The palace of blessing
Its name is Arabic for blessing.
Mimihitam — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Si Gam — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ramada Febrian — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bennylin — CC BY-SA 4.0
The palace of the Deli sultans and Medan's leading historic landmark, built by Sultan Ma'mun Al Rashid between 1887 and 1891; its name is an Arabic word meaning blessing. Designed by a Dutch engineer, it has about thirty rooms over some twenty-eight hundred square metres, and is considered the last surviving Malay palace in the region, having escaped destruction during the East Sumatra revolution. Its great charm is its architectural blend: Malay, Islamic and Indian character outside, in royal yellow with arches and small domes, and Spanish and Italian furniture inside, with chandeliers and portraits of the sultans. The main hall displays the sultan's throne, and visitors can dress in traditional Malay costume for photographs. Entry is a token fee of about ten thousand rupiah, perhaps a little more for non-Indonesians. It opens daily from eight to five. Members of the royal family still live in part of the palace, so most private rooms are closed. An hour is enough; combine it with the Grand Mosque a few steps away. In its garden stands the Broken Cannon, linked to a local legend of a princess and her brother.
Its name is Arabic for blessing.
It survived the East Sumatra revolution.
Photos in Malay costume.
Jalan Brigjen Katamso, central Medan
Grand Mosque of Medan (Masjid Raya Al-Mashun)Sumatra's most beautiful mosque and Medan's best-known landmark, built by Sultan5 minutes walk
Tjong A Fie MansionA two-storey mansion in Chinese-European style in the old Kesawan quarter of cen15 minutes walk
Kesawan, Old MedanMedan's oldest commercial quarter, which grew in the late nineteenth century whe17 minutes walk
North Sumatra MuseumThe largest museum in North Sumatra, opened in 1982 on more than ten thousand sq20 minutes walk
Rahmat International Wildlife MuseumA private museum in Medan holding one of the largest collections of mounted anim23 minutes walkYes, as a short stop with the Grand Mosque; it is one of Medan's finest buildings. Most rooms are closed because the royal family still lives in part of it, so do not expect a long tour.