![]() ![]() Meanwhile, Gunung Timur Temple is an active Taoist and Buddhist temple complex that dates back to the 1960s. Designed by a Dutch architect and completed in 1909, it features an octagonal shape and materials including marble from Italy, Germany and China, and stained glass from France. The Great Mosque of Medan is a major landmark. It honours Mary, who is said to have appeared in a coastal village in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu in the 17th century. Our Lady of Good Health Church, for example, is a Catholic church resembling an Indian temple. Its places of worship, many of them built in hybrid styles, represent this mix. With adherents to Islam, Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism (in that order of prevalence), Medan’s mix of religions reflects its ethnic diversity. Inspired by the story of a king’s son who died on the battlefield, the performance is accompanied by traditional music of the Batak (a North Sumatran ethnic group). Once on the island, visitors can check out the Tomb of King Sidabutar and watch a Sigale-gale funeral dance, which involves a life-size wooden puppet as one of the characters. ![]() It takes about half an hour to get to the island by ferry from the main pier, in the town of Parapat. Lake Toba also presents a cultural side on Samosir Island, which sits in the middle of the lake. Stroll through the streets to enjoy the quietness of the farming community. Tongging Village is located on Lake Toba’s periphery and is an accessible spot to have a closer look at the lake. The lake (four hours by car from Medan) is the country’s largest to result from a crater, and it’s the largest freshwater reservoir, with a depth reaching 505 metres. With its glassy surface and surrounding mountains, it’s easy to see why Lake Toba has been included in the Indonesian government’s ‘10 priority tourism destinations’.
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