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Did you know Venice has a twin sister city in Indonesia? Let me introduce you to Palembang. The city is one of the biggest cities of Sumatra, one of the islands of the Indonesian archipelago. The word Palembang, created using two Malay terms “pa” and “lembang”, means “a root soaked in water for a while”. No wonder it takes us back to its connection with Venice, as Palembang literally stands for “place constantly covered by water”. Being one of the oldest cities of Indonesia it has a long history to be told, but this is something tourists should learn by walking through its streets and visiting its most important sites and locations.
If you are planning on spending some time in Palembang there are a few interesting sites you cannot miss. In fact, along the Musi river, which divides the city in two, the first landmark you can find is the Ampera Bridge connecting the two banks of the river and the two sides of the city. Right next to the bridge, you can see another attraction: the Benteng Kuto Besak, a fort inherited by one of the ancient dynasties ruling over the city in the past, which is now the site of the health office II Sriwijaya Military Command and the hospital.
Downtown you can find the old water tower draining water in the past, Kantor Ledeng, and lake Kambang Iwak, right next to a park and an arena which are always crowded, most of all during the holidays. Among the other attractions you may want to visit also the Sriwijaya Kingdom Archaeological Park, the Srivijaya Museum, the People’s Struggle Monument and the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Museum, located near the Ampera bridge. Palembang has been an international port city for many years getting influenced by cultures and languages coming not only from the closest areas but also from abroad.