Enjoy Indonesia

A. Brief Information

Once you take a visit to Riau Islands Province, feel free to spend a few minutes visiting Lingga District. Here, you can catch sight of numerous historical sites, especially those dealing with the early history of Malay kingdoms and cultural civilization. Likewise, this is the right destination for you who are looking for tranquil holiday and nature lovers. One of the best nature tourism destinations is Mount Daik.

Amongst the Malay people, the below pantun has been certainly familiar with them.

Pulau Pandan jauh di tengah
Gunung Daik bercabang tiga
Hancur badan dikandung tanah
Budi baik dikenang juga

The above pantun says “Gunung Daik bercabang tiga” (Mount Daik branches off three). Taking a look from afar; the mount seems to have three peaks on it; that is why the local people call it Mount Daik “Branches off Three.” The highest peak is named Mount Daik, while the second one is Mount Pejantan, and the lowest peak is Mount Cindai Menangis.

Many assumptions spread over the people settling on the slope of the mount. They do believe that the mount is the residence of Bunian, a local language for ghost. However, those living on the coast are really sure that the mount is the residence of Datuk Kemuning and his wife. Above all, the surest assumption is that there is a sago factory that uses the name Gunung Daik as the brand of its product. “Sagu cap Ganung daik” is one of the factory‘s products that is famous for producing the best sago in Riau Islands Province.

B. Distinctive Features

Mystical atmosphere amidst the exotic scenery. Frightening but bewitching. That is perhaps the most appropriate description about the atmosphere of Mount Daik. When you reach the peak, thus you can feel the fresh air and tranquillity. Even more, you can watch the green scenery along the meandering road leading to the mount. This destination is the right place for taking photographs, hiking, and camping.
Two check posts, Gajeboh I and Gajeboh II, are located on the slope of the mount for snoozing. And, you may also take a rest in the riverbank located nearby Daik Waterfall. Many visitors usually take a repose in this place while leaning upon the green trees and enjoying the fresh atmosphere around the waterfall. Feel free to experience the sensation of being splashed by the water falling down from the crag above the waterfall.

Once you reach the peak of the mount, situated at an altitude of 1.165 meters, you can take a bird-eye-view at the exotic scenery of Lingga District. You can likewise watch the turquoise sea water surrounding Riau Islands Province from afar.

C. Location

Mount Daik lies in Lingga District, Riau Islands Province, Indonesia.

D. Access

From Tanjungpinang, the capital of Riau Islands Province, you can take ferry ship from Sri Bintan Pura Port to Mepar/dabo Port of Singkep Island. From Mepar Port, it takes approximately 10 minutes to reach Daik Port of Lingga Island by taking pompong traditional boat. Then, succeed your trip to Mount Daik by taking ojek (motorcycle taxi) provided by the “smiling” local people. Soon after you have arrived at the slope of the mount, you can start climbing the mount, but you are suggested to stop climbing in Kandang Babi, which is situated at an altitude of 1.000 meter. You are not allowed to reach the highest peak of the mount since the climbing track is mainly covered with stones, thus it will be dangerous for everyone trying to reach the peak.

E. Ticket Price

Free

F. Accommodations and other Facilities

It is highly recommended to confirm yourself to tour guiders at those check posts so that they can monitor your escapade tour in Mount Daik. Likewise, they will be ready at all times to accompany and guide you during the journey to the peak of the mount.
Stock yourself with enough foods and beverages before the visit to the mount because you will rarely find food stalls around the mount. But, you can find accommodation services in the heart of Lingga District.

Source : Wisata Melayu

Mount Daik, Lingga District - Riau Islands

A. Brief Information

During the golden era of Riau-Lingga Sultanate, Penyengat Island held significant roles in governmental and educational sectors. The island was likewise the heart of Islamic teaching and Malay cultural civilization in the past. For that reason, the provincial government of Riau Islands fixed the island as the highly recommended historical tourism destination. The remaining traces of Riau-Lingga Sultanate can still be found in the island, even though some of them are in critically physical condition.

Once upon a time, there were some fishermen and pirates anchored off the coast of the island. They came to the island for pure water that was hard to find in other places except in Penyengat Island. Feeling of being disturbed by those people, a group of bee flied over them to take revenge on. Those people got stung by the bee, so the island was named “Penyengat” that literally means “stinger.”

Another story grappling with the early history of Penyengat Island is the story of Sultan Mahmud Marhum Besar, who ruled over Riau-Lingga Sultanate from 1761 A.D. to 1812 A.D. It is said that the sultan proposed a marriage to Engku Putri Raja Hamidah, the daughter of Raja Ali Haji. As he loved the girl very much, a 240-ha island named Penyengat was bestowed upon her by the Sultan.

B. Distinctive Features

Start historical travelling in Penyengat Island by taking a visit to the Great Masjid of Sultan Riau. The masjid was built in 1832 A.D. upon initiative by Yang Dipertuan Muda VII Raja Abdul Rahman. The masjid keeps some handwritten Korans and a number of ancient manuscripts that were written on Arabic and Jawi scripts.
The architecture style combines the Malay, Arab, and India styles together. It is said that the masjid‘s wall was the mixture of red-bricks and albumin, which was used as the glue.

Feeling enough observing the elegance of the Great Masjid of Sultan Riau, you can move to other historical sites but, we recommend you to take a visit to several mausoleums of Riau-Lingga Sultanate staffers. There you can find the mausoleum of Engku Putri Raja Hamidah and Raja Ali Haji‘s graveyard. The most interesting one is the mausoleum of Raja Ali Haji because here, you can see one of his great literary works entitled Gurindam 12. You can read the whole series of Gurindam 12 that were carved out on the mausoleum‘s wall.

Move to another site, thus you will find an adat house where numerous royal properties of Riau-Lingga Sultanate are kept well within. In this Malay-style building, the Riau Islands people often hold some activities such as adat meetings and wedding parties. Moreover, the local inhabitants usually take some water from a spring located on the ground floor of the building. They do believe in the efficacies of the water, which can heal certain diseases. By the way, the water is believed to have ability of helping the one for getting a marriage partner soon.
Bukit Kursi Fortress, which was built during 1782 to 1784 A.D. when the Riau-Lingga Sultanate was under the role of Raja Ali Haji, is another must-be-visited site. The fortress was built facing directly to the sea, hence you can experience two travelling sensations at the same time, undergoing historical travelling and enjoying the turquoise sea water.

C. Location

Penyengat Island is part of Riau Islands Province that includes administratively into Tanjungpinang Sub-district.

D. Ticket Price

Free

E. Access

To reach Penyengat Island, you can take water transportation called pompong from Sri Bintan Pura Port in Tanjungpinang City. It costs IDR 5.000 for personal usage and IDR 50.000 for renting the boat (per August 2008).

F. Accommodations and other Facilities

It is hard to find any hotels and inns in the island. You can only spend the night at the local people‘s houses here. Likewise, public transportation such as busses and taxis is really hard to find. The best way to look around the island is taking benmor (motorized pedicab) with IDR 20.000/hour for its cost.

Source : Wisata Melayu

Penyengat Island, Tanjungpinang City - Riau Islands - Indonesia