Pekanbaru is a city that fulfills harmonious nature and cultural diversity in the fertile lands of Riau province on the island of Sumatra. And also, Pekanbaru, the capital of Riau – is one of Indonesia’s richest provinces, with income from a wealth of natural resources. Over the past decade, Pekanbaru has become one of Sumatra’s fastest-growing cities.
Pekanbaru may be more popular for its oil, but the city itself is never short of fascinating points of interest to visit.
One of the favorite places for many people in Pekanbaru is the Alam Mayang Recreational Park. That park is one of the most favored spots for locals.
Located not far from the city center, at Harapan Raya street, the park adorned with animal ornaments such as tiger and elephant sculptures. When you come there, the park offers a sense of calm and quiet. When you visiting the park with their families, you can also enjoy fun activities such as water bikes, banana boats, a magical carpet, and a ball pit.
Pekanbaru has a river named the Siak River. The river is still and quiet without a ripple, sits on the edge of a city once known as Senapelan. In past, for centuries trade ships carrying commodities and natural resources from the island of Sumatra would dock along this river. It is a river tightly entwined with trade and the power of the kings of bygone eras.
When you need to explore Riau, you can try to stop at the quiet Muara Takus village in Riau’s Kampar district. There, stacks of centuries-old stones stand tall, enveloped in early-morning silence. The yellow- and brown-brick Muara Takus Temple points to the sky above the canopy of the surrounding expansive plantation.
The temple complex comprises Candi Tua, Candi Bungsu, Candi Mahligai, and Palangka.
Further along the coast, you can find the Kampar River’s world-famous Bono Wave. To catch this tidal bore, you will need to get close to the mouth of the river, where the waves break a little higher – take a speedboat from Teluk Meranti village.
The waves might be brown as it is a river wave, but the Bono Wave stands up against its ocean rivals, attracting both local and international surfers.
Pekanbaru offers luxury hotels, malls and other shopping centers, and restaurants offering endless culinary options. There are plenty of dining venues to choose from in this city, and not to miss its most famous local delicacy: a smoked-fish dish with a variety of servings, from fried to curried.
In downtown Pekanbaru, the quaint Raya An-Nur Mosque is not to be missed, with its five iconic domes and a tower reaching up to the sky. Located on an expansive 12.6 hectares, there is plenty to see at the mosque, from its spacious rooms, some of which function as offices, to its park, where kids can enjoy frolicking in the sun. The construction of this mosque began in 1993 and it was completed five years later. It includes architectural influences from Malay and Middle Eastern cultures. Across from this grand establishment stands a Batak-Protestant church (HKBP). In Pekanbaru, citizens with different religious backgrounds have been living together in harmony for years.
Pekanbaru also noted as one of Indonesia’s cleanest cities, having won the ‘Adipura’ (cleanest city) award seven times in a row.
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