A seven-metre grave
With a tall headstone.
Lim Natee — CC BY 4.0 · Nafisathallah — CC BY 4.0 · Nafisathallah — CC BY 4.0
A tomb on a high hilltop near Barus, about two hundred metres above sea level, where Sheikh Mahmud lies, credited in local tradition as one of the first preachers to spread Islam in the region. The grave's strangest feature is its length, about seven metres, and its stone headstone about a metre and a half high, which gives the place its name, Papan Tinggi, the high board. Visitors reach the summit by a long stair of roughly seven hundred steps among the trees, a number pilgrims argue over, with rest stops along the way. From the top there is a superb view over Barus, the Indian Ocean and the coastal fields that rewards the climb. The visit is free, and pilgrims come from across Indonesia and Malaysia, so keep quiet and respectful, dress modestly, and remove your shoes near the grave. The climb is tiring, so bring water and go up in the morning before the heat, allowing one to two hours. Combine it with the Mahligai cemetery and the Kilometre Zero monument in Barus.
With a tall headstone.
Through the trees to the top.
Barus and the coast from above.
Papan Tinggi hill, near Barus, Central Tapanuli
Local tradition remembers him as one of the first preachers to bring Islam to Barus; accounts of his lineage and era vary, but he is deeply honoured locally, and visitors come to pray for him and reflect.