South Sumatra (Indonesian: Sumatera Selatan) is a province of Indonesia. It is located in the southern part of Sumatra Island, east of the Bukit Barisan Mountains. It spans 91,592.43 km2 (35,364 sq mi) and had a population of 7,450,394 at the 2010 Census; the latest official estimate is 10,675,862 (as at May 2015). The capital of the province is Palembang.
History
Prehistoric era
South Sumatra has been settled by humans since the Palaeolithic era. The evidence of those settlements is proven by some discoveries of Palaeolithic tools in the riverbed of Saling and Kikim rivers in Bungamas Village, Lahat Regency. Seventy eight skeletons dating back to 3,000-14,000 years ago, presumably of Austronesian and Austromelanesoid race have been excavated from the site of Harimau Cave in Padang Bindu Village, Ogan Komering Ulu Regency.Relics of seven stone chambers believed to be about 2,500 years old were found near a coffee plantation in Kotaraya Lembak, Lahat Regency.Around 300 BC, the Deutero-Malay people arrived in this region and pushed the native people inland.
Srivijaya era
Around 7th century AD, an ancient Buddhist kingdom of Srivijaya was established in an area known today as Palembang. It once controlled a large part of what is now Indonesia, Malaysia and Southern Thailand, effectively ruled the Malacca Strait, and controlled the trade in that region. In 1025, it was defeated by the Chola Empire (during the period of Emperor Rajendra Chola I) of southern India.Srivijaya's capital eventually moved northward to Jambi. After its eventual fall in 14th century AD, some small kingdoms were established in South Sumatra. However, there was virtually a power vacuum in the region since there was no prominent power to hold the region except for the waning Majapahit Empire, itself centered in Java island. The vacuum allowed pirates to flourish in the region.Palembang Sultanate, Dutch, and World War II
In the 16th century AD, the Palembang Sultanate was established by Ki Gede Ing Suro, a politician who fled from Demak Sultanate. Clashes with the Dutch had occurred since the 17th century until the sultanate was abolished in 1825 when the Dutch gave a final blow to the final Sultan of Palembang, Sultan Ahmad Najamuddin. Southern Sumatra was occupied by the Japanese in January 15, 1942 after the Battle of Palembang in World War II.
After independence
After the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, South Sumatra became a part of Sumatra Province as a residency with Adnan Kapau Gani as the resident. On January 1, 1947, the Dutch tried to gain its sovereignty over South Sumatra by invading Palembang. Since then, fighting ensued across South Sumatra until Indonesia's independence was recognized by the Dutch on December 27, 1949. The area occupied by the Netherlands in South Sumatra was incorporated into South Sumatra State under the United States of Indonesia until the disbandment of the union and the founding of the republic. On September 12, 1950, South Sumatra province was established with a territory much larger than it is today, as it encompassed several provinces that were eventually given autonomy: Lampung was carved from the southern part of the province in 1964, Bengkulu from the coastal western part of the province in 1967, and Bangka Belitung from the titular islands on December 4, 2000.Geography
The province is located in the southeastern portion of the island of Sumatra. The majority of its area consists of low-lying plains filled with plantations, forest, marshes and mangroves in coastal areas. The natural environment of South Sumatra is hot and humid tropical rain forest. However, most of these forest has been cleared out to make way for oil palm plantation for palm oil production. The Bukit Barisan mountain range is located on the western edge of the province and forms the border with the neighbouring Bengkulu province. The mountains are the source of river systems that drain eastward to the Bangka Strait and South China Sea. The largest among these rivers is Musi River, the longest river in Sumatra.The administrative area of the province borders the provinces of Lampung to the south, Bengkulu to the west, and Jambi to the north. Off the east coast are the islands of Bangka and Belitung, which were split from South Sumatra province to form the new province of Bangka-Belitung in 2000.
The climate of South Sumatra is quite suitable for palm oil industries, including palm estate and rubber industries.
Tourism
- Ampera Bridge
is the first bridge that constructed to cross the wide Musi River. It
is also Palembang's landmark. The bridge is constructed as war
compensation from Japan. It was a bascule bridge till 1970s, notable for
its center parts that can be lifted up.
- Great Mosque of Palembang. This grand mosque has been renovated a few times already. Now it is a very large and beautiful mosque. In some sections of the mosque you can see old Srivijayan style architecture. It is located in front of the main roundabout in Palembang which you will pass coming from the Ampera Bridge.
- Benteng Kuto Besak the old fort located on Musi
riverbank. It is the first fort in Indonesia that constructed by the
locals (in this case the Palembang Sultanate; not by a colonizer like
British or Dutch) that met European standards for defensive fort.
- Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Museum, located near Benteng Kuto Besak. The museum building is in Palembang Limasan traditional architecture, displaying the history of Palembang city, from the era of Buddhist Srivijaya empire to Palembang Sultanate and colonial era.
- Balaputradewa Museum, named after the greatest Srivijayan king, displaying the history of ancient South Sumatra till post-colonial era.
- Monumen Perjuangan Rakyat, abbreviated Monpera, literally 'People's Struggle Monument'. Located besides Ampera, it is a remembrance of the Independence War that take place from 1945-1949. The monument has a museum inside it.
- Dekranasda Sumsel, though every provinces in Indonesia has a Dekranasda office, but in Palembang it is located inside a huge complex of culture park. Here you can see many beautiful traditional buildings that still in good condition, though the place is largely abandoned with grasses covering the pathway.
- Kemaro Island, a small island in the Musi river delta
east of the city centre. It is famous for its origin legend, the love
story of a Chinese prince and a Palembang princess that die together
there. There is a pagoda in the island. Every year Chinese New Year and
Cap Go Meh is celebrated here.
- Sriwijaya Kingdom Archaeological Park, known locally as TPKS (Indonesian: Taman Purbakala Kerajaan Sriwijaya) or Karanganyar Site, is an archaelogical site in Karanganyar, Gandus. It is the ancient remnants of garden and habitation area near the Musi River. Archaelogist have found many artifacts dated from 7th to 13th century suggesting that the site was an urban centre of the Srivijayan Empire. Though so many artifacts discovered here, you cannot see building remnants here. Some scholars suggest this is due to use of wood, as in and around the place there are no hard stone either good soil for making bricks. The museum displaying artifacts is in the complex. Its provide English translation and flyers for brief information.
