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| Ponot Sigura-gura Waterfall |
In the last three articles, I share about the uniqueness of North Sumatra capital city Medan, Lake Toba, and exotic beaches. However, North Sumatra still have more beautiful nature site that never fail to amaze people.
Have you ever see an island on the lake? Or, do you know where is the tallest waterfall in Indonesia?
Well, this article can answer those questions. This is my travel story when I had a trip to Samosir Island, the island on the lake which have a lot of mysterious story, and highest waterfall in Indonesia that not many Indonesian know about this waterfall, Ponot Sigura-gura waterfall.
The Volcanic Island On The Lake, Samosir Island
I am sure most of Indonesian know about Samosir Island. The island that exist in the middle of Lake Toba, which have almost same wide with Singapore (630 km2), and one of the five biggest Island on the lake in the world.
Previously, I mentioned in my travel story in Lake Toba that 75,000 years ago, Mt. Toba terribly erupted and create very large caldera and one Island in the middle. Since then, the caldera filled by rain and turned to be lake, and the island in the middle keep exist until now which we known as Samosir Island. There's a lot of story and mystery about Samosir Island, for example, some archaeologist said that Samosir Island is actually top of the Mt. Toba. The truth of this statement still in doubt but that's why Samosir Island is very interesting.
In order to visit Samosir Island, I departed from my house at 10 pm one day before, so that I could take earliest ferry to Samosir Island. Morning in Lake Toba is very beautiful, fresh air, great atmosphere, the sky so blue, and the wind was very nice.
After one hour taking ferry, I arrived in Tomok port, Samosir Island. In the edge of street, there are a lot of souvenirs shop where I can buy original handmade souvenir of Samosir Island and traditional clothes.
15 minutes walking, I arrived in Sigale-gale cultural herritage, where you can see the traditional house of Samosir Batak Tribe, the mascot of Samosir Island Sigalegale statue, and Tungtung Monument. The architecture of Batak Samosir traditional house is very unique. Moreover, you can see Sigale-gale culture performance for 20 minutes by pay 80,000 IDR. Usually, if there's so many tourists, they will conduct Sigale-gale perfomance to entertain domestic and international tourists.
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| Sigale-gale statue |
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| Tungtung Monument |
Not so far from Sigale-gale cultural herritage, there's Cemetary Complex of King Sidabutar or known as the place of stone and life. What is "Stone and Life"? Here's the explanation that written in fron of Cemetary Complex:
"In the cemetary complex of King Sidabutar there's a relationship betweenn Rocks and Culture, such as dancing Tortor (the traditional dance of Batak tribe) which is express through natural stone statues, as well a legend of Anting Malella's love story."
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| Cemetary Complex of King Sidabutar |
It's very interesting, that's why cemetary complex of King Sidabutar is sacred place for local Batak tribe. Before you enter the cemetary complex, the front door staff will give you Batak songket and you have to wear it when you enter.
The Hidden Place, Ponot Sigura-gura Waterfall, The Highest Waterfall In Indonesia
After spending two hours in Samosir Island, I continued my journey to Ponot Sigura-gura, the highest waterfall in Indonesia.
Yes, highest! You know it? No? Hahaha, well, as I expected, not many Indonesian know where's the tallest waterfall in Indonesia. Even local community don't know about this place.
Where is it? It's in Hidden Place!
If you search in Google, they will tell you that the highest waterfall in Indonesia is Sigura-gura waterfall. You can find it in Google maps. But the reality is, it's totally hard to find.
The location is in Toba Samosir district via Porsea town. But I didn't expect that there's no banner or directions guide to Ponot Sigura-gura waterfall. I only find the banner written "PT Inalum" or "PLN complex". I trust Google Map that I go to the right direction but there's no direction guide in the street. Even if I asked local community, they only have less knowledge about the direction to Ponot Sigura-gura.
However, I keep trusting Google Maps and keep going. Until I find complex gate of electricity company "PT Inalum", I was a little bit doubt that I go to the right direction and I'm afraid I couldn't enter. However, the security told me I go to the right direction and if I go straight away, I will find it. Okay, I trust this guy and keep going.
There's nothing in the street. No shops, no restaurant, even no guideline banner. Really, nothing! My cousins who're going with me started to doubt that whether the waterfall is exist or not, but we try to keep going. Then, we see large cliff and hear waterfall sound. Yes, finally, we see a waterfall coming out from the cliff and we go straight away to there.
Be careful, because the street isn't friendly. Yup, Indonesia tourism classic problem, the access was really bad. The street is very broken until the gate of Ponot Sigura-gura waterfall.
Then, I finally arrived in the bottom of Ponot Sigura-gura waterfall.
I was speechless. The waterfall is very high. I never see this kind a waterfall before. The height of Ponot Sigura-gura waterfall is 250 m! The highest in Indonesia! And the waterfall is coming out from escarpment, flowing to two cliffs below. It's hard to find Ponot Sigura-gura waterfall, but it's really worth to visit.
I couldn't play with the waterfall because the water is very heavy, it's too danger. So, I took a picture in the tree trunks that appear in the bottom of Ponot Sigura-gura waterfall. The way around waterfall is full of rocks, so be careful because I was falling down once in there. Use proper shoes or sandals so that you can walk easily
It's really worth to visit. If there's direction guideline in the street and good access, I'm sure Ponot Sigura-gura waterfall will be more developed because this is the highest waterfall in Indonesia. The government should put more attention to this kind a tourist site. Hopefully, by this article and video on my YouTube channel, the government realize how important to developed tourist site like Ponot Sigura-gura Waterfall.
Alright, that's all from North Sumatra journey. Samosir Island and Ponot Sigura-gura is the last destination that I visited during my time in North Sumatra. But North Sumatra still have more. Let me give you clue:
Those places are my next target when I go back to North Sumatra. Of course, it will be nice if I can go with my family.
If you are planning to travelling in Indonesia, don't just visiting tourist site in Java Island or Bali, visit North Sumatra Province! The nature is beauty, the food is delicious, the people are nice. The highest waterfall, the biggest lake, and the hidden paradise, everything is in North Sumatra! Only in North Sumatra! So, what are you waiting for? Plan your trip to Indonesia, and visit North Sumatra.
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