History of Palembang

History Of Palembang Indonesia

Palembang is the oldest city in Indonesia, this is based on the inscription Kedukan Hill (683 AD) found on the Mount Siguntang, west of the city of Palembang, which declared the establishment of a wanua is interpreted as the city was the capital of Sriwijaya on June 16, 683 AD ( dated five months Ashada syaka 605 years). So that date as a benchmark for the birthday of the city of Palembang.

Stone-inscribed (inscription) was discovered by the river Batenberg Controleur Kedukan Hill, which is between Mount Seguntang with Karanganyar Site in 1926 by using letters Pallawa and ancient Melayu language. The inscription is by the inhabitants of the village of Bukit Kedukan that time will be used as such offering when entering the contest Bidar, namely by putting in the bow that will the contest Bidar. That said, Bidar or hanging on boat with stones "magic-magic" that always wins a race. Then-inscribed Stone Hill Kedukan it reviewed by experts of history and culture, among them Prof. M. Yamin said that the proclamation (excavation / removal), the capital of Sriwijaya (from somewhere else) to Mount Seguntang.

Kedukan Bukit inscription reads as follows:
(1) Swasti cri cakawarsatita 605 ekadaci cu (2) klapaksa wulan waicakha dapunta hiyang nayik di (3) samwau manalap siddhayatra disaptami cuklapaksa (4) wulan jyesta dapunta hiyang marlapas dari Minanga (5) Tamvan mamawa yam wala dualaksa danan koca (6) duaratus cara di samwau danan jalan sariwu (7) tluratus sapulu dua wannakna datam di Mukha Upang (8) Sukhacitta di pancami cuklapaksa wulan (9) laghu mudita datam marwuat wanua (10) Criwijava siddhayatra subhiksa.

[Prof. Poerbacaraka, G. Coedes, Prof. Dr. Ph.S. Van Ronkel Dr. Buchari, Prof. Slametmulyana]


Palembang city is also trusted by the community wither as ancestral land. Because in this town where Malays decline in the first embryo of the king Parameswara who came down from Mount Siguntang. Then Parameswa left Palembang with Sang Nila Utama go to Tumasik and gave name to Tumasik Singapore. When troops from the Javanese Majapahit will attack Singapore, Parameswara with his followers moved to Malacca in Peninsular Malaysia and founded the kingdom of Malacca. Some of his descendants also opened a new country in the region Pattani and Narathiwat (now Thailand's southern region). After the occurrence of contact with traders and the people of Gujarat and Persia in Malacca, the Parameswara converted to Islam and changed his name to Sultan Iskandar Shah.

Talking about the origins of the city of Palembang, was inseparable from the history of the kingdom of Srivijaya, which had made the town of Palembang as its capital. Sriwijaya triumph as if sent down to the Sultanate of Palembang Darussalam Sultanate era as a respected middle area of the archipelago. Palembang never functioned as a center of Srivijaya empire from the 7th century (AD 683 years) until about the 12th century under the House of Sailendra / Derivatives Dapunta Salendra with Bala Putra Dewa as King of the First. In the 17th century the city became capital of Palembang Palembang Darussalam Sultanate which was proclaimed by Queen Kimas Hindi Prince Abdurrahman Candiwalang Sri Susuhanan Khalifatul Faithful Sayidul Iman (better known Kimas Hindi / Kimas Cinde) as the first emperor (1643-1651), apart from the influence of empire Mataram (Java). Dated October 7, 1823 the Sultanate of Palembang was abolished by the Dutch colonialists and the city of Palembang made under the Commissioner's Office Government of the Netherlands East Indies (contract starting on August 18, 1823), with Commisaris Sevenhoven as the first Dutch government officials. Then the city of Palembang be Gameente / haminte based stbld. No. 1906 126 1 April 1906 until the entry of Japan on February 16, 1942. Palembang Syi led Syi-co (Mayor) lasted from 1942 until independence. Based on the Governor's decision Kdh. Tk. No South Sumatra. 103 years old in 1945, Palembang City pledged Class A. Based on Law No.. 22 Year 948, Palembang made the Big City. Under Law No. 18 Year 1965, Palembang made a municipality. Under Law No. 5 / 1974 dated July 23, 1974 concerning the Principles of Regional Government, pledged Palembang Palembang municipality.

