Padangsidempuan

Padangsidempuan – The hidden gems of ‘Salak City’

Reputations can be misleading, as is the case with the city of Padangsidempuan in North Sumatra. Its nickname is "Salak City" ("salak" is the Indonesian name for snakefruit). Yet, this 159.28-square-kilometer municipality doesn't actually produce any snakefruit. These fruits are grown in plantations located in the hills and mountains surrounding the city. After harvesting, the fruits are sold to the city, where they are subsequently distributed across the archipelago. These fruits are common everyday sights for Padangsidempuan's 236,217 inhabitants.

The city has much more to offer than just snakefruit, though. It was historically a regional government center for Dutch colonists, and many of these historic buildings can still be found throughout the area. Relics of pre-Dutch history can also be found in the architecture of nearby places like Candi Bahal temple and Raja Najunggal palace. Enjoy a high vantage point view of the entire city at Simarsayang Hill. Surround yourself with greenery, the sounds of water, and the smells of nature with a visit to Silima-lima Waterfall. For more natural sights, there is the nearby Siais Batang Toru Lake, the second biggest lake in the province, where you can enjoy its pristine tranquility. The Barumun Wildlife Sanctuary allows visitors to get up close with various species of endangered elephants, primates, and big cats.

Padangsidempuan's economy has steadily recovered since the pandemic. It grew by only 2.75 percent in 2021 but nearly doubled that growth to 4.77 percent in 2022, and 5.09 percent in 2023. Its Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) at Current Prices in 2023 was Rp 7.92 trillion. The biggest contributing industries were wholesale and retail trade (at Rp 1.89 trillion or 23.84 percent), the construction industry (at Rp 917 billion or 11.57 percent), and the agriculture, forestry, and fishing industry (at Rp 858 billion or 10.83 percent).