Go paragliding, mountain biking, or just enjoy the amazing view
Did you know that the oldest mining town in Southeast Asia is located in Indonesia? It has been designated as a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO. The mining town is the City of Sawahlunto.
Sawahlunto in West Sumatra was a Dutch colonial mining town that was once known as ‘The Little Dutch’ because of its many old Dutch style buildings. Sawahlunto was designated as a world cultural heritage by UNESCO on July 6th, 2019.
After the mine was no longer operational, Sawahlunto became a historical tourism hotspot. In this city you can see relics of the Dutch colonial era, among others, at the Gudang Ransum Museum, Mbah Suro Mining Tunnel, and the Train Station Museum.
Geographically, the city, dubbed the Sawahlunto Mining Town, is located in the Bukit Barisan mountain valley. It is surrounded by several hills, such as Polan Hill, Pari Hill, and Mato Hill. This city is the right place for those who are looking for a peaceful get away, who want to unwind, find inspiration, go on vacation, and enjoy recreational activities. More than that, because of where it is located, this tourist city offers the beauty of a natural surrounding.
Its historical remnants and beautiful nature make Sawahlunto a unique city. It is a historical tourism city and at the same time, a nature tourism city. Among the landscapes recognized for its natural beauty is the Polan Hill Peak, known as the Puncak Bukit Polan, which adorns Sawahlunto City.
Why is the hill called Puncak Bukit Polan or often just called Puncak Polan? Previously, this hill was known as Puncak Sugai or Sugar. However, because in the 1960’s a Polish company came to enhance electrical supplies and resources in Sawahlunto, some Polish people came to this location to explore and survey the area. According to one story, during this event, a Polish man conducting the survey had fell. It is not known whether he had survived. This is how the hill became known as Puncak Bukit Polan. That’s the interesting history of Puncak Polan.
Puncak Bukit Polan is located in Aur Mulio, Lembah Segar, Sawahlunto and it is part of the Geopark Area of West Sumatra Province. To reach Puncak Polan, you can travel by motor bike in approximately 20 to 30 minutes from the center of Sawahlunto, but the duration of the trip depends on the weather.
Even though the journey to Puncak Polan can be said to be quite smooth, you will encounter an uphill road. This road will be quite difficult to pass, especially during rainy days. If it rains, the uphill road becomes quite slippery. Be careful even after the rain has stopped.
The difficulties in reaching Puncak Polan will be worth it once you see the fascinating beauty of Puncak Polan. From Puncak Polan you can view Sawahlunto from various corners, including the buildings and mountains that decorate this city, such as Mount Merapi, Mount Singgalang, and Mount Talang. You can see the iconic building of Sawahlunto, the Bukit Asam Office building, known for its Dutch architecture, which was built in 1916.
Another historical icon that can be seen from the peak of Polan is the high tower of the Nurul Al-Iman Mosque, a mosque that was once a steam power plant (PLT) built by the Dutch colonials in 1894. You can also see the Sawahlunto Market with its buffalo horn-shaped shop roofs which also adds to the uniqueness of this view. It’s not surprising that Puncak Polan is frequently visited by vloggers and YouTubers and is an Instagrammable spot.
The best time to visit Puncak Polan is in the morning, when the fog fades and sunlight shines through. You would regret not being able to enjoy the beautiful view of Sawahlunto City if it was covered by fog. The fresh air in Puncak Polan is certainly much better than the polluted air of big cities. Its typically cool air and rejuvenating environment make Puncak Polan a good holiday choice for local and foreign tourists.
On Puncak Polan there are also various interesting activities to try. There is an area for paragliding. You don’t need to hesitate to try as you will be assisted by experienced instructors. You will enjoy an unforgettable experience, flying overlooking the beauty of Sawahlunto City until finally landing at the Ombilin Field, which is a cultural heritage. Puncak Polan is also an exciting location for mountain bikers because it is a bike park where various cycling competitions are held.
Not far from Puncak Polan is another hill which is also a tourist attraction. Only approximately 5 kilometers from the center of the city towards Talawi District, you can enjoy the beauty of Puncak Guguak Nan Gadang Batu Tanjung Village, which is also a popular spot for paragliding. It is quite easy to find the location by following the signs that direct you to the location. It can also be reached by public transportation.
If you want to enjoy the view of the sunrise from Puncak Polan and other natural landscapes its surroundings offer, you can stay at SAGE II Vacation Home which is not far from Puncak Polan. By walking or hiking it will take you approximately 30 minutes from SAGE II to reach the top of Puncak Polan for that unforgettable experience. If you rather not walk, you can use a motorbike and it only takes around 10–15 minutes from SAGE II. Hope to see you soon.
Co-written by Vino Hadiz
Translated by Liza Hadiz
Visit the Sage II Vacation Home in Sawahlunto
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Sources:
Aditiya, Harment (2023) ‘Puncak Poland Mirip Hollywood Sign dengan Menyajikan Pemandangan Kota Sawahlunto dari Atas Bukit.’ mediakepri.co. https://www.mediakepri.co/wisata/10311345057/puncak-poland-mirip-hollywood-sign-dengan-menyajikan-pemandangan-kota-sawahlunto-dari-atas-bukit. Accessed 8 January 2024.
Chaniago, Febry (2020) ‘Puncak Poland Rawan Longsor, Warga Aur Mulyo Sawahlunto Waspada.’ padangmedia.com. https://padangmedia.com/puncak-poland-rawan-longsor-warga-aur-mulyo-sawahlunto-waspada/. Accessed 8 January 2024.
Direktoripariwisata.id (n.d) Puncak Bukit Polan. https://direktoripariwisata.id/unit/1590. Accessed 8 January 2024.
Indra YD Channel (2021) Berburu Sunset dari Puncak Poland Sawahlunto. YouTube. https://youtu.be/p8lN15m5z3A?si=6zJPZtjLEs4AagF3. Accessed 12 January 2024.
Nugraha, M. Catur (2016) Memandang Keindahan Kota Sawahlunto Dari Puncak Bukit Polan. jelajahsumbar.com.https://www.jelajahsumbar.com/puncak-bukit-polan-sawahlunto/. Accessed 4 January 2024.
Pesonaindonesia.kompas.com (2019) Menikmati Pemandangan Kota Sawahlunto dari Ketinggian. https://pesonaindonesia.kompas.com/read/2019/06/28/133507627/menikmati-pemandangan-kota-sawahlunto-dari-ketinggian. Accessed 4 January 2024.
Supriyanto, Yudi (2020) ‘Menyusuri Keindahan Geopark di Sumatra Barat.’ Lifestyle.bisnis.com. https://lifestyle.bisnis.com/read/20201009/224/1302681/menyusuri-keindahan-geopark-di-sumatra-barat. Accessed 8 January 2024.
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