Fortress Of Kuto Besak

History Fotress of kuto besak

Kuta Besak is the central palace of the Sultanate of Palembang Darussalam, as traditional power centers into a process of change from middle age into a new era in the 19th century. Understanding Kuto here comes from the Sanskrit word, which means: Cities, palaces, forts, camps (see 'Dictionary of Ancient Java - Indonesia', L Mardiwarsito, Flores, Nusa Indah, 1986). Malay language (Palembang) seems to put more emphasis on the meaning of the castle, fortress, stronghold Kuto meaning even more defined in terms of a high fence-shaped wall. While understanding the city is more translated to the country.

Fortress was founded in 1780 by Sultan Mohammad Bahauddin (father Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II). This fortress of ideas coming from the airfare I (1724-1758), known as Wikramo Jayo, who founded the Old Kuta Palace in 1737. The construction of this castle is fully supported by all the people in South Sumatra. They also donated building materials as well as executive power.

Who was the architect, is not known with certainty. There are opinions that say that the architect is a European. For the execution of the work supervision is entrusted to a Chinese, who are experts in their field.
As a material for the adhesive cement limestone bricks were used in the outback Ogan River. Place the lime accumulation of materials located in the back of the Land of the Palace which is now called Kampung Kapuran, and creeks used as a means of transport is kapuran river.

In 1797, construction of the castle was finished, and began formally occupied by the Sultan Muhammad Bahauddin on Monday, Sha'ban 1211 Hijri 23 in the morning or together with the February 21 1797 BC. While the eldest son, who became the Queen of Prince (crown prince) occupies the Old Palace Kuta.

In 1819 the first Palembang War, the castle was tested by the cannon shells Dutch corvettes, but none of the bullets that can penetrate either the wall or door. Due to run out of bullets and gunpowder, the Dutch fleet escaped to Batavia. Of expression was born here, which states that a job in vain, because no payoff: ration discharged, no ne Palembang, it means acts or operations which do not yield results only bring in losses and a weary. This event is written with great charm in Menteng War poem or poem is also called the War of Palembang.

Besides the beauty and sturdy, Kuto Besak indeed located in strategic places, namely in the areas like floating on the water. She lies on the "island", the area bounded by the Musi River (on the front or south), in the western part

Sekanak bounded by the River, River to the east boundary Tengkuruk and behind it or the north bounded by the Kapuran chalky. This area is called Land of the Kingdom.

Forms and soil conditions in the city of Palembang as islands, and by the Dutch people gave him the title as the de Stad der Eilanden Twintig (Twenty-City Island). Furthermore, according to G. Bruining, the island's most valuable (dier eilanden) is where Kuto Besak, Kuta Lama and the Great Mosque stands.

Formation of islands in the city of Palembang is because many children who crossed the river and cut the city. Reasonably well if called City of the Hundred River in Palembang. Whereas in the early colonial era, Palembang dubbed by them as het Indische Venetie. Another nickname is de Stad des Vredes, namely a peaceful place (ie Dar's Greetings). And indeed these names is the official name of the Sultanate of Palembang Darussalam.

Structure and Technical

According to I. J. Sevenhoven, Netherlands commisaris Regeering first in Palembang, Kuto Besak width and length roede 77 49 roede (Amsterdamsch roede = less than 3.75 m, or its length is 288.75 meters and 183.75 meters wide), with a strong wall around and 30 feet high and six or seven feet wide. This wall is strengthened with four bastion (bastion). Inside the walls there are still similar and almost the same height, with the gates strong, so this can also be used for defense if the first wall can be broken (see LJ. Sevenhoven, Painting, page 14).

The latest measurements from the consultant get a slightly different size, i.e. 290 meters long and 180 meters wide.

