Holiday in Palembang

What makes Palembang special as a destination?

Palembang is the capital of South Sumatra province and with around 1.7 million inhabitants, it is the second largest city in Sumatra. The city stretches along both banks of the mighty Musi River and has a history of over 1,300 years — as the capital of the Sriwijaya Empire, Palembang was once the center of one of the most powerful maritime empires in Southeast Asia. The Sriwijaya Empire (7th–13th century) controlled the Strait of Malacca and the entire sea trade between China and India from Palembang. It was a center of Buddhist scholarship, attracting even the Chinese monk Yijing in the 7th century. Although few physical remnants remain, the Sriwijaya Kingdom Museum documents the significance of this forgotten empire. The Ampera Bridge over the Musi River is the landmark of Palembang: built in 1965, it is 1,117 meters long and spectacularly illuminated in the evening. Along the river, floating houses (Rumah Rakit) line the banks, and the river itself is a bustling artery of transportation with ferries, cargo boats, and traditional vessels. The Sultan's Palace (Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Museum) and the grand mosque (Masjid Agung) on the riverbank testify to the city's Islamic history since the 16th century. Palembang has been contested multiple times by the Dutch and the British. Palembang is especially famous for its unique cuisine: Pempek, the legendary fish cakes made from mackerel meat and tapioca, served with a sweet-sour vinegar chili sauce (Cuko), are known throughout Indonesia and are considered one of the best street foods in the country. The city carries the unofficial title of Culinary Capital of Sumatra.