Bukittinggi, Sumatera - Deep In The Minang Heartland

Bukittinggi, Sumatera - Deep In The Minang Heartland, Bukittinggi, Indonesia (B)

One word that greatly sums up the interior highlands of Western Sumatera, Indonesia. It’s not just the coexistence between human and nature striking harmonic balance but the strict adherence of the Minang people to their “Adat Perpatih,” centuries-old customs that are almost exclusively matrilineal, is something to be respected.

This place is both blessed and cursed – where its inhabitants can reap bountiful harvests all year long as long as the volcanoes decide not erupt and wipe out an entire civilization. Existential threats aside, Bukittinggi and its surrounding villages are a treasure trove of the Minang culture, from hand-woven songket to the archipelago-famous dishes of nasi padang.

The bull-horned roof of the Rumah Gadang, meaning “big house,” is as iconic as you can get when it comes to Minang architecture.

The outrageously pointed tops can be traced back to the origin of the wods “minang” (victorious) and “kabau” (buffalo) where a local supposedly ingeniously won a bull-fight against a prince to settle a territorial dispute. A fine specimen of the Rumah Gadang is found at the town of Padangpanjang, 20 km out of Bukittinggi. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).
How it works: The full article is featured in the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" on Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Download the app to your mobile device to read the article offline and create a self-guided walking tour to visit the sights featured in this article. The app's navigation functions guide you from one sight to the next. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Sights Featured in This Article

Guide Name: Bukittinggi, Sumatera - Deep In The Minang Heartland
Guide Location: Indonesia » Bukittinggi
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Article (B))
Author: Danial Ariff Bin Ahmad Nordin
Read it on Author's Website: http://www.dansontheroad.com/2015/01/15/bukittinggi-indonesia-deep-in-the-minang-heartland/
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
  • Taman Panorama
  • Sianok Canyon
  • Great Wall of Koto Gadang
  • Jam Gadang
  • Pasar Atas
  • Rumah Gadang