Srivijaya's capital
An ancient maritime empire.
Firzafp — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gunawan Kartapranata — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Gunawan Kartapranata — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Gunawan Kartapranata — CC BY-SA 3.0
An archaeological park on the bank of the Musi River, on a site believed to have been part of the centre of Srivijaya, the maritime empire that controlled the Strait of Malacca and the trade of Southeast Asia from roughly the seventh to the thirteenth century, with Palembang as its capital. Traces of an ancient settlement, water canals, remains of boats, ceramics and inscriptions have been found here; the park now has a small exhibition hall, copies of the stone inscriptions bearing the earliest mentions of Srivijaya, and a small island and canals echoing the old settlement's layout, amid quiet green lawns. Entry is usually free; the site is quiet and little visited, suited to history lovers and a short outing away from the city's bustle. It is about a quarter of an hour by car from the centre. Nearby is Bukit Siguntang, a hill the Malays revere as the legendary home of their ancestors, with graves attributed to ancient princes. Visit in the morning before the heat.
An ancient maritime empire.
The earliest mentions of Srivijaya.
The Malays' legendary ancestral hill.
Karanganyar, south-west of central Palembang
No: most of what survives of Srivijaya is small finds and inscriptions, and the park is quiet and educational rather than spectacular. For history lovers only.