8 OLDEST BUILDINGS IN MEDAN

1. Medan City Hall

Medan city Hall is one of the oldest buildings in Medan. It was built in 1908, and was used for the first    time by Baron Mackay in 1918 as Medan mayor. This building is worth due to its interesting architecture. The first bank in Medan was “De Javasche Bank”., which is now called Indonesian Bank. This bank started to operate in 1907 and was responsible for withdrawing the circulation of Spanish money and converting them into Dutch currency. 

 

Grand Aston

Indonesian Bank, Medan

2. Maimoon Palace

Maimoon Palace

In the past, this palace used to be called Sultan Deli Palace but today, It’s known as Maimoon palace. It was built by Sultan Mahsun Al Rasyid and the whole construction of this palace was totally completed on August 26, 1888. It was inaugurated on May 18, 1891. This palace used to be the administration office till the end of second the world war. Up to now this palace is occupied by Sultan Perkasa Alam Azin and his family. Ging back to the history of the Sultan Deli and the Maimoon Palace, there is an interesting legend called “Meriam Puntung” (cannon butt) and visitors still can see it in a small building located in front of the palace ground.

According to the legend, there was a princess called “ Putri Hijau” who was very beautiful and her beauty  made king of Aceh fall in Love with her. The king asked her to marry him, but unfortunately he was rejected by the princess, in his anger, he attacked the kingdom of Aru, which was led by his brother, Mambang Yazid, who had just been chosen to become king after his father’s death. The king of Aceh won the battle.  

3. Grand Mosque

The legacies left by Deli Sultan are the Maimoon Palace and Al Mashun Grand Mosque. This Mosque is till used up to now. The ornaments and the materials were imported from Italy and German. There are a lot of tourists from various countries visiting this mosque. Yhis mosque was built by Sultan Makmun Al Rasyid in 1906 and was completed on 19 September 1909. It is the biggest and the most artistic mosque in North Sumatera Province with Moor architecture. 

Grand Mosque Medan

4. Oldest Church

Immanuel Church, Medan

One of the oldest Protestants churches in Medan is Immanuel church which is located in the city center of Medan and to be exact, it is on Pangeran Diponegoro street No 25-27. This church was erected in 1921 and up to now it is still used by the Christians as a place of worship. Another old church is the Catholic church which is located on Pemuda street which was built in 1929.

5. Merdeka Walk 

Food & Shopping

The saying Medan is the paradise of culinary is common to people who have been to Medan because Medan offers various kinds of delicious foods from different races, culture, and typical nature produce. Starting from chinese cuisine, Indonesian cuisine and many others. 

Apart from that natural produce such as durian, snake fruit, marquisa and many others are available almost in every corner of the streets including outlets and shopping center. In addition to that various kinds of cakes are also available such as the Bika Ambon and Bolu Gulung which are the most famous cakes from Medan there are also many kinds of delicious snacks sold in the shopping centers, restaurant and outlet. Therefore, Medan is ready to welcome visitors who are interested in culinary exploration which is unique, interesting and delicious.

Hangout Spot, Merdeka Walk

6. Tjong A Fei Mansion

Tjong A Fie (1860-1921) was a businessman, captain and banker who originally came from China and was successful to build a big plantation business in Sumatra, Indonesia. He employed more than 10.000 people. 

Due to his success, Tjong A Fie had a very close relationship with the some prominent people in Medan including Sultan Deli, Makmun Al Rasyid and the Dutch colonial government to replace his brother to become Tionghoa captain. Tjong A Fie was very honored and respected because of he had very played a very important role both in business and politics.His businesses covered plantation, palm oil, sugar mill, bank and the railroad company. In addition to that, his generousit, regardless of ethnics and religions, has made him become very respected person.

7. Rahmat International Wildlife Museum

Rahmat International Wild Life Museum

Rahmat International Wildlife and Galery ia a museum collecting preserved hunted animals and it belongs to a businessman named DR.H Rahmat Shah. Rahmat Shah is a professional conservation lover. He travels throughout the world with the mission to conserve, to prevent extinction of the animals as well as to save the animal habitat. It is claimed that this is the only one museum in Asia which collects widlife ranging from the smallest to the biggest wildlife in the world. The collections are obtained from the legal hunting from death animals kept in the zoo of the world., the donation from people as well as the legal purchase from different countries. This museum offers safari night package, the exhibition room designed with safari night concept, completed with the lighting and sound effect create the atmosphere of safari night.

8. Shri Mariamman Temple

Roof of The Shri Mariamman Temple

Shri Mariamman Temple is located in Zainul Arifin Street and it’s the oldest temple in Medan, which was built in 1884 by Indian Hindus with the other worshiping activities such as Depavali Event, paddies’ harvest.