Opinion de Sturler megenai condition Religious Tourism:
"... The width 77 and length 44 roede roede, equipped with three and a bastion bastion half full, which complement the four sides of the circumference of the wall. The wall thickness and height of 5 feet from the ground 22 and 24 feet.

Inside the palace is called Dalem in the middle, only for the residence of kings, a few feet higher than ordinary buildings. Entirely surrounded by high walls so as to bring one for the king's protection. No one must approach this residence unless the king's family or the person who ordered. Other stone buildings in the palace is a place to store ammunition and bullets. " (See W. L de Sturler - Proeve - 186 pages)

There when the war against the Dutch colonialists in 1819, there were as many as 129 shoots cannon on the wall Kuto Besak. Whereas during the war in 1821, there were only 75 cannons on the wall tops Kuto Besak and 30 shoots along the river wall, the attackers threatened standby

Palembang City

Palembang is the capital city of South Sumatra Province of Indonesia. It was formerly known as the capital city of the ancient Kingdom of Srivijaya. Srivijaya or Sriwijaya was a powerful ancient Malay kingdom on the island of Sumatra, modern day Indonesia, which influenced much of Southeast Asia.The earliest solid proof of its existence dates from the 7th century; a Chinese monk, I-Tsing, wrote that he visited Srivijaya in 671 for 6 months.The first inscription in which the name Srivijaya appears also dates from the 7th century, namely the Kedukan Bukit Inscription around Palembang in Sumatra, dated 683.

Palembang is the oldest city in Indonesia with a lot of history as a capital of a maritime empire. Located on the Musi River banks on the east coast of southern Sumatra island, it has an area of 400,61 square kilometres and a population of 1.441.500. Palembang is the second-largest city in Sumatra after Medan and the seventh-largest city in Indonesia.

Palembang landmarks include the Ampera bridge and the Musi River which divides the city into two, Seberang Ilir to the north and Seberang Ulu to the south. The Seberang Ilir is the economic and cultural centre and the Seberang Ulu is the political centre.

It is sometimes nicknamed "Venice of the east"

Geographical Location

Geographically, Palembang is located at 2 ° 59'27 .99 "S 104 ° 45'24 .24" longitude. The total area of Palembang City is 102.47 km ² with an average height of 8 meters from the sea surface. Location of Palembang is strategic because it passed by the road linking the Trans Sumatra between regions in the island of Sumatra. In addition there are also in Palembang, Musi River, which traversed Ampera Bridge, which serves as a means of transport and trade across regions.

The city of Neiva in Colombia is the antipode of Palembang

Climate and Topography

Palembang satellite imagery

Climate It is a tropical climate with relative humidity wind, wind speed ranges from 2.3 km / h - 4.5 km / hour. The temperature ranges of 23.4 to 31.7 degrees Celsius. Annual rainfall ranges from 2000 mm - 3000 mm. Humidity ranged from 75 to 89% with an average of 45% of the sun shines. Land is relatively flat topography and low. Only a small portion of the land area of the city lies in the high places, namely in the northern part of town. Most of the land is so marshy areas during the rainy season the area was inundated. The average altitude of between 0 to 20 mdpl.

In 2002 the minimum temperature occurs in the month of October 22.70 C, 24.50 C highest in May. Whereas the lowest maximum temperature of 30.40 C in January and highest in C. September 34.30 Land is not flooded plains: 49%, seasonally inundated land: 15%, continuously inundated land: 37% and the number of rivers that were still functioning 60 fruit (formerly of 108) the remaining functions as the primary drain.

Relative humid tropics, the temperature between 220-320 Celsius, precipitation 22–428 mm / year, tidal influence between 3–5 meters, and height of an average land 12 meters above sea level. Type of Palembang layered soil alluvial, clay and sand, lies in the youngest layer, many contain petroleum, which is also known as the valley of Palembang - Jambi. Land is relatively flat and low, which is located fairly high in the north of the city. Some flooded city of Palembang, even more so when there is continuous rain.