etc. ) are strong indications that the area in those times was part of a greater world extending over mainland Southeast Asia.

One of the kingdoms in the eastern part of Minangkabau was Dharmasraya which may have flourished in the 11th and 12th centuries. Its remain are found in Rembahan, at the banks of the Batanghari River in the present Kabupaten Sawahlunto Sijunjung.

In the competition with the maritime kingdom of Sriwijaya for the supremacy of sealanes in the Straits of Malaka, King Kartanegara of Singasari (East java) sent a military expedition to Sumatra in 1275, known in history as the Pamalayu.

The name Malayu, according to Prof JG de Casparis, most probably was used to refer to the whole river system of Batanghari, whereas Melayupura, its capital, at time shifted upstream and downstream according to (political? ) Circumstances. Until the 13th century the capital was located at Muara Jambi, but later it was moved westward to the Langsat River to the place of Dharmasraya ( Padang Rocok ) where a statue of Amonghapasa ( a gift of Kartanegara to the Malay King ) was erected in 1286.

Perhaps the capital was moved again at the time of Adityawarman who established his capital at Surawasa ( Suroaso ) near present Pagaruyung. Heirlooms of the kings of Pagaruyung are still preserved today. Nowadays Pagaruyung is a nagari in the neighbourhood of Bukit Gombak and Suroaso, called the region of Tigo Balai, in the regency Tanah Datar, about five kilometers from Batusangkar. The three Balai are Balai Janggo, Kampung Tengah, and Gudam. It is an area which has yielded many inscriptions from the time of Adityawarman (14th century).

As the story goes, Adityawarman was welcomed by Datuk Indomo, the symbolic representative of the Koto Piliang, who gave him a piece of land. Then Adityawarman established a fortified settlement and proclaimed himself as King of Pagaruyung. However, Adityawarman never ruled Minangkabau, which consisted of numerous independent nagger under their respective pangulu . The king was only the symbol of unity of the Minangkabau world. Remains of this kingdom are still found in Pagaruyung and have also found their way to many museums abroad. The statue of Adityawarman which was found in Sijunjung is now housed in the National Museum in Jakarta.

Batu Batikam (Pierced Stone) found in Limo Kaum, Batusangkar, is - according to the tambo – linked with the emergence of two phratries in Minangkabau tradition: Koto Piliang and Bodi Caniago, established by two legendary adat givers, two half brothers with a common mother and a different father. Datuk Ketemanggungan, the son of an aristocratic father, got into a heated dispute with his brother, Datuk Perpatih nan Sabatang, the son of a commoner, over the proper system of governance. In their rage both stabbed the same stone with their keris. The hole is still to ne seen, and so their descendants can reflect on the duality of the Minangkabau unified adat system.

Bodi Caniago and Koto Piliang in Minangkabau philosophy are regarded as two complementary phratries. The adat counsil of Koto Piliang which recognizes the hierarchy of panguluship is characterized by its tiered floors, whereas the balai adat of Bodi Caniago has a level floor which reflects its refusal to recognize any hierarchy in the pangulu system. Both systems, however, are based on mufakat (deliberation and consensus) in every decision of social importance.